University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

No. 19 Louisiana Stumps ULM with Late-Inning Home Runs
4/26/2024 10:29:00 PM | Softball
Ragin’ Cajuns claim comeback win and share of conference title on the same night
With the win and Texas State's loss, Louisiana (36-15, 18-1 SBC) clinched a share of the Sun Belt Conference regular season championship – guaranteed a fifth consecutive season finishing atop the conference standings. The Ragin' Cajuns are now one win shy of an outright title.
A home run from Sam Roe (1-for-3, HR ,RBI) and RBI single from Maddie Hayden (1-for-4, RBI) factored into Louisiana opening a 3-0 lead by the third inning.
ULM (28-21, 9-10 SBC) strung together six hits in the bottom of the third leading to a four-run frame that turned the tables on the Ragin' Cajuns and gave the hosts a 4-3 edge.
The next two innings turned into a relief pitcher standoff between UL's Sam Landry and ULM's Gianni Hulett with no change in the score through the fifth inning.
Victoria Valdez's leadoff home run in the sixth inning drew the Ragin' Cajuns even, then in the seventh inning Brooke Ellestad (2-for-4, HR, RBI) took her turn delivering a home run and provided the go-ahead run.
Landry (4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 K) turned in a commanding relief effort for the second straight game. In addition to bringing the Warhawks uprising to a halt in the third, she retired the side in order twice and not once allowed a leadoff batter to reach base in the four full innings of relief.
Louisiana stretched its winning streak to seven games and posted a come-from-behind win for the third time in as many games this week.
The Ragin' Cajuns extended their series win streak over the Warhawks to nine games dating back to 2021. Louisiana upped its overall series lead to 120-28 which includes a 41-5 mark in SBC regular season play.
Friday's result inched the Ragin' Cajuns closer to a 25th consecutive 40-win season, now just four wins shy of the accomplishment.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana and ULM continue the three-game Sun Belt Conference series in Monroe at the ULM Softball Complex with game two on Saturday, April 27. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.
On Saturday, the Ragin' Cajuns will attempt to claim an outright SBC regular season title and extend its nation-leading total of consecutive conference series won to 88 straight.
The game is being broadcast on ESPN+. Fans can hear a radio broadcast on The Goat 103.3 FM and 1420 AM in the Acadiana region and worldwide on The Varsity Network.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Landry, Sam (19-7)
L: Hulett,Gianni (1-1)

Batting:
HR: Ellestad, Brooke 1 ; Roe, Sam 1 ; Valdez, Victoria 1
RBI: Hayden, Maddie 1 ; Ellestad, Brooke 1 ; Roe, Sam 1 ; Valdez, Victoria 1
SH: Falterman, Kayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Davis, Mihyia 1 ; Ellestad, Brooke 1 ; Roe, Sam 1 ; Valdez, Victoria 1 ; Falterman, Kayla 1
SB: Hayden, Maddie 1 ; Falterman, Kayla 1
HBP: Roe, Sam 1

Batting:
2B: Zenzen,Maryssa 1 ; Platt,Carys 1
RBI: Zenzen,Maryssa 1 ; Edwards,Andie 1 ; England,Madelyn 1 ; Thompson,Layla 1
SH: Lippert,Brooklin 1 ; Thompson,Layla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bacon,Lourdes 1 ; Lippert,Brooklin 1 ; Brown,Meagan 1 ; Edwards,Andie 1
HBP: Zenzen,Maryssa 1