UL Pitching and Key Hits Lead to Doubleheader Sweep of USA

Contact: Cory Weigel

Box Score: Game One
Box Score: Game Two

LAFAYETTE, La. -- The Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff stepped up huge in a pivotal doubleheader against SBC opponent South Alabama as Louisiana came away with the sweep winning, 1-0, in 10 innings in game one and, 2-0, in the nightcap.

UL (32-1, 7-1) was held to their two lowest run scoring outputs of the season. The Cajuns previous low was a pair of three run wins over Texas A&M - Corpus Christi (3/2) and Houston (3/7).

“This is the kind of softball you have to play if you want to win,” co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “You know if you get into a pitching duel it's going to be low scoring.”

Jordan Wallace (17-0) kept her record unblemished and is off to one of the best starts for a freshman pitcher in NCAA history. The Weatherford, Texas native had arguably the best start of her young career, hurling a 10 inning shutout, while striking out a career-high 16 batters and allowing just five hits.

Ashley Brignac (12-1) followed up Wallace's performance with a masterpiece of her own. The senior threw a complete game shutout, surrendering a mere three hits and struck out eight USA (24-11, 11-4) hitters.

“Coach Joy (Webre) and coach Stefni (Lotief) worked with Jordan and Ashley over the break,” Lotief said. “They were lights out and carried us tonight. South Alabama is a good hitting team and they pitched very well.”

Brianna Cherry was the hero at the plate in game one, driving in Christi Orgeron in the bottom of the 10^th for the lone run of the game.

Orgeron provided the only offense in the second contest, with a two RBI single in the first inning for her 61^st and 62^nd RBI's of the year.

GAME ONE

Wallace shut down the Jaguars in order in the top of the first, striking out the first two batters and inducing a fly out from Brittany Fowler for the third out.

Christi Orgeron recorded the first hit of the game on a two out single to left field but the Cajuns were unable to come away with anymore damage as Matte Haack lined out to second to end the first frame.

Wallace continued to dominate in the early going, punching out two more South Alabama hitters in the top of the second for her third and fourth strikeouts of the game.

USA pitcher Hannah Campbell struck out her first two UL batters in the bottom half, retiring the Cajuns in order as the game remained scoreless through two.

In the third, Wallace recorded all of her outs by way of a strikeout. The Cajuns posted two singles by Erikka Murphy and Smith but were unable to produce a run keeping the score knotted at zero.

Both teams had runners reach scoring position in the fourth as Wallace allowed her first two hits of the game and the Cajuns had Brianna Cherry and Paige Cormier aboard, but the pitching duel remained intact with both aces wiggling out of jams and getting through the fourth unscathed.

Neither team threatened for the next three innings until UL came to bat in the bottom of the seventh. The Ragin' Cajuns received a walk from Murphy and a single by Natalie Fernandez with one out as Smith came to the dish in an attempt to break a scoreless tie. Campbell got Smith to strikeout swinging and induced Nerissa Myers into a groundout to send the game to extra innings.

The ninth inning proved to be nerve wrecking for both sides. South Alabama loaded the bases with one out on Wallace. The freshman responded by recording a huge strikeout of Julie Moss and got Kaitlyn Griffith to fly out to Orgeron for the third out.

UL also loaded the bases in the bottom half with just one away. However, Smith lined out to short and Myers flew out to left as the score stayed 0-0.

Wallace struck out the leadoff hitter Katy Neal in the top of the 10^th for her 16^th strikeout of the contest as she was able to get through the 10^th without allowing a Jaguar run.

Louisiana had the meat of their order coming to bat in their half. Orgeron led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Haack then moved Orgeron over to third on a sacrifice bunt to bring Cherry to the plate for a game-winning opportunity. The junior smoked the first pitch she saw, in between third and short, as the shortstop Fowler made a diving stop but her throw home was not in time to beat the sliding Orgeron for the winning run.

GAME TWO

Brignac retired the South Alabama hitters in order to open the game, bringing the Cajuns to the plate in the bottom of the first.

The leadoff batter Smith doubled to begin the bottom half and Myers reached on an error setting up a first and third opportunity for Orgeron with no outs. Myers put herself into scoring position by stealing second before the nation's RBI leader, Orgeron, delivered with a single to left center, scoring Smith and Myers for a 2-0 UL lead.

The squads were held scoreless through the next two innings. Brignac kept the Jaguars in check by not allowing a runner to reach second base and struck out two. Louisiana was able to get two runners on in the second and third but USA freshman hurler Farish Beard worked her way out of both jams.

The third inning proved to be the last inning either team would produce a hit in the game. Brignac retired the final 13 batters she faced and Beard sent down 10 of her last 12, while the teams combined for just seven hits in the ball game.

The Cajuns and Jaguars will wrap up their three game series on Saturday as the teams will play the finale, with the first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Lamson Park.

--Ragin' Cajuns--

UL Pitching and Key Hits Lead to Doubleheader Sweep of USA

Next Event

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics