University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, May 17
Lamson Park
12 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
46-8-1
3
vs
2
Texas
34-22
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
Another Walk-off Advances Cajuns to the Regional Championship
5/17/2014 4:55:00 PM | Softball
LAFAYETTE, La. - Sara Corbello drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning, to finalize the No. 6 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns seventh-inning comeback and defeat the Texas Longhorns, 3-2, in the NCAA Lafayette Regional at Lamson Park on Saturday.
It was the Cajuns' (46-8-1) fourth walk-off victory in the last month, advancing them to their seventh-straight NCAA Regional Championship game, and a rematch with Texas at noon on Sunday.
"We played the way that we have played all year, today," head coach Michael Lotief said. Â "This team hasn't quit fighting and never quit believing. Â I thought we were right where we wanted to be. Â You could see the stage being set for us getting to the heart of the lineup coming up for the last time."
Christina Hamilton (26-2) got the win, tossing the complete game, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits and two walks, while fanning two batters. Â
Texas initiated the scoring in the top of the third inning, benefiting from a leadoff single by Stephanie Wong. Â Wong moved around the bases with a stolen base and an error, before scoring on a groundout. Â The ground-out would end the inning when the Cajuns threw out a second runner attempting to advance, but not after Wong crossed the plate. Â
The Cajuns responded in their half of the inning, loading the bases with a pair of singles from Natalie Fernandez and Haley Hayden and a walk to Lexie Elkins. Â Fernandez would come around to score when Shellie Landry was hit by the pitch, knotting the game at one.
Taylor Thom broke the tie in the first at-bat of the fourth, hitting her tenth home run of the season to give the Longhorns back the lead, 2-1. Â
Texas continued to pressure the Cajuns, stranding two runners on base in the sixth inning and getting a runner on second base in with one out in the sixth. Hamilton got a popup to the Fernandez at second, for the second out, leading to a stunning defensive effort by Kendall Smith for the final out. Â Smith made a diving grab in left field where she entered after pinch hitting in the sixth, stealing an extra-base hit and keeping the Cajuns within one run before their last at-bat.
Like they have so well in the past month, the Cajuns proved to be a team that won't give up, mounting a seventh inning rally to win the game. Elkins led the inning off with a full-count walk and was pinch-ran for by Cassidy White. Â Samantha Walsh followed up the walk with a single to right field, and Landry singled to left to load the bases for Shelbi Redfearn. Â
Redfearn hit a single to the left-center gap, scoring White and tying the game, but Lotief held Walsh at third, keeping the bases loaded with no outs. Â
Two batters later, Corbello put the game away, drawing a full-count walk after battling back from an 0-2 count to take a rise ball for ball four, and score Walsh from third. Â It was the sixth walk of the game issued by Texas pitcher, and Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Tiarra Davis (19-13). Â
"This is exactly where we want to be at this point in the tournament," Lotief said. Â "It's a long way from being over. Â When you put teams, especially with their backs against the wall, you know they are going to continue fighting with their backs against the wall. Expect more drama."
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-- Ragin' Cajuns --
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hamilton, Christina (26-2)
L: Davis, Tiarra (19-13)
Batting:
HR: Thom, Taylor 1
RBI: Stephens, Lindsey 1 ; Thom, Taylor 1
SH: Ogle, Mandy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thom, Taylor 1 ; Wong, Stephanie 1
SB: Washington, Brejae 1 ; Wong, Stephanie 1
Batting:
RBI: Landry, Shellie 1 ; Redfearn, Shelbi 1 ; Corbello, Sara 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fernandez, Natalie 1 ; White, Cassidy 1 ; Walsh, Samantha 1
HBP: Landry, Shellie 1 ; Redfearn, Shelbi 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
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