The Book 2009 LAdy Cajuns Softball

[NOCajun]

_ The schedule was modified and all the teams who bussed left. The 11 teams that remain are attempting to play a modified schedule tonight and tomorrow.
igeaux.mobi _

So we definitely went home?? I hope that doesn't hurt them going into the Garman next week.

[jllanclos]

Yes, all teams who bussed went home and the flying teams are still trying to get in games, since they can't leave early anyway due to flights already having been arranged (i'm guessing that's why)
igeaux.mobi

[NewsCopy]

  After not playing for over a week, Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team stepped onto the field with Southern Miss and came away with a 5-0 no-hit shutout on Wednesday afternoon at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park.

The Lady Cajuns improve to 11-2 on the season and have now won 10 games in a row.

Sophomore hurler Donna Bourgeois threw the complete game no-hitter. She allowed just three base runners as she walked a trio of batters. Bourgeois fanned 12 batters in the game; marking the seventh time in 11 appearances she has recorded double-digit strikeouts.

Bourgeois fanned five of the first seven batters she faced and retired the final 10 batters of the game in order. The Lafayette native ended the game how she started it by fanning the final three Southern Miss batters she faced.

Offensively, Louisiana scored five runs on 11 hits. Three Ragin’ Cajuns players finished the game with multiple hits, led by junior Melissa Verde.

Verde finished the game 3-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. She was joined by Gabriele Bridges and Karli Hubbard, who each had a pair of hits in the game. Bridges collected an RBI, while Hubbard finished the game with a run scored.

Codi Runyan led the team with two RBI, while Katie Smith paced the Cajuns with two runs scored. Runyan finished the game 1-for-2 with a run scored, two walks and two RBI. Smith also drew a pair of walks and closed out the day, 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a stolen base.

The Cajuns were the first team to scratch the scoreboard. Smith led off the game with a walk. She stole second base to move into scoring position. With one out, Verde laced a base hit down the third base line to score Smith from second and give Louisiana a quick 1-0 lead.

UL added a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to increase their lead to 3-0. With two outs, Smith walked. Hubbard followed with a single and the two base runners advanced a base because of a Southern Miss error. Verde drew a free pass to load the bases for Runyan. The senior shortstop lined a single to left center field, plating Smith and Hubbard.

Louisiana increased their margin to 5-0 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one away, Verde singled for the first base runner of the inning. Courtney Trahan entered the game to run for Verde and immediately stole second base. Runyan worked the count full before drawing a free pass. Bridges connected on a base hit up the middle. Trahan scored on the play and Bridges advanced to second base on the throw to the plate. The Southern Miss catcher tried to throw out Bridges and Runyan was able to advance home on the errant throw.

The score would remain 5-0 and Bourgeois would keep the Golden Eagles off the bases as the Cajuns picked up their 11th win of the season.

The Ragin’ Cajuns will return to action on Tuesday, March 10 as they host Louisiana Tech in a doubleheader. First pitch for game one is slated for 4:00 p.m. at Lamson Park.

RaginCajuns.com

[NewsCopy]

 UL - The Lady Cajuns softball team increased their winning streak to 11 games as they defeated Louisiana Tech, 8-0, in the first game of a doubleheader at Lamson Park.

The Lady Cajuns scored eight runs on eight hits and relied on a solid pitching effort from Donna Bourgeois to shutout their fourth opponent in a row.

Bourgeois worked 5.0 scoreless innings surrendering just three hits. She walked one and fanned eight batters.

The Cajuns scored one run in the second and third innings before erupting for six runs in the fifth inning for their second rule-rule victory of the season.

Karli Hubbard and Lana Bowers both finished game one 2-for-2. Both Hubbard and Bowers scored a run with Bowers driving in a run as well.

Melissa Verde paced the Cajuns with two runs batted in, while Katie Smith and Gabriele Bridges led the team with two runs scored apiece.

Louisiana were effective on the bases, stealing a season high six stolen bases in the game.

The Cajuns scratched a run across in the second inning. Bridges led off the inning with a walk. She advanced all the way to third base thanks to a two-base throwing error by Louisiana Tech. With one out, Bowers drew a free pass to give UL runners on the corners. The Cajuns successfully pulled off a double steal to plate the first run of the game and take a 1-0 lead.

Louisiana added a run in the third inning. Smith collected an infield single to shortstop and advanced to second on an error by La. Tech. Hubbard followed with a single to second base to give the Cajuns runners on the corners. Verde hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Smith and give UL a 2-0 advantage.

The Lady Techsters threatened in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Bourgeois fanned the next batter of the inning, but a wild pitch allowed the runner to reach first base. A single gave Louisiana Tech runners on second and third. The next batter of the inning singled down the left field line. The runner on second tried to score, but Smith displayed her arm and threw out the runner at home. A groundout ended the inning and the Lady Techsters’ threat.

Louisiana scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to complete the run-rule victory. The Cajuns sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth inning. They collected just three hits in the inning but benefited from a sacrifice fly and four walks in the inning.

UL Staff Report

[NewsCopy]

 LAFAYETTE-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball swept a doubleheader with in-state rival Louisiana Tech on Tuesday at Alfred and Helen Lamson Park to push their winning streak up to 12 games. The Cajuns claimed a 8-0 five-inning shutout, before claiming a 3-2 nine-inning victory in the night cap.

The Cajuns (13-2) received solid pitching performances in both games from pitchers Donna Bourgeois and Ashley Brignac.

Bourgeois picked up a pair of victories, tossing a complete game in game one and throwing two innings of relief in game two. On the day, Bourgeois recorded 12 strikeouts, allowing no runs on four hits.

Brignac was equally as effective. She worked 7.0 innings, before giving way to Bourgeois. She surrendered two unearned runs on five hits. Brignac fanned a career-high 16 batters in the game. Her 16 Ks topped her previous high of 15 strikeouts set against No. 1 Florida in the first game of the 2008 Women’s College World Series.

Offensively, the Cajuns collected 21 hits in the two games, with eight hits in game one and 13 hits in game two. Eight Ragin’ Cajuns players collected hits on the day, including seven batters who collected multiple hits combined in the twin bill.

Karli Hubbard and Erikka Murphy led the Cajuns with four hits apiece. Hubbard collected a pair of hits in each game, while Murphy finished game two 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.

Lana Bowers and Codi Runyan each had three hits apiece on the day, while Gabriele Bridges, Katie Smith and Melissa Verde all had a pair of hits on the day.

GAME 2 RECAP
Louisiana claimed a 3-2 extra inning victory in the second game of the doubleheader to extend their winning streak to a dozen.

Donna Bourgeois picked up the win for the Cajuns. She worked 2.0 innings in relief of starting pitcher Ashley Brignac. Bourgeois did not allow a run, surrendering just one hit. She struck out four batters without allowing a walk.

Brignac earned the start, scattering five hits over 7.0 innings of work. She surrendered a pair of unearned runs. Brignac fanned a career high 16 batters, topping her previous high of 15 against No. 1 Florida in the first game of the 2008 Women’s College World Series.

In the night cap, the two teams were locked in a pitchers duel for the first four innings.

Louisiana Tech broke the scoreless deadlock with a two-run home run in the fifth inning. With two outs, an error by the Cajuns extended the inning and Amberly Waits made UL pay for the mistake. She lifted a 1-2 pitch over the left center field wall to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

The two runs ended a streak of 38 consecutive innings that Cajuns’ pitching had held their opponent scoreless. Louisiana posted two seven-inning shutouts against San Diego State and a 5-0 shutout of Southern Miss before claiming a five-inning shutout of Louisiana Tech in the first game of the doubleheader.

The Cajuns responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings. Lana Bowers singled to center field to start things off for UL. Kelly Cormier singled through the left side and Bowers advanced to second. Erikka Murphy doubled down the left field line, scoring Bowers. Karli Hubbard hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Cormier and knot the score at 2-2.

The two teams would fail to score in the eighth inning, but the Cajuns plated a runner in the bottom of the ninth inning to claim the win. With one out, Smith walked and then stole second. Hubbard laid down a bunt single to pitcher and advanced to second as the Louisiana Tech infield was covering first and third. With runners on second and third, Melissa Verde singled to right field to score Smith and give the Cajuns a 3-2 victory.

The Ragin’ Cajuns will return to action on Thursday as they head to California to take part in the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton.

UL Staff Report

[NewsCopy]

  FULLERTON, Calif.-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team saw their 12-game winning streak snapped on Thursday night with a 2-0 loss to Nebraska at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif.

Offensively, the Cajuns (13-3) collected six hits compared to just three by Nebraska (13-4). Karli Hubbard led all Cajuns with a pair of hits in the game. She finished the game as the only UL player with multiple hits in the game. Vallie Gaspard, Katie Smith and Melissa Verde each collected hits on the night.

Donna Bourgeois (11-2) took the loss for the Cajuns. The Lafayette native held Nebraska to just three hits, but fell victim to a pair of Louisiana errors. Bourgeois allowed just one earned run and struck out seven batters on the night without issuing a walk.

Nebraska threatened in the first inning. After a leadoff single, the Husker batter stole second base to move into scoring position. A Bourgeois strikeout recorded the first out of the game, but a ground out to first base moved the runner over to third. Bourgeois slammed the door shut on the threat with an inning-ending strikeout.

Like Nebraska, the Cajuns threatened in the first inning. With one out, Hubbard got things started with a single to left field. Verde advanced Hubbard to second and reached base herself thanks to a Cornhusker error. Nebraska worked out of the jam, retiring the next two Ragin’ Cajuns in order.

Louisiana once again threatened in the fourth inning. Back-to-back singles by Verde and Codi Runyan started things off on the right foot for the Cajuns, but neither batter would advance as back-to-back strikeouts and a fielder’s choice ended the inning.

The Cornhuskers broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning. A line drive single put a runner on base for Nebraska and a pitch in the dirt moved the runner into scoring position. A two-out single to left field was enough to plate the runner and give the designated visiting team a 1-0 edge.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cajuns threatened once again but were unable to score any runs. Hubbard singled to third base and for the second time in the game Verde reached base on an error. Either runner would advance as the Nebraska pitcher fanned the next three Ragin’ Cajuns batters.

Nebraska added an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning to increase their lead to 2-0. With one out, Bourgeois fanned the next batter but the pitch was wild and allowed the runner to reach base safely. An error by the Cajuns left the Huskers with runners on the corners with one out. A ground out plated the runner, and a second ground ball ended the inning.

The Cajuns loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lana Bowers walked to start things off and hits by Gaspard and Smith loaded the bases with just one out. Hubbard stepped to the plate and lined a shot to third base. The Husker third base man caught the line drive and was able to double up the runner on third base.

The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team will resume play in the 2009 Judi Garman Classic on Friday afternoon as they take on Michigan (3:00 p.m. Central) and Fresno State (7:30 p.m. Central).

RaginCajuns.com

[jllanclos]

What are the rankings of our remaining opponents in the tournament?

[ulforlife]

______! We need to make some noise


igeaux.mobi

[Clutch0364]

We need a hitter to step up in clutch situations are we will lose more games against these name teams. Spoiled to many opportunities last night with runners in scoring position.

[Bunch24]

_ What are the rankings of our remaining opponents in the tournament? _

No. 10 Michigan
No. 24 Fresno State
No. 9 Oklahoma
Unranked New Mexico

[HoustonCajun]

_ No. 10 Michigan
No. 24 Fresno State
No. 9 Oklahoma
Unranked New Mexico _

I believe Nebraska was unranked as was Ole Miss. Our losses have come with good pitching, but no hitting and errors against average competition. The rest of this weekend will tell us how good this year's team is. Outside of this tournament, remaining competition for the rest of this year is weak at best with no ranked teams, mostly conference, except for Houston (and I'm not sure they are still ranked). Should we lose most games this week, our safety net is the SBC finally gets an automatic bid as we should easily win our conference. But, that will get us a low seed in a tough regional. So, these next 4 games are really important for post season play.

[jllanclos]

_ I believe Nebraska was unranked as was Ole Miss. Our losses have come with good pitching, but no hitting and errors against average competition. The rest of this weekend will tell us how good this year's team is. Outside of this tournament, remaining competition for the rest of this year is weak at best with no ranked teams, mostly conference, except for Houston (and I'm not sure they are still ranked). Should we lose most games this week, our safety net is the SBC finally gets an automatic bid as we should easily win our conference. But, that will get us a low seed in a tough regional. So, these next 4 games are really important for post season play. _

No way this team is any worse than a 2 seed in a regional, even without a tournament title.