A walk-off home run by Christi Orgeron gave No. 22 Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team a 9-1 five-inning win in the first game of a double header against McNeese State at Lamson Park on Thursday evening.

But in the second game, the Cajuns were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities allowing McNeese to steal a 3-1 win. UL would strand eight runners in the contest.

With the split, Louisiana now sits at 15-7 on the year.

GAME ONE
A RBI-single by Orgeron would score Erikka Murphy from second giving the Cajuns an early 1-0 lead. UL had a chance to put more runs on the board with the bases loaded and one out. But the Cajuns would ground into a double play to end the inning.

The Cowgirls would threaten early, leaving four runners on base through three innings and eventually knotted the score 1-1 after a solo home run by Molly Guidry in the top of the fourth.

Louisiana would respond in the bottom of the inning. Melissa Verde and Britni Soria would draw back-to-back walks and Kelly Cormier would follow with a base hit to load the bases with no outs. An errant throw to third base would allow the Cajuns to plate one run before Nerissa Myers hit a two-RBI single through the infield widening the lead to 4-1.

The Cajuns would score two more runs in the fifth inning on a RBI double by Myers and a sacrifice fly by Jessica Dupont. UL would closeout the game 9-1 after a walk-off, three-run homer by Christi Orgeron to centerfield. It was the sophomore slugger’s 11th deep ball this season.

Louisiana would scatter nine hits with Orgeron and Myers leading the way at the plate. Orgeron finished 2-for-3 with four RBI and one run scored. Myers was 3-for-3 with one run.

Brittany Cuevas grabbed the win, improving to 8-2 on the season. She allowed just two hits and one run while striking out two.

GAME TWO
The Cowgirls would break a 0-0 stalemate in the fourth inning with a solo home run to left field by Elizabeth Morvant.

In the bottom of the fourth, Vallie Gaspard would finally record the Cajuns first hit of the game with an infield single. She would advance to second after Lana Bowers drew a walk. UL would strikeout to end the inning before Gaspard could cross the plate.

The Cajuns would miss a golden opportunity in the bottom of the fifth inning. A leadoff walk and back-to-back singles would load the bases with no outs. But a foul out, a strikeout and line out would end UL’s chances.

UL chances continued to grow slim in the sixth inning. With two outs and still trailing, 0-1, Gabriele Bridges would come through in the clutch, tying the game with a solo home run to right centerfield. It was her seventh homer of the season.

But McNeese State would reclaim the lead, scoring two runs on two hits in the top of the seventh.

Two walks and a hit by pitch would load the bases with one out for the Cajuns in the final frame. But two strikeouts would end the game in the Cowgirls favor, 3-1.

Donna Bourgeios (7-5) pitched all seven innings in the loss, striking out three and walking one.

The Cajuns will have the weekend off before heading to the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., March 18-21. UL will face Virginia, Fresno State, Washington, Purdue and Cal State Fullerton over the four-day tournament.


Permalink | Comments