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<blockquote><p align=justify><b>Cajuns' offensive explosion impresses coach Lotief</b>
Stefni Lotief has seen her Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns do some impressive things this season, but this time they outdid themselves.
The Sun Belt Conference champions unleashed four home runs to tie an NCAA Tournament record on Friday in a 7-5 opening round win over Oregon in Region 14 play at the University of Oklahoma.
"The offense stole the show," Lotief said while watching Friday night's game between host OU and Wichita State, with that victor meeting UL today at 1 p.m. in winners' bracket action.
"They came out swinging the bats. Kudos to Michael (husband and co-head coach Michael Lotief) for getting them ready to play. The offense put a lot of pressure on.
"They came out swinging. They were focused and intense."
Danyele Gomez started the barrage with a solo shot in the first inning, her 20th of the campaign.
Lacey Bertucci provided a three-run blast in the fourth - her 16th - to up the count to 4-0.
Tiffany Hebert found the perfect time to hit her first circuit shot of the season with a solo effort in the sixth.
And senior catcher Joy Webre provided an insurance run with a homer in the seventh.
"Danyele set the tone," Lotief said, "but if it hadn't been her it would have been somebody else the way we were swinging the bat.
"It was very hot, but nothing phased them."
In fact, Webre's solo homer came after the game was delayed by a switch in umpires required when the heat became too much for one of the crew.
The four home runs bring the Cajuns' season total to 80.
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Bruce Brown
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"We step it up because we know we have competition," Bertucci said. "Last year we did that, but didn't come out on top. This is a different year. We are a threat to a lot of people. Everyone knows that.
"We are the underdogs. We like to prove everyone wrong."
The Cajuns also showed they know how to play "small ball" as another run was produced in the fifth inning on a double steal with Webre pilfering second and Ashley Evans dashing home.
But it was the home run barrage that opened eyes, as the No. 3-seeded Cajuns improved to 51-8 on the season and dropped Oregon to 34-24.
The highlight for Oregon was a three-run Beth Boskovich home run in the sixth inning that closed the gap to a tenuous 6-5 before Webre delivered her 9th homer of 2005.
"We had some opportunities to score, but couldn't get the timely hits we needed," said Ducks coach Kathy Arednsen, who fell to 1-5 all-time against the Cajuns as she watched both teams strand eight runners.
The Boskovich homer finished the day for UL starter Brooke Mitchell after 5 2/3 innings of work, with Heather Bobbitt perfect in relief.
"Brooke threw well," said Lotief, who rested the injured All-American during the season stretch run. "Obviously she was slow getting back in the groove. She had a couple of times when she had a full count and ended up losing them."
Mitchell walked five Oregon batters and also hit four as she struggled to find her control.
But, as long as the Cajuns swing the bats like they did Friday, they have a chance to advance this weekend.
"One down," Lotief said.
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<! Louisiana picked up its third straight NCAA opening-round victory and improved to 11-4 all-time in NCAA regional openers. ><blockquote><p align=justify>NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 14-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette softball team slammed four home runs -- tying an NCAA tournament single-game record -- in a 7-5 victory over Oregon on Friday in an NCAA regional opener at the University of Oklahoma.
The victory sets up the Ragin' Cajuns (51-8), the regional's No. 3 seed, with a showdown at 1 p.m. today against top-seeded Oklahoma, in a rematch of their regional final of a year ago. The Sooners blanked Wichita State, 2-0.
Louisiana (51-8) teed off on Oregon's Amy Harris for the second time in postseason play. Harris was the pitcher of record in the Cajuns' 6-4 win over the Ducks in an NCAA regional two years ago in Fullerton, Calif., which propelled UL-Lafayette into the Women's College World Series.
On that day, Harris lasted only one-third of an inning, giving up four runs.
Friday in Norman the Cajuns touched Harris for four home runs, getting one apiece from Danyele Gomez, Lacey Bertucci, Tiffany Hebert and Joy Webre.
Hebert and Webre's homers were solo shots, but they were runs that Cajuns used after Oregon made a late push in the sixth inning.
Second-seeded Oregon (34-24) was held at bay by UL-Lafayette starter Brooke Mitchell (28-7, 0.92 earned run average), who pitched 52/3 innings while the offense built its lead.
Heather Bobbitt relieved Mitchell with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning after Beth Boskovich's three-run home run pulled Oregon within 6-5.
Bobbitt pitched 11/3 innings of hitless relief for her second save.
"It was a thriller and a well-played game on both sides," said UL co-head coach Stefni Lotief. "It was hot out there but it was nice the way we swung the bat.
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"I give kudos to our hitters and (assistant) coach Mike Lotief for getting us ready for the game. We're used to being the underdog. We try to play each pitch the best we can. We can't control who is on the other side of the field. All we try to do is play Ragin' Cajun softball the best we can."
Louisiana picked up its third straight NCAA opening-round victory and improved to 11-4 all-time in NCAA regional openers.
The four home runs by the Cajuns increased their season total to 80 -- their second straight season with 80-plus home runs.
Texas A&M Regional
In College Station, Texas, Centenary and McNeese State will battle each other to stay alive after the Louisiana teams dropped their tournament openers Friday afternoon.
Centenary drew eight walks, but was held to only two hits in falling 5-0 to Penn State in the regional opener.
Then host Texas A&M erupted for five first-inning runs en route to a 6-3 victory over McNeese in the nightcap.
Penn State and A&M will meet at noon today, with McNeese facing Centenary in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. The winner will then meet the loser of the Penn State-A&M contest at 5:30 p.m.
PENN STATE 5, CENTENARY 0: Lauren Flowers and Katie Harwick managed the only hits off for Centenary (31-27).
The Nittany Lions got on the board in the second inning on Hollee Haines' solo home run, then added two runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings.
Third-seeded Centenary loaded the bases with two outs against Penn State starter and winner Missy Beseres (16-12), but relief pitcher Jenn Reynolds struck out Megan Hall to end the game. Jessica Ivins (12-13) took the loss for the Ladies.
TEXAS A&M 6, McNEESE 0: Jana James' two-run double ignited the five-run, first-inning outburst that propelled the Aggies to their 19th straight home victory (45-8).
The Aggies scored another run in the third to make it 6-0 before McNeese cut the deficit with two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh.
Beth Jordan had two hits and two runs batted in and Nicole Edlund had a home for McNeese (33-34).
Jessica Denham, who allowed eight hits and three earned runs, took the loss for the Cowgirls.
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Bottom of 5th
Cajuns--0
Sonners-3
Robertson blast one to tie the game at 3-3. her 5th of the year
Geaux Cajuns we are right back in the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Clutch0364
now 5 to 3 sooners leading top 6th.
the umpires are really calling a one sided game and not in our favor. 5-3 going to the bottom of the 6th
now 7 to 3
Cajuns lose 7-3 and move on to a match up with either Oregon or Wichita tonight in the losers bracket. Let's move on and take it to whoever we have to face.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clutch0364
Cajun lose 6 to 3 I made a mistake on the score earlier, the only good that comes from this is we will get a game rest while the loser plays back to back.
JMV do you think we will see brooke again at all in this tourny. Her ribs seemed to give her a lot of problems yesterday and forced her to work out of some bad situations. I think Bobbit and Kershberg can handle it, what do you think?