MOBILE, Ala. – An explosive six-run, fifth-inning blew open a scoreless game in favor of Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team as UL captured a 6-1 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Friday at the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

Also key to the victory was the pitching effort of Brittany Cuevas. She now stands at 20-7 on the season after throw the complete game. She allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out seven.

With the win, the Cajuns secured a spot in tomorrow’s championship and are now 41-16 on the season. It will be the third straight appearance for UL in the Sun Belt’s Championship game.

Through four innings, the Cajuns could not make any headway. UL managed just two hits, both from Vallie Gaspard.

Defensively, however, Cuevas sat down the first 11 batters in order before allowing a hit in the fourth inning. It was the first hit surrender by UL’s pitching in 10.2 innings.

UL loaded the bases at the start of the fifth with one out after a single from Kelly Cormier, a walk from Erikka Murphy and another hit from Gaspard. Melissa Verde then moved two across the plate with a single through the right side. A sacrifice fly from Christi Orgeron allowed Gaspard to tally the third run of the inning. With a runner on first and two outs, Gabriele Bridges smashed a shot over the left field fence for her 14th home run of the season. The next batter, Lana Bowers, drew a walk and scored during the next at-bat as Nerissa Myers reached base on an errant throw by the Warhawks, eventually winding up on third. Louisiana-Monroe would finally get out of the inning but no after the Cajuns put up six runs on four hits.

Louisiana-Monroe tried to respond in the bottom of the fifth frame but only mustered one run on a walk and a base hit.

At the plate for the Cajuns, Gaspard led the way with a 3-for-4 showing and one run scored. Cormier also put together a good day with two hits and one run.

The Cajuns will now wait to find out their opponent in tomorrow’s championship game. UL will face Troy on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. If Troy defeats the Mean Green on Friday evening, the Trojans will move on. The game will be televised on Cox Sports TV.


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