MURFREESBORO, Tenn.- #17 Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns softball team completed the two-game sweep of Middle Tennessee in convincing fashion, claiming a 12-1 victory at Blue Raider Field.

The Lady Cajuns (19-5, 2-0 Sun Belt) collected 14 hits in the game including five extra base hits en route to the 11-run victory.

Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.) and Vallie Gaspard (Maurice, La.) led the Cajuns with three hits apiece. Soto collected a pair of doubles and drove in three runs, while Gaspard earned her first double of the season scoring two runs and driving in a pair of runs.

Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) picked up her second win of the day. She entered the game in relief of Brittany Cuevas (Brazoria, Texas). Brignac worked 3.2 innings, allowing just one run on one hit. She struck out five batters while walking one.

The Cajuns jumped onto the scoreboard in the second after being retired in order in the first inning. Soto led off the inning with a double to centerfield. Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.) entered the game as a pinch runner. A ground out moved Trahan to third base and the pinch runner came around to score on a wild pitch.

Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) doubled to left centerfield to lead off the inning. A fly ball allowed the runner to move to third and a sacrifice fly by Soto scored Tankersley.

With UL leading 2-0, Middle Tennessee got on the scoreboard on one swing of the bat. With two outs, Corrie Abel hit a solo home run to cut the Louisiana lead to just one run.

The Cajuns broke the game open in the top of the fourth inning. UL scored five runs on four hits and a pair of MT errors. Gabriele Bridges (Lafitte, La.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Kelly Cormier (Abbeville, La.) entered the game to run for Bridges. Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) singled to the pitcher and advanced to second on an error. Cormier advanced to third on the play. A shallow fly ball was not deep enough to advance the runners, but Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) followed with a three-run home run to left field.

Tankersley extended the inning and reached on a fielding error by the Blue Raiders. Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas) singled up the middle to give UL a pair of runners. Shari Sigur entered the game to pinch run for Tankersley and came around to score on a Soto double. Verde sprinted around third base on the play and collided with the Middle Tennessee catcher knocking the ball loose to score.

UL added a run in the top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back-to-back singles by Gaspard, Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) and Brodhead scored a run to increase the Cajuns’ lead to seven runs.

The Cajuns added four more runs in the top of the sixth inning on five hits and an error. Soto led off the inning with a single down the right field line. Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas) hit a Texas League single into left field to give the Cajuns a pair of base runners. A single by Hubbard back to the pitcher loaded the bases. Gaspard cleared the bases with a double to left centerfield. She rounded second and headed for third, but Hubbard had stopped at third. As Gaspard was caught in a run down, Hubbard broke for home. Hubbard scored easily and Gaspard dove back into second safely on the play. Gaspard advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a fielding error.

The Ragin’ Cajuns will continue their road trip as they venture west to California for the Judi Garman Classic. At the Classic, the Cajuns will play three teams ranked in the top-10 and the United States Olympic Team.

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Chris Whitehead