Lady Cajuns sweep twinbill from Nicholls
Brooke Mitchell strikes out 24 batters in 11.1 innings ULSILouisiana'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.
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