Cajuns Squeak Past Blue Raiders For Series Sweep

Contact: Cory Weigel

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Ragin' Cajuns successfully completed a double steal in the top of the seventh to score Sarah Draheim from third as they hung on to sweep the series in a, 4-3 win over Middle Tennessee at Blue Raider Field in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

No. 7/8 UL (38-2, 13-2) scored twice by way of double steals in a game in which they swiped eight bags.

Natalie Fernandez tied a school record with four stolen bases, while Katie Smith recorded two and Draheim and Cherry each tallied one.

Ashley Brignac (15-2) hurled her 15^th complete game, allowing three runs on four hits and struck out five Blue Raiders (12-25, 2-10) hitters.

“We grinded out another win and a series victory,” co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “I thought our girls found a way even though it wasn't pretty but we found a way to win. That's the way it is some games. You're not going to score 10 or 15 runs everygame.”

“Sometimes you are going to win with the short game with base running and moving runners over. Every win in conference is a big win.”

Christi Orgeron did not have a plate appearance due to four base on balls.

“They took Christi away from us so we had to have other people step up,” said Lotief. “We did a good job executing the double steal and the slappers did a good job exposing their defense.”

UL filled the bags in the top of the first and took a 1-0 lead as Draheim recorded an RBI after being hit by a pitch from Caty Jutson, scoring Fernandez. Smith posted the only hit in the inning, while Fernandez and Orgeron reached on walks.

The Blue Raiders evened the score in the bottom half on a homerun to left field by Nina Dever, who launched her sixth blast of the season on the 12^th pitch of her at bat.

Neither team could muster a run in the second as both squads had a runner in scoring position with two outs but were unable to produce an RBI as the game headed to the third all squared at one.

Draheim tallied her second RBI of the contest on a sacrifice fly in the third inning, scoring Orgeron from third and recapturing the lead for Louisiana, 2-1. Orgeron was walked earlier in the inning and advanced to third on a double down the line from Haack to set up the RBI opportunity for the junior catcher.

Middle Tennessee knotted the score at two in the bottom of the fourth on Kelsey Woodruff's solo shot to right center, her fifth homerun of the year.

The Ragin' Cajuns went ahead 3-2 in the top of the sixth on a successful double steal, scoring Fernandez, the sophomore's fourth stolen base of the game. Fernandez singled to third base with two outs to keep the inning alive. She stole second and advanced to third on an infield single by Smith to set up the double steal attempt.

MTSU wouldn't go away as they answered the UL run with their third solo homerun of the game in the bottom half of the sixth. Kaycee Popham blasted her eighth long ball of the year to right field to tie the score, 3-3.

Louisiana worked their second double steal of the game to perfection to grab a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh. Draheim stood on third with Cherry on first as the junior, Cherry, took off for second and beat the throw down, which scored Draheim from third for the winning run.

Brignac retired the Blue Raiders in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure her 15^th victory of the season and wrap up a 5-1 road trip.

The Cajuns will return to action next weekend as they play host to FAU in a three game series. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 21 at 11:05 a.m. and will be broadcasted by the Sun Belt Sports Network. The finale of the series will be on Sunday, April 22 at 1:05 p.m. and will also be televised by local KLAF.

--Ragin' Cajuns--

Cajuns Squeak Past Blue Raiders For Series Sweep

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