Lady Cajuns Sweep Nicholls

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Game 1

UL - No. 18 Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team snapped their two-game losing streak with an 11-3 mercy rule win over in-state rival Nicholls State in the first game of a doubleheader at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park. The Cajuns (11-3) scored 11 runs on eight hits including a pair of doubles and a home run. The lone home run for the Cajuns came off of the bat of senior Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.). Her two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth inning pushed the lead to seven runs, and Lana Bowers’ (Crosby, Texas) RBI double ended the game in mercy rule fashion. Soto and Bowers both finished the game with a pair of hits. The Cajuns other extra base hit came from Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas). Verde finished the game 1-for-1 with an RBI, three runs scored and three walks. In the circle, freshman Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) tossed a complete game en route to her eighth victory of the season. Brignac finished the game with seven strikeouts, but was hurt by eight walks. Nicholls State was the first team on the scoreboard as they scored a pair of runs without a hit. The Lady Colonels were helped by five walks in the first inning, which plated both runners. Trailing 2-0 in the first inning, the Cajuns responded with three runs. Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) led off the UL half of the first inning with a walk. Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) reached on a fielding error by the NSU first baseman. A fielder’s choice gave the Cajuns runners on the corners. Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.) entered the game to pinch run at first base. A double by Verde scored the first Ragin’ Cajuns run of the game and left UL with a pair of runners in scoring position. A ground out scored the second run of the inning. With one runner on base, the Colonel’s pitcher threw an illegal pitch allowing Verde to score from third. NSU tied the score with one swing of the bat. With one out, Kathyrn Harrell lifted a pitch to left field that just cleared the fence, tying the score at 3-3. The Cajuns loaded the bases in the bottom of the third inning with just one out. Soto delivered a one-out single to left centerfield and Verde followed with a base on balls. Bowers singled to centerfield to load the bases. Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) broke the stalemate with an RBI single up the middle of the infield. Gabriele Bridges (Lafitte, La.) followed with an RBI groundout to push the Cajuns edge to 5-3. Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) plated another runner as she reached on a fielding error by the Lady Colonels’ shortstop. Meagan Godwin (Bridge City, Texas) supplied a pinch hit single to score another Brodhead from third and give UL a 7-3 edge. UL added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning courtesy of a Soto two-run homer to left field. The dinger was the third of her Ragin’ Cajuns career and the first for the senior at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park. Bowers closed out the game with an RBI double to give the Cajuns an eight-run mercy-rule victory at 11-3. The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team returns to action this weekend as they travel to College Station, Texas to compete in the Aggie Classic hosted by No. 3 Texas A&M. The Cajuns kickoff the tournament with Illinois at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Mar. 7. RaginCajuns.com Chris Whitehead

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UL - -The Lady Cajuns used a nine-run second inning to take a commanding lead over Nicholls State and claim game two of the doubleheader, 12-0, on Tuesday night at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park. The Ragin’ Cajuns (12-3) jumped out to an early 11-0 lead and used a tremendous pitching effort from starter Brittany Cuevas (Brazoria, Texas) to cruise to the easy shutout victory. Offensively, Jessica Dupont (Alexandria, La.) and Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) were the only Cajuns to record multiple hits. However, eleven different UL players recorded hits in the game, including Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.) and Kelly Cormier (Abbeville, La.) who both recorded their first career hits. Dupont finished the game with her first collegiate home run, while adding a double. Meagan Godwin (Bridge City, Texas), Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas) and Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas) all added doubles in the contest. Bowers led the way for the Cajuns with three RBI, while Cormier, Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.) and Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) all added two runs each. In the circle, Cuevas (1-0) worked 4.0 innings of shutout ball. She surrendered just one hit on the night while striking out six with no walks. No Lady Colonel runner advanced past first base in the game. In the final inning of play, Donna Bourgeois (Lafayette, La.) entered the game in relief of Cuevas. Bourgeois finished off the shutout fanning three of the four batters she faced. The Cajuns took the lead in the first inning. Tankersley singled up the middle and Soto reached base thanks to a fielding error by the Lady Colonels. Verde doubled through the right side of the infield to plate the first two runs of the game and after one inning of play UL led 2-0. Louisiana used a nine-run second inning to take command of the game. In the inning, the Cajuns used eight hits, including a Dupont home run to generate the nine runs. A season high 13 batters came to the plate in the inning. UL added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to provide the final margin of victory. Cormier led off the inning with a single and moved to third on Dupont’s second double of the season. Cormier came around to score on Trahan’s first career base hit, recording her first collegiate RBI. The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team returns to action this weekend as they travel to College Station, Texas to compete in the Aggie Classic hosted by No. 3 Texas A&M. The Cajuns kickoff the tournament with Illinois at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Mar. 7. RaginCajuns.com Chris Whitehead