Cauns Sweep WKU on Saturday, Clinch Regular Season SBC Title

Contact: Cory Weigel

Box Score: Game One
Box Score: Game Two

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A couple of two-run homeruns in each game of the doubleheader, paved way for the Ragin' Cajuns as they swept Western Kentucky, 4-1 in the opener, and, 2-1 in the nightcap, at the WKU Softball Field on Saturday afternoon.

The sweep secured the 12^th regular season Sun Belt Conference title in the 13-year league history, and the fifth in a row, for UL (42-2, 18-2).

Christi Orgeron broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning of game one with a two-run shot, giving her a team-high 19 homeruns on the year and upping her RBI total to 85 on the year, which leads the nation. The long ball marked the fourth straight game, in which Orgeron has homered.

Paige Cormier came up clutch with a two-run blast in the seventh inning of game two, breaking a scoreless tie and guiding the Cajuns to the sweep. The homerun was the ninth of the year for the senior, and her second in the last three games.

Ashley Brignac (18-2) picked up her sixth consecutive victory after hurling a complete game, allowing six hits, one walk and fanning 10 WKU (28-22-1, 10-11-1) batters. The River Ridge, La. native equaled a season-high by notching her second double digit strikeout game of the year.

Jordan Wallace (22-0) continued her perfect season firing her 16^th complete game of the year, scattering just two hits and whiffing three.

“Our kids just keep finding ways to get it done,” co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “I'm proud of how they compete. Their focus and determination are some of the hallmarks of this season. Even when we struggle in our execution, these kids still compete.”

“Win or lose, this team has learned the game's lesson of showing up and competing. Whether it's their best performance or not, they have shown the ability to mentally compete and that's what matters most to us!”

GAME ONE

The Lady Toppers scored the first run of the contest as they took a 1-0 lead off Brignac in the bottom of the opening inning. WKU loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before Brignac hit Laura Smith with a 1-0 pitch to bring Preslie Cruce in from third for the early advantage. Brignac recorded her 800^th career strikeout in the inning, becoming just the fourth UL pitcher to tally 800 punch outs in her career.

The score remained unchanged through threw innings as Brignac retired the side in order in the bottom of the third, including her fourth and fifth strikeouts of the game.

The Ragin' Cajuns put two runners on with one out in the top of the fourth on back-to-back hits from Matte Haack and Sarah Draheim, but WKU pitcher Emily Rousseau induced fly outs from Brianna Cherry and Paige Cormier to get out of the half inning unscathed.

Brignac struck out two more in the bottom of the fourth and sent the Lady Toppers down in order, marking seven straight batters retired for the fifth year senior.

UL was finally able to scratch a few runs across as they scored three in the top of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. Natalie Fernandez singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a Katie Smith fielder's choice groundout. With two outs, Nerissa Myers came up with another clutch hit reaching on an infield single to shortstop, plating Fernandez and tying the score at one. Orgeron then stepped in and launched the first pitch she saw over the right field wall for the two-run advantage.

The Cajuns added another run in the sixth to build a 4-1 lead as Erikka Murphy singled to center to bring Cherry around from second, giving Murphy her fifth RBI of the season.

Brignac closed the door, retiring six of the final eight WKU hitters to secure the Cajuns 42^nd win of the year.

GAME TWO

The Ragin' Cajuns loaded the bases in the top of the second with two outs but failed to score as Fernandez grounded out to third to end the threat.

Wallace retired the Lady Toppers for the second consecutive inning in the bottom half of the second to keep the game scoreless through two frames.

Western Kentucky had runners on second and third with two outs after a walk and a base hit but Wallace got Kelsie Mattox to pop out to second for the final out of the third.

Cormier and Murphy reached on errors to begin the top of the fifth and were moved up a base on a Fernandez groundout. However, Louisiana was unable to score as Cormier was thrown out at home on a Smith chopper and Myers grounded out to shortstop for the third out.

The game remained scoreless through six innings as Wallace retired the Lady Toppers in order, marking 10 straight batters sent down by the freshman.

The Ragin' Cajuns struck in the top of the seventh as Cormier broke the scoreless tie with a two-run blast to left center, scoring Cherry for a UL 2-0 lead.

Western Kentucky wouldn't go down without a fight as Karavin Dew led off the bottom of the seventh by launching a 2-0 offering from Wallace over the left center fence, cutting the UL lead to, 2-1. Wallace responded to retire the next three WKU hitters to finish off her two-hitter.

Louisiana and Western Kentucky will do battle in the finale of the three game series on Sunday at the WKU Softball Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

--Ragin' Cajuns--

Cauns Sweep WKU on Saturday, Clinch Regular Season SBC Title

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