University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, May 12
Lafayette
7:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
45-13
4
vs
1
Texas State
34-23-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Louisiana
0
0
2
1
1
0
0
4
10
0
Texas State
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
8
1
Cajuns Pull Out All the Stops to Land SBC Tournament Title Game Trip
5/12/2023 11:36:00 PM | Softball
Starting with two-run bunt double, Louisiana flips the game upside down on Texas State
LAFAYETTE – After a quiet two innings the No. 24-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball team used the element of surprise to break through and capture a 4-1 win over Texas State on Friday, May 12 in the semifinal round of the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
After Maddie Hayden singled and Victoria Valdez doubled to start the third inning in a scoreless contest, the Ragin' Cajuns (45-13) went to the short game with Cecilia Vasquez putting down the bunt simply seeking to push her teammates along the base path.
Vasquez was able to drop the bunt at an angle that wedged the ball between Texas State pitcher Jessica Mullins and first baseman JJ Smith and rolled into no-man's land allowing both Hayden and Valdez to score for a 2-0 lead and Vasquez to wind up on second base with a double.
The Bobcats (34-23-1) had a quick reply with an RBI double and were looking to get even again when the arm of Mihyia Davis came to Louisiana's rescue. Davis picked up Karmyn Bass' single to center field and fired a throw to home that stopped Megan Kelnar from scoring a would-be equalizing tally.
After Davis' heroic throw it was Kandra Lamb (4.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 5 K), who entered in relief in the third inning, heating up with a pair of strikeouts in the fourth inning to begin the first of four full scoreless frames thrown to close the night.
Insurance runs for Lamb came in the form of Maddie Hayden's RBI single that plated Alexa Langeliers who looped a two-out double into left field in the fourth inning and a two-out home run crush from Sophie Piskos in the fifth inning that increased the lead to 4-1.
Lamb preserved the triumph in the sixth inning when the first sign of danger during her relief stint arose. The Bobcats loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a two-out walk. Pinch hitter Emilee Baker worked a full count, but Lamb won the seven-pitch at bat with a crucial strikeout looking.
An inning later with the Bobcats down to their final out, Lamb clamped down again after a leadoff bunt single by eventually getting a strikeout swinging of Sara Vanderford in a marathon 12-pitch at bat.
The win advanced the Ragin' Cajuns into the championship game of the SBC Tournament on Saturday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. at Lamson Park where the hosts will face conference newcomer Marshall (45-9) for the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Louisiana extended its Sun Belt Tournament win streak, which dates back to the 2019, to 13 games and moved to 71-9 all-time in the event.
The Ragin' Cajuns also earned the program's ninth consecutive appearance in the championship game dating back to 2014, and the 21st overall in 23 editions of the conference's postseason event.
On Saturday, the three-time defending champion Ragin' Cajuns, seek a four-peat – for the first time since 2008-11 – and the program's 18th overall SBC Tournament championship.
The Sun Belt Tournament Championship Game will air on 103.3 FM The Goat in the Acadiana region and the Varsity Network app worldwide with Cody Junot and Bobbby Neveaux calling the action. Live video will be provided by an ESPN+ broadcast that features play-by-play from Noah Frary and analysis from Dorian Craft.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Facebook (/RaginCajunsSB), Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@Louisiana.SB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Softball.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
After Maddie Hayden singled and Victoria Valdez doubled to start the third inning in a scoreless contest, the Ragin' Cajuns (45-13) went to the short game with Cecilia Vasquez putting down the bunt simply seeking to push her teammates along the base path.
Vasquez was able to drop the bunt at an angle that wedged the ball between Texas State pitcher Jessica Mullins and first baseman JJ Smith and rolled into no-man's land allowing both Hayden and Valdez to score for a 2-0 lead and Vasquez to wind up on second base with a double.
The Bobcats (34-23-1) had a quick reply with an RBI double and were looking to get even again when the arm of Mihyia Davis came to Louisiana's rescue. Davis picked up Karmyn Bass' single to center field and fired a throw to home that stopped Megan Kelnar from scoring a would-be equalizing tally.
After Davis' heroic throw it was Kandra Lamb (4.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 5 K), who entered in relief in the third inning, heating up with a pair of strikeouts in the fourth inning to begin the first of four full scoreless frames thrown to close the night.
Insurance runs for Lamb came in the form of Maddie Hayden's RBI single that plated Alexa Langeliers who looped a two-out double into left field in the fourth inning and a two-out home run crush from Sophie Piskos in the fifth inning that increased the lead to 4-1.
Lamb preserved the triumph in the sixth inning when the first sign of danger during her relief stint arose. The Bobcats loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a two-out walk. Pinch hitter Emilee Baker worked a full count, but Lamb won the seven-pitch at bat with a crucial strikeout looking.
An inning later with the Bobcats down to their final out, Lamb clamped down again after a leadoff bunt single by eventually getting a strikeout swinging of Sara Vanderford in a marathon 12-pitch at bat.
The win advanced the Ragin' Cajuns into the championship game of the SBC Tournament on Saturday, May 13 at 1:00 p.m. at Lamson Park where the hosts will face conference newcomer Marshall (45-9) for the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Louisiana extended its Sun Belt Tournament win streak, which dates back to the 2019, to 13 games and moved to 71-9 all-time in the event.
The Ragin' Cajuns also earned the program's ninth consecutive appearance in the championship game dating back to 2014, and the 21st overall in 23 editions of the conference's postseason event.
On Saturday, the three-time defending champion Ragin' Cajuns, seek a four-peat – for the first time since 2008-11 – and the program's 18th overall SBC Tournament championship.
The Sun Belt Tournament Championship Game will air on 103.3 FM The Goat in the Acadiana region and the Varsity Network app worldwide with Cody Junot and Bobbby Neveaux calling the action. Live video will be provided by an ESPN+ broadcast that features play-by-play from Noah Frary and analysis from Dorian Craft.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Facebook (/RaginCajunsSB), Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@Louisiana.SB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Softball.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lamb, Kandra (9-1)
L: Mullins, Jessica (21-11)
Batting:
2B: Langeliers, Alexa 1 ; Valdez, Victoria 1 ; Vasquez, Cecilia 1
HR: Piskos, Sophie 1
RBI: Piskos, Sophie 1 ; Hayden, Maddie 1 ; Vasquez, Cecilia 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Piskos, Sophie 1 ; Langeliers, Alexa 1 ; Hayden, Maddie 1 ; Valdez, Victoria 1
SB: Falterman, Kayla 1 ; Hayden, Maddie 1 ; Kotzelnick, Stormy 1
CS: Griffin, Kylei 1 ; Heath, Karly 1
Batting:
2B: Kelnar, Megan 1
RBI: Kelnar, Megan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Trahan, Ciara 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
lf/dp
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
dp/c
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
IF
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