BOCA RATON, Fla.-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team posted back-to-back shutouts on Tuesday to open up the series with Florida Atlantic and finished out the three-game set with a 2-0 shutout to complete the sweep.

Starting pitcher Donna Bourgeois picked up her 20th win of the season and 10th shutout of the year against the Owls. Bourgeois scattered three hits over 7.0 innings without allowing a run. She struck out seven batters without issuing a walk. Bourgeois faced four batters over the minimum.

For the series, Bourgeois boasted a 0.00 ERA over 18.0 innings, allowing nine hits and striking out 20 batters and surrendering just one walk.

Offensively, the Cajuns collected four hits on the day. Gabriele Bridges hit her team-leading 12th home run of the season to provide what would end up being the game-winning run. Codi Runyan had a double, while Lana Bowers had an RBI single.

The Cajuns and Owls withstood an hour and 58 minute (1:58) rain delay before taking the field with one out in the bottom of the first. Bourgeois struck out the next batter and a fly ball got the Cajuns out of the inning.

In the top of the second inning, Bridges broke the scoreless tie with her team-leading 12th home run of the season. The solo shot over the left field fence gave UL a 1-0 lead after one and a half innings of play.

Louisiana added a run in the top of the fourth inning. Runyan doubled to right center field and Courtney Trahan entered the game to run for Runyan. Trahan advanced to third on a wild pitch and came in to score as Bowers hit a line drive single off of the FAU pitcher to give UL a 2-0 lead.

FAU threatened to score a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Amber Barton led off the inning with a single to right field and advance to second on a fielding error by the Cajuns. Bourgeois sat down the next batter on strikes, but Barton moved to third on a ground out by the Owls. With a runner on third and two outs, Bourgeois and the Cajuns escaped the inning unphased as the sophomore struck out the final batter of the inning.

Bourgeois faced one over the minimum in the final two innings of play with a pair of strikeouts.

The Ragin’ Cajuns return home for a pivotal Sun Belt Conference three-game series with Troy at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park. The Cajuns and the Trojans will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon starting at 1:00 p.m. before concluding the series with a single game Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

UL Press