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Behind the pitching of freshman phenoms Donna Bourgeois and Ashley Brignac, UL's softball program extended its lead atop the Sun Belt Conference standings.
The 17th-ranked Lady Cajuns moved a step closer to clinching a conference championship on Wednesday, sweeping the first two games of a three-game set against reigning Sun Belt champion Florida Atlantic at Lamson Park. After winning 5-1 in the opener, the Cajuns closed out the night with a 4-0 win.
Bourgeois and Brignac allowed a combined two hits and one unearned run in 14 innings, striking out 23 and walking only three.
"They were quick," FAU coach Joan Joyce said of UL's pitching duo. "They both throw it hard, but Brignac throws it a little harder.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/SPORTS/804170315/1006" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
Joshua Parrott
jparrott@theadvertiser.com
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"Brignac reminds me a lot of (former University of Arizona and current Team USA pitcher) Jennie Finch. She throws it real hard but has good control, too."
The reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week, Bourgeois (10-2) helped the Cajuns win Game 1. The Teurlings Catholic graduate allowed two hits and one unearned run in seven innings, striking out 10.
Brignac (19-6) followed that up in style, tossing seven no-hit innings and tying a career high with 13 strikeouts.
With the two wins, the Cajuns (33-10, 11-2 SBC) stretched their winning streak to 12 games and moved further ahead of FAU (28-21, 10-5) atop the Sun Belt. The teams wrap up the series at 5 p.m. today.
"Our pitching is amazing and awesome," said UL outfielder Katie Smith, who went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader. "Knowing what they can do makes all the rest of us feel even more secure."
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