The Book: 2003 Softball

[NewsCopy]

In game two, the Cajuns made it a perfect day in the win column with a 9-1 6-inning, mercy-rule pouncing of SEC-member Auburn (8-8) in the first meeting between the two schools.

Auburn scored in the bottom of the first inning off Cajuns starter Brooke Mitchell, but she settled down after that, holding the Tigers scoreless the remaining five innings and striking out eight.

at the end of the same story

[NewsCopy]

Louisiana sophomore hurler tossed perfect game in season opener

LOUISIANA Là - The season got off to a “perfect” start for Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball pitcher Brooke Mitchell last week and on Tuesday she was rewarded with the Sun Belt Conference’s first Pitcher of the Week Award for the 2003 regular season.

The Pasadena, Texas, native finished the week with a 2-1 record and allowed only one earned run in 17 innings of work in the pitcher’s circle for the Ragin’ Cajuns and enters this week’s action sporting a 0.41 ERA.

Mitchell began the season in fine fashion, tossing a five-inning perfect game against Louisiana Tech last Tuesday. She struck out five Lady Techsters, walked none and hit none in tossing the first perfect outing of her collegiate career and sixth shutout.

She ended the week striking out 25 batters and walking only two in 17 innings. She struck out 12 batters Friday in a hard-luck 2-0 loss to Tulsa _ one in which the Golden Hurricane won on a two-out error in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In her final start of the week she tossed a complete-game four-hitter against Auburn while striking out eight in leading Louisiana-Lafayette to a 9-1 mercy-rule rout of the SEC-member Tigers.

Mitchell finished the ULM Mardi Gras Classic with 20 strikeouts over 13 innings. She allowed just nine hits the entire week. She has 189 career strikeouts and needs just 11 more to reach 200 in her brief career.

ULSI

[NewsCopy]

Brooke Mitchell strikes out 24 batters in 11.1 innings

Louisiana's Lady Cajuns softball continued their winning ways with a doubleheader sweep of Nicholls State on Wednesday night. The Cajuns got the better of a pitching duel to win the first game 1-0, while the Cajuns used four early runs to best the Lady Colonels 6-3 in the nightcap.

Brooke Mitchell won both games for the Cajuns, improving to 4-1 on the season. The sophomore hurler struck out 24 batters in 11 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and no earned runs.

The Cajuns (6-1) jumped on game two starter Nicole Wagner early. Tiffany Grayson led off the second inning with a double to deep center field. Brittany Bryant hit a shot to right center that scored Grayson. Bryant moved to third on a two-base error by centerfielder Jennifer Paray. Then, Crystal George's bloop single over second base scored Bryant to give Louisiana a 2-0 cushion.

The Lady Cajuns added two more runs in the third. Jill Robertson led off with a single and scored on a double by Becky McMurtry. McMurtry advanced to third on a groundout by Danyele Gomez, and then scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Grayson.

The Lady Colonels (3-3) came back to score three unearned runs on starter Michael Parrott. Chrissy Jenkins started the bottom of the third with a single. Lindsey Yelverton reached on a fielder’s choice and Jenkins moved to second on the play on an error by Robertson. Dione Meier reached on a two-base error by Grayson, which scored Jenkins and Yelverton. Meier then scored on a bloop single by Coleman.

Mitchell came on to pitch with two outs in the third, replacing Parrott, who allowed three runs, all unearned, on three hits.

While Mitchell held the hosts at bay, the Cajuns tacked on two more runs in the fifth. Robertson was able to get on base after a two base error by Stephanie Sasser. McMurtry advanced Robertson to third with a groundout to second, before a Gomez single plated Robertson. Grayson then singled down the third base line to score Gomez, who had advanced to second on a balk by Wagner.

Louisiana put runners on the corners with no outs in the sixth, but squandered a chance to pad their lead. NSU collected a pair of strikeouts and picked a runner off third base to keep the game within reach.

---

GAME ONE RECAP

In the first game, an excellent pitcher's duel was decided by one inning of costly errors.

Crystal George led off the top of the sixth with a single up the middle. Jill Robertson lined out to left field before Becky McMurtry's grounder was booted by Teri Clouatre at second base, giving the Cajuns runners on first and second with just one out. Danyele Gomez loaded the bases after her fly
ball was dropped in right field by Jamee Henry. Tiffany Hebert, who pinch ran for George, scored the games only run on a wild pitch.

Nicholls State's starter Dione Meier entered the game fresh off pitching a no-hitter at Ole Miss. The junior transfer from Galveston College pitched well, but took the hard-luck loss. She allowed only four hits and no earned runs, while striking out 13.

Her counterpart, Brooke Mitchell, improved to 3-1 on the season by dominating the Lady Colonels. Mitchell allowed only one hit and tied a career-high by striking out 15 batters, only facing one tough inning.

The Lady Colonels threatened in the bottom of the fourth. Mitchell struck out Lindsay Coleman, but she reached base on a wild pitch. After Kristin Blanchard struck out, Clouatre walked. Both runners advanced to second and third following a passed ball. Mitchell struck out the next two batters, giving her four K’s in the inning, to escape the fourth unscathed.

George picked-up two of the Cajuns four hits.

The Cajuns will return home to host the Louisiana Classics Feb. 28-Mar. 2.

ULSI

[CajunCharlie]

Lady Cajuns win tonight 5-3. If I remember correctly 3 homeruns and 12 hits. A good win!

[CrewChief]

Luv those lady cajuns.

[NewsCopy]

Lady Cajuns cruise past MSU for Classics title.

LAFAYETTE — Jill Robertson has left the building.

So has Danyele Gomez.

So has Lauren Castle.

So has Becky McMurtry.

Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns made short work of the McNeese State Cowgirls in Sunday’s final game of the Louisiana Classics, long-balling their way to a 5-inning, 11-0 victory to clinch the tournament title at Lady Cajun Park.

Coach Stefni Lotief’s team went 4-1 on the weekend. For all intents and purposes, they sewed up the crown with Saturday night’s 5-3 win over Notre Dame, which finished 3-2 with a 12-7 Sunday win over Northwestern State.

McMurtry was named Most Outstanding Player on the Cajun-laden All-Tournament Team after lashing her fourth home run of the weekend in Sunday’s runaway win and going 6-for-15 with 9 RBI in the five games.

The rest of the story

Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Gomez, Mitchell pace Lady Cajuns’ twinbill sweep

LAFAYETTE – Danyele Gomez continued her breakout freshman campaign, blasting three home runs and driving in nine runs and Brooke Mitchell tossed her first career no-hitter as Louisiana's Lady Cajuns softball team cruised to a 4-0, 13-5 doubleheader sweep of Southern Mississippi here Sunday at Lady Cajun Park.

Gomez was 3-for-3 with two home runs and six RBIs in the second game of the afternoon twinbill to pace the Lady Cajuns offense which belted five home runs in that game.

The Metairie native ended the day 4-for-6 with nine RBIs and three home runs. She now has six homers this season and 18 RBIs and raised her team-leading average to .413.

Louisiana (12-2) concluded the day with seven home runs to run its season total to 29 home runs through 14 games for an average of 2.1 home runs per game. The Lady Cajuns have hit 22 home runs in their last seven outings. Louisiana is now on pace to hit 103 home runs which would easily shatter the school record of 76 set last season.

Louisiana has won 10 of its last 11 and will conclude its current nine-game homestand at 3 p.m. today against Boston University in a doubleheader.

The rest of the story

South Louisiana Publishing

[Turbine]

allow time for video to load.

[Turbine]

I had to leave the game in the fourth. By then the HOMERUN fun was well under way.

[Turbine]

Winner of one of the HomeRun shirts.