COLLEGE STATION, Texas-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team generated just a pair of hits against BYU, but still managed to pull off a 7-4 victory on day two of the Aggie Classic.

The No. 18 Cajuns (13-4) generated their offense with small ball and were helped by 10 walks by the Cougars.

Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) and Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) collected the only hits in the game for the Cajuns, with Brodhead’s base knock going for extra bases.

Despite only two hits, four different players drove in runs in the game, led by Tankersley who plated two runners.

In the circle, Brittany Cuevas (Brazoria, Texas) worked 5.2 innings en route to her second victory of the season. Cuevas scattered four hits, allowing four walks and fanning five batters.

Cuevas was relieved by freshman Donna Bourgeois (Lafayette, La.). The rookie worked the final 1.1 innings, striking out three of the four batters she faced. Bourgeois earned her first save of the season and the first for the Cajuns this year.

The Cajuns wasted little time in scoring the first run of the game. In the first inning, Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) led off the game with a base on balls. The speedy Smith stole second base to give UL their first runner of the game in scoring position. A ground ball moved Smith to third base. With two outs, Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas) drew a free pass and Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.) entered the game to run for Verde. Smith and Trahan successfully executed a double-steal plating Smith.

Leading 1-0, BYU got on the scoreboard and took the lead with one swing. After retiring the first four batters she faced, Brittany Cuevas (Brazoria, Texas) issued a four-pitch walk. The Cougars made the Cajuns pay for the walk, as Angeline Quiocho belted her 10th home run of the season to give BYU a 2-1 edge.

The Cajuns used a walk and a double to tie the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning. Verde drew her second free pass of the game to give the Cajuns a base runner. After a bit of controversy over pinch runners, Shari Sigur (Lafayette, La.) entered the game to run for Verde. Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) doubled to left centerfield to score Sigur from first.

BYU answered in the bottom half of the inning. With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Daniela Snow hit a home run to left field that barely cleared the eight-foot fence.

The Cajuns had a big sixth inning to take the lead. Brodhead led off the inning by being hit with a pitch. Gabriele Bridges (Lafitte, La.) walked and was pinch run for by Kelly Cormier (Abbeville, La.). A sacrifice bunt by Jessica Dupont (Alexandria, La.) moved the runners into scoring position. Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) drew a free pass to load the bases. Smith stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. She slapped the ball to second base. BYU tried to retire the lead runner, but the throw to the plate was late. With the bases loaded, Tankersley reached on an infield single that took a bad hop. With tremendous speed on the bases, two runners scored on Tankersley’s single. Vallie Gaspard (Maurice, La.) entered the game to run for Tankersley. Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.) recorded a four-pitch walk to re-load the bases. A wild pitch plated Smith from third. Designated player Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) hit a line drive that ricocheted off of the pitcher’s leg and bounced to first base for the second out of the inning. However, Brignac did earn her first collegiate RBI as Gaspard scored on the play. A ground ball ended the inning, but the Cajuns led 7-3 after five and a half innings.

In the BYU half of the sixth, Snow hit her second home run of the game to cut the Cajuns’ lead to 7-4.

The Ragin’ Cajuns continue play in the 2008 Aggie Classic with a night game against No. 3 Texas A&M. The Cajuns will continue the tournament on Sunday morning with a doubleheader against Illinois.

RaginCajuns.com

Chris Whitehead