BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Christi Orgeron hit what proved to be two game-wininghome runs, as Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team opened Sun Belt play with two wins over Western Kentucky on Saturday. The first victory of the day snapped a nine-game win streak for WKU and a three-game skid for UL.

A two-run home run by Orgeron in the sixth inning of game one gave the Cajuns’ their first lead of the game. UL battled back from a 0-4 start, scoring seven unanswered runs to grab the 7-4 win.

In the second game, the sophomore slugger gave UL the early lead with a two-run home run in the first inning as the Cajuns’ cruised to an 8-1 win.

Louisiana now sports a record of 18-11 and 2-0 in the Sun Belt. Western Kentucky sports the same 18-11 mark but is 2-6 in the league.

GAME ONE
The Cajuns found themselves in a 0-3 hole after the first inning. A fielding error and a fielder’s choice allowed the Lady Toppers to put two runners on. WKU took advantage of the situation with a two-RBI double by Ashley Contreras that scored three runs. Contreras was able to score from second on the play after an errant throw to second by Melissa Verde sailed high into right center field. UL committed three errors in the inning with WKU recording just one hit.

In the second inning, Contreras posted another run for the Lady Toppers with a two-out, RBI-single up the middle.

In the top of the third inning, the Cajuns started to chip away at the Lady Toppers’ lead. With one out, Erikka Murphy reached base on a single, stole second and moved to third on ground out. Orgeron then drove her in with a RBI-single to left field to bring the deficit to 1-4.

The Cajuns kept working away at WKU’s lead in the top of the fourth. A walk, a hit-by-pitch and a single loaded the bases for the Cajuns. With two outs, Murphy reached first on an error allowing pinch runner, Jensen Tydelski, to score from third.

The runs kept coming, slowly but surely, for UL in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, pinch runner Courtney Trahan scored on a wild pitch to draw within one run, 3-4.

Finally in the top of the sixth, UL found themselves in the driver’s seat. With a runner on and two outs, Orgeron came through for the Cajuns sending her 12th shot out of the park and giving UL its first lead of the afternoon, 5-4.

Brianna Cherry and Vallie Gaspard gave the Cajuns some breathing room in the top of the seventh. Lana Bowers led off, reaching first on a hit-by-pitch and moved to third on a double by Verde. Cherry grounded out for the second out of the inning, but allowed Bowers to score from third. A well-placed slap-hit by Gaspard found its way through the infield and Verde would score for a 7-4 UL lead.

UL’s defense also did its part in the comeback. After the first two disastrous innings, Brittany Cuevas and company retired 15 straight batters, striking out four and forcing seven others into ground outs. She finished the afternoon with six strikeouts and did not yield a single walk. Only two of WKU’s four runs were earned. With the victory, Cuevas now boasts a record of 10-4 for the season.

Orgeron went 3-for-4 in the contest with three RBI followed by Murphy’s 3-for-5 performance. Murphy also scored two runs and had one RBI.

GAME TWO
Unlike game one, UL did not wait long to get things started in the second game of the day.

Orgeron put the Cajuns up 2-0 in the top of the first inning, notching her second two-run home run of the afternoon.

The Lady Toppers got a run back in the bottom of the second on one hit and one UL error.

But UL stretched the lead back to 4-1 in the fourth inning. Cherry and Gaspard reached base safely after a hit-by-pitch and a single, respectively. An errant throw to first base on a ground ball by Murphy, scored Cherry from second. A RBI-ground out by Verde in the next at bat, plated Gaspard for the Cajuns’ fourth run.

Two hits by Britni Soria and Nerissa Myers and another error by the Lady Toppers, gave the Cajuns a 5-1 lead heading into the sixth inning. Soria was able to score from third on WKU’s third error of the game.

Gabriele Bridges sealed the win for the Cajuns in the top of the sixth. After Verde and Orgeron drew back-to-back walks, Bridges smashed a three-run home run to right field. It was her ninth home run of the season.

Donna Bourgeios pitched effectively to improve to 8-7 on season. She scattered five hits and struck out four. She was able to mix it up from the pitcher’s circle with the Lady Toppers grounding out 11 times. The only run scored was unearned for the right-handed hurler.

Myers and Gaspard finished game two 2-for-4 while Orgeron went 1-for-1 with two RBI and three walks.

The Cajuns and Lady Toppers are scheduled to wrap up the series tomorrow at noon.



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