University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, May 10
San Marcos, Texas
4:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
42-16
4
vs
2
Troy
34-22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Troy
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
6
2
Louisiana
1
0
0
0
0
3
X
4
2
1
Late-Game Heroics Vault Ragin’ Cajuns Into SBC Championship Game
5/10/2024 8:42:00 PM | Softball
Victoria Valdez delivers game-winning home run for No. 18 Louisiana in the sixth inning
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Victoria Valdez's three-run home run in the sixth inning lifted the No. 18-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball team to a 4-2 win over Troy in the semifinals of the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament on Friday, May 10 in San Marcos, Texas.
With the win, Louisiana (42-16) advances to the championship round of the SBC Championship tournament for the 10th consecutive time (2014-19, 2021-24) and 22nd time overall in the 24-year history of the event. The Ragin' Cajuns will attempt to capture the program's 19th all-time championship in the title game on Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Valdez's heroics put the finishing touches on the Ragin' Cajuns breaking the no-hit hold from Troy's Libby Baker that had lasted for 5-2/3 innings. It also pulled UL out of the 2-1 deficit that existed for three straight at bats after Troy (34-22) took the lead in the third inning.
A two-out walk from Sam Roe and subsequent single off the bat of Brooke Ellestad set the stage for Valdez who swung at the first offering from Baker and deposited it over the left field wall for the game-winning tallies.
Sam Landry (5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 K) and Chloe Riassetto (1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R) combined to prevent a Troy response in the seventh, Riassetto re-entering the game to collect the final out off of the bat of Baker.
Louisiana captured its sixth comeback victory since April 23 and the third straight over the Trojans within the past week.
The Ragin' Cajuns struck first when a Trojans miscue allowed Mihyia Davis (leadoff walk) to score for a 1-0 edge in the first inning.
Baker buckled down afterwards, yielding only three additional baserunners through the fifth inning. She provided herself a 2-1 advantage with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the third.
Landry and the defense bought time for the offense to recover. After the two runs allowed in the third, Landry only faced one over the minimum each of the next three frames and when a runner reached second base in the fifth inning prevented an insurance run from scoring when a ground ball rolled to Ellestad checked the runner back to the bag.
Roe fouled off two pitches with a full count to collect the crucial walk in the bottom of the sixth that placed the game-winning moment in motion. Ellestad followed with the breakthrough hit off of Baker.
Louisiana remained perfect (5-0) against Troy in the SBC Championship tournament.
The Ragin' Cajuns improved to 74-9 (.892) all-time in the SBC Championship tournament and extended their win streak in the event to 16 straight games dating back to 2019.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
No. 18 Louisiana meets the winner of Friday's Texas State-South Alabama semifinal round contest on Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 p.m. in the championship game of the 204 Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament.
The Ragin' Cajuns are seeking a fifth consecutive SBC Championship tournament title – at the site where the streak began back in 2019 – and the 19th overall in the 24-year history of the event.
Live television coverage of Saturday's championship contest is available on ESPN+ while a radio broadcast is available on The Goat 103.3 FM and 1420 AM in the Acadiana region and worldwide on The Varsity Network.
Tickets remain available and can be purchased at TXST.com/Tickets. For all championship-related information, click to visit Sun Belt Softball Championship Central.
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 also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
With the win, Louisiana (42-16) advances to the championship round of the SBC Championship tournament for the 10th consecutive time (2014-19, 2021-24) and 22nd time overall in the 24-year history of the event. The Ragin' Cajuns will attempt to capture the program's 19th all-time championship in the title game on Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 p.m.
Valdez's heroics put the finishing touches on the Ragin' Cajuns breaking the no-hit hold from Troy's Libby Baker that had lasted for 5-2/3 innings. It also pulled UL out of the 2-1 deficit that existed for three straight at bats after Troy (34-22) took the lead in the third inning.
A two-out walk from Sam Roe and subsequent single off the bat of Brooke Ellestad set the stage for Valdez who swung at the first offering from Baker and deposited it over the left field wall for the game-winning tallies.
Sam Landry (5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 K) and Chloe Riassetto (1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R) combined to prevent a Troy response in the seventh, Riassetto re-entering the game to collect the final out off of the bat of Baker.
Louisiana captured its sixth comeback victory since April 23 and the third straight over the Trojans within the past week.
The Ragin' Cajuns struck first when a Trojans miscue allowed Mihyia Davis (leadoff walk) to score for a 1-0 edge in the first inning.
Baker buckled down afterwards, yielding only three additional baserunners through the fifth inning. She provided herself a 2-1 advantage with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the third.
Landry and the defense bought time for the offense to recover. After the two runs allowed in the third, Landry only faced one over the minimum each of the next three frames and when a runner reached second base in the fifth inning prevented an insurance run from scoring when a ground ball rolled to Ellestad checked the runner back to the bag.
Roe fouled off two pitches with a full count to collect the crucial walk in the bottom of the sixth that placed the game-winning moment in motion. Ellestad followed with the breakthrough hit off of Baker.
Louisiana remained perfect (5-0) against Troy in the SBC Championship tournament.
The Ragin' Cajuns improved to 74-9 (.892) all-time in the SBC Championship tournament and extended their win streak in the event to 16 straight games dating back to 2019.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
No. 18 Louisiana meets the winner of Friday's Texas State-South Alabama semifinal round contest on Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 p.m. in the championship game of the 204 Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament.
The Ragin' Cajuns are seeking a fifth consecutive SBC Championship tournament title – at the site where the streak began back in 2019 – and the 19th overall in the 24-year history of the event.
Live television coverage of Saturday's championship contest is available on ESPN+ while a radio broadcast is available on The Goat 103.3 FM and 1420 AM in the Acadiana region and worldwide on The Varsity Network.
Tickets remain available and can be purchased at TXST.com/Tickets. For all championship-related information, click to visit Sun Belt Softball Championship Central.
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 also 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: Landry, Sam (24-8)
L: Libby Baker (15-12)
S: Riassetto, Chloe (8)
Batting:
RBI: Libby Baker 2
SH: Cassidy Boltz 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Taylor McKinney 1 ; Natalie Turner 1
SB: Natalie Turner 1
Batting:
HR: Valdez, Victoria 1
RBI: Valdez, Victoria 3
SH: Hayden, Maddie 1 ; Vasquez, Cecilia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Davis, Mihyia 1 ; Williams, Dayzja 1 ; Ellestad, Brooke 1 ; Valdez, Victoria 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
2
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/IF
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