Lady Cajuns Softball Shuts Out Two on Saturday

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Brittany Cuevas and Donna Bourgeios combined for 21 strikeouts on Saturday as Louisiana's softball team posted two shutouts on the second day of the 24th Annual Louisiana Classic at Lamson Park. In the first game, UL blanked Bradley 8-0. In the second game of the day, the Cajuns shutout Syracuse with a 9-0 win.

The Cajuns (3-0) have now outscored the opposition, 33-0, through three games this season.

Game One

Erikka Murphy would get the Cajuns on the board in the top of the second inning. After reaching base with a single, she would steal second. Vallie Gaspard drove a ball in right field allowing Murphy to give UL a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth inning with one out and a 1-2 count, Gabriele Bridges sent a ball over the centerfield fence for a 2-0 lead. Murphy would follow with a triple. Gaspard would single and advance to second as the Bulldogs held Murphy in check at third base. A bunt by Katie Smith would advance the runners, scoring the Cajuns' third run. Melissa Verde would follow with a single through the right side, scoring Gaspard and moving Smith to third. Courtney Trahan would come in to run for Verde at first. After a pitching change by Bradley, Trahan would get caught stealing but allowed Smith to score on the throw for a 5-0 advantage.

The Cajuns would add an insurance run in the sixth inning for a 6-0 lead. With Smith on first and Gaspard on third, Verde would ground out to first base. But both speedsters were able to advance on the play.

Nerissa Myers would add two more runs for UL in the top of the seventh with her first career home run On a 2-1 count, the freshman second baseman ripped one over the left field wall, scoring Britni Soria.

Cuevas threw a complete game, striking out 11. She allowed just three hits and walked one.

Eight of the nine Cajuns in the starting lineup posted a hit in the game, including Gaspard going 2-for-3 from the plate with two runs and a RBI.

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Game Two

In the second game, UL would jump out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. The Cajuns would load the bases after Syracuse would hit Soria and walk Myers and Murphy. A pass ball would allow Soria to score. Smith would draw a walk and Gaspard would hit an infield single allowing Myers to score from third.

Syracuse would threaten in the bottom of the third. The Orange were able to put runners on the corners with one out after hitting a double and drawing a walk. But Stephanie Watts would be called for the second out after being hit by the ball after leaving the batters' box. Donna Bourgeois would then strike out Haley Gibbs for the third and final out.

The Cajuns would respond in the fourth. Murphy would leadoff with a single and eventually score on a two-out RBI single by Verde. The next at bat, Christi Orgeron would take the first pitch over the right centerfield for her third home run of the season for the 5-0 lead.

The Cajuns would add a run in the sixth on two hits. Gaspard was able to score from third on a wild pitch by Syracuse.

UL would take a 7-0 lead in the seventh after scoring on another wild pitch. A throwing error by the Orange allowed two more runs to cross the plate before the inning ended with UL on top, 9-0.

Gaspard and Verde both finished with two hits, one run and one RBI in the game.

Bourgeois (2-0) pitched a complete game, allowing just three hits while striking out 10. The junior hurler allowed just one walk.

The 24th Annual Louisiana Classics will conclude tomorrow. The first game of the day will start at 8:30 a.m. with Bradley facing Bryant. The Cajuns will play the next two, taking on Bradley at 11 a.m. and Syracuse at 1:30 p.m. CT.

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