LAKE CHARLES, La. - Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns softball team collected 11 hits on the afternoon including three extra base hits as Donna Bourgeois three-hit McNeese State en route to a 10-0 run-rule victory in Lake Charles.

Bourgeois collected her 13th victory of the season as she tossed a complete-game shutout against the McNeese State Cowgirls. Bourgeois allowed just three hits on the afternoon and walked just one as she faced five batters over the minimum in the game. Bourgeois fanned 10 batters in the game.

Offensively, Louisiana collected 11 hits on the day including a pair of extra-base hits from Lana Bowers. Bowers hit her second home run of the season in the Lady Cajuns’ five-run third inning and collected her seventh double of the year as well.

Christi Orgeron added a double in the game, while Karli Hubbard and Erikka Murphy each added a pair of hits each. Bowers led the team with three RBI on the day, while Codi Runyan followed with two runs batted in.

The Cajuns broke the scoreless deadlock in the third inning with a five-run inning. Vallie Gaspard led off the inning by reaching base on an error. Murphy followed with a single to left field. The duo advanced on a wild pitch and Gaspard came around to score as Katie Smith reached on an error by the Cowgirls’ pitcher. Hubbard followed with a single to left center field to score Murphy from third. A fielder’s choice to right center field with one out left the Cajuns with runners on the corners. Bowers blasted her second home run of the season to clear the bases and give UL a 5-0 advantage after two and a half innings of play.

Louisiana added an insurance run in the top of the fourth inning. Orgeron led off the fourth inning with a double to left center field. She came around to score as a two-base throwing error by the Cowgirls.

McNeese ended Bourgeois’ no-hitter with single through right side. The batter advanced to second on a wild pitch, but would go no further as Bourgeois fanned the next three batters to end the inning.

UL added four runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Cajuns scored four runs on four hits to complete the run-rule victory.

The Cowgirls loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to an error and a pair of base hits, but Bourgeois worked out of the jam fanning the final batter of the game to preserve the shutout.

The Ragin’ Cajuns will resume Sun Belt Conference play on Tuesday afternoon as they play host to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in a doubleheader at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park. First pitch of the double-dip is slated for 4:00 p.m. The Cajuns and Blue Raiders will conclude the three-game series on Wednesday with a single game at 1:00 p.m.

UL Press