MIAMI, Fla. – Freshman Sara Drahiem’s solo home run in the sixth-inning sparked a five-run rally as Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team was able to reclaim the lead for the second time on the afternoon in a 9-5 win over FIU. It was Drahiem’s first career home run.

Drahiem finished the afternoon 1-for-4 with one RBI. Also instrumental in the Cajuns’ win was Melissa Verde who was 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI. As a team on the day, the Cajuns were 3-for-4 with runners on third base.

With the victory, the Cajuns are now 24-14 overall and 6-3 in the Sun Belt.

After grabbing an early 1-0 lead to start the first inning, UL would find itself trailing 2-1 at the end. An errant thrown on a steal with runners on the corners allowed the Golden Panthers to tie the game with two outs on the board. A base hit then drove in the go-ahead run after a close and questionable play at the plate.

Two more runs crossed the plate for FIU on two hits in the second inning.

Finally, in the fifth inning, the Cajuns began to show some life. Vallie Gaspard and Erikka Murphy reached base safely after an error and a hit. With two outs, Verde drove in both runners with her third double of the weekend. When Verde crossed the plate in the next at bat, she put the Cajuns up 4-3 on a RBI-hit by Gabriele Bridges.

But once again, Ashley McClain came through for FIU. With a runner on first, McClain hit another home run to retake the lead 5-4 in favor of the Golden Panthers.

UL would not stay down for long. In the top of the sixth, freshman Sara Drahiem drew the Cajuns even with FIU, 5-5, on her first career home run to left field. After walking Kelly Cormier with no outs, FIU decided to make a pitching change with Jen Gniadek entering the circle.

Gaspard followed with single and scored along with Cormier to reclaim the lead after Murphy reached second on an error. Murphy added to the Cajuns’ lead on another double by Verde. A sacrifice fly by Gabriele Bridges capped off the five-run rally to secure UL’s 9-5 lead.

Bourgeois picked up the win and is now 13-8 on the season. In seven innings of work, the right hander struck out four, walked one and forced FIU into 11 ground outs. Only three runs were earned against the Lafayette native.

Louisiana will return to the field with a game against McNeese State on Wednesday in Lake Charles, La. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. CT.


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