DENTON, Texas-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team received a three-hit shutout by sophomore pitcher Ashley Brignac as UL advanced to championship Sunday with a 3-0 victory over the FIU Golden Panthers at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Denton, Texas.

Brignac worked the complete game en route to her sixth shutout of the season. She faced just five batters over the minimum, striking out six without surrendering a walk. Brignac retired eight of the first nine batters she faced and 20 of the first 22 FIU hitters. Brignac has thrown 66.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Ragin’ Cajuns tallied seven hits, including a pair of hits from Melissa Verde. The junior lifted the Cajuns with her seventh home run of the season. The home run was a two-run shot to right field in the top of the seventh inning that helped secure the victory for UL.

Louisiana’s slap hitters accounted for the other hits in the ball game as Vallie Gaspard, Karli Hubbard, Kelly Cormier and Katie Smith each had a hit in the game. Smith scored what would prove to be the winning run, while Hubbard came around to score on Verde’s homer.

The two teams entered the final inning tied at 0-0. Smith led off the inning by being hit by a pitch. She stole second base to move into scoring position. Gaspard singled to third base to give UL runners on the corners. A wild pitch allowed Smith to score the go ahead run while Gaspard safely made it to second was called out trying to advance to third. Hubbard followed with a single and Verde belted a home run to give the Cajuns a 3-0 lead that they would not relinquish.

The Cajuns threatened in the first inning. With two outs, Verde laced a single into right field. Codi Runyan followed by being hit by a pitch and Christi Orgeron drew a walk to load the bases. A deep fly ball to left field stayed in play for the final out of the inning leaving the bases loaded.

Louisiana threatened again in the top of the fifth inning. Cormier and Smith led off the inning with back-to-back infield singles. Gaspard moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt. A pop up recorded the second out of the inning. Verde walked to load the bases. The Cajuns got a sharp hit ground ball to shortstop, but the FIU fielder managed to make the play and end the inning and the Cajuns’ threat.

The game remained tied at 0-0 thanks to good pitching by both teams and solid defense until the decisive seventh inning.

The Ragin’ Cajuns will play FIU for a chance to play either Florida Atlantic or Western Kentucky in the championship game on Saturday

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