Note: Louisiana-Lafayette went 3-0 in pool play to capture the No. 1 seed from Pool “B”. The Ragin’ Cajuns will face Penn State at 1:15 p.m. (CDT) in the quarterfinals of the Championship Bracket on Saturday, March 17.
FULLERTON, Calif. – The 17th-ranked Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball squad wrapped up pool play in the Judi Garman Classic late Friday night, as they faced Notre Dame, and came away with a victory to finish undefeated (3-0) in pool play.
Behind the pitching of Holly Tankersley and a six hit attack from the offense the Cajuns defeated Notre Dame 4-2 to capture the No. 1 seed in Pool B and move into play in the Championship Bracket on Saturday.
Louisiana-Lafayette will now face Penn State at 1:15 p.m., CDT, in the quarterfinal round of the Championship Bracket.
Tankersley scattered five hits and struck out seven Notre Dame hitters to improve her overall record to 9-3. UL is now 27-6 overall with the win.
Notre Dame pitcher Brittney Bargar falls to 6-6 on the season with the complete game loss, and Notre Dame is now 9-10 overall.
The Cajuns wasted little time as the took a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning on a two out, solo home run from Lacey Bertucci, her sixth of the season.
Desi Chatman and Melissa Verde added two out singles for UL, following the Bertucci home run in Louisana's half of the first.
Tankersley worked out of trouble in the top of the third after two hit batters and a wild pitch placed Notre Dame runners at second and third with one out. Tankersley forced ground outs to third and second to end the inning and the Cajuns took their 1-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning.
Notre Dame tied the score at one in the top half of the fourth inning on a Heather Johnson single to lead off the inning and a Christine Lux double to left field.
UL answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as Meagan Godwin led off with a single to center and Vallie Gaspard walked. A Karli Hubbard ground out advanced Godwin and Gaspard to second and third and they would both score on a Tankersley double down the left field line.
Tankersley scored on a Bertucci single and at the end of four the Cajuns led 4-1.
Notre Dame cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, as Katie Laing walked and Linda Kohan singled later in the inning. Laign scored on a Cajun error.
LOUISIANA SI