G1: Lady Cajuns 10 - USA 2

[Hammer58]

Cajuns up 7 - 1 going to the bottom of the 7th.

[NewsCopy]

UL -Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns opened up a three-game Sun Belt Conference series with South Alabama with a mercy rule victory 10-2 on Saturday afternoon at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park. The 10 runs scored by the Lady Cajuns was the most allowed by the Jaguars this season and the six-inning game marked the first time this season that USA had fallen by mercy rule. The Cajuns collected 18 hits in the game, which was the most surrendered by South Alabama this season. Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) paced the Cajuns, finishing the game 4-for-5 with five RBI, a run scored and a home run. The slugger blasted her fifth home run in as many games dating back to the Florida International series. Six other Ragin’ Cajuns players collected multiple hits in the game including three hits by Vallie Gaspard (Maurice, La.) and Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.). The Lady Cajuns pitching staff was once again stellar. Starting pitcher Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) worked the first half of the game, surrendering two runs on three hits. She struck out seven batters in three innings of work before giving way to fellow freshman Donna Bourgeois (Lafayette, La.). The reliever worked the final three innings, scattering just a pair of hits. She did not allow a run or free pass, while striking out eight batters. Brignac earned her 17th win of the season, while Bourgeois picked up her team-best second. The Ragin’ Cajuns opened the first game of the twin bill with a run in the first inning. Gaspard hit a ball to third base and used her exemplary speed to beat the first baseman back to the bag for an infield single. Gaspard once again displayed her speed as she stole second base. A wild pitch moved her to third base and a single from Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas) scored the first run of the game. The Cajuns posted a four-spot in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Hubbard laid down a bunt single and moved to second on a four-pitch walk by Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.). A bunt single by Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) loaded the bases for the Cajuns. A bunt single back to the pitcher by Gaspard scored Hubbard from third, leaving the bases loaded. Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.) entered the game to run for Brodhead at third base. Tankersley singled through the right side of the infield to plate two runners. A pass ball plated Gaspard from third and gave the Cajuns a 5-0 edge after two complete innings. In the top of the third inning, South Alabama ended the Cajuns’ consecutive shutout streak at 40 innings. A four-pitch walk led off the inning for the Jaguars and back-to-back singles loaded the bases for USA with no outs. Courtney Chigaros hit a deep fly ball to centerfield that looked to be a grand slam. Hubbard leapt up at the fence and pulled the ball back into the ball park holding Chigaros to a single. Brignac fanned the next batter, before surrendering an RBI walk. Brignac rebounded by striking out the next two batters to end the inning and the South Alabama threat. The Cajuns batted around for the second time in the first game in the fifth inning, scoring four runs on five hits and two USA errors. The inning was highlighted by Tankersley’s 16th home run of the season. The two-RBI bomb was her fifth in her fifth consecutive game. UL added a final run in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Tankersley singled through the left side of the infield to score Brodhead to complete the mercy-rule. UL -The Lady Cajuns fell victim to an early 1-0 deficit, but rebounded to claim a 7-1 victory in the nightcap of a doubleheader with South Alabama. The Cajuns received a career-high 11 strikeouts from Donna Bourgeois (Lafayette, La.) who picked up her ninth win of the season, working 6.2 innings of relief. Bourgeois fanned 11 batters, while scattering five hits and surrendering just one free pass. Offensively, the Cajuns pounded out 10 hits in the game with Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas) and Vallie Gaspard (Maurice, La.) both collecting a pair of hits each. Bowers belted a home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to give UL the lead which they would not relinquish. Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) collected just one hit, but made it count as she hit her team-best 17th home run. The home run was the sixth home run for the Cajuns in the last six games. South Alabama took a quick 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning to start game two. Starting pitcher Brittany Cuevas (Brazoria, Texas) surrendered a leadoff single followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases. She recorded one out on a sacrifice bunt before giving way with the bases loaded to Bourgeois. A fielder’s choice scored the runner and a second fielder’s choice recorded the second out of the inning. Bourgeois fanned the last batter of the inning limiting South Alabama to just the one run. The Cajuns knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) reached base on a fielding error by South Alabama. Gabriele Bridges (Lafitte, La.) singled to left field advancing Brodhead to third. The USA left fielder attempted to throw out Bridges who was advancing to second base. The errant throw allowed Brodhead to advance home from third to tie the score. The Cajuns took the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bowers delivered her sixth home run of the season. The solo shot jumped off of the bat of Bowers over the right centerfield to give the hosts a one-run edge. The Ragin’ Cajuns put the game away in the fifth inning as they scored five runs on seven hits. After plating one run, Tankersley scorched a home run off of the top of the scoreboard in right field to score three runs. The Cajuns added a final run with a Bowers single to left field, scoring Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.). RaginCajuns.com Chris Whitehead