MITCHELL SHUTS DOWN SIXTH-RANKED SEMINOLES, CLINCH SEMINOLE CHALLENGE TITLE

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Brooke Mitchell threw 15 strikeouts and Crystal George drove in the game-winning run in the top of the 10th inning to give the No.12-ranked Louisiana’s LAdy Cajuns a 1-0 victory over No. 6 Florida State Saturday afternoon here at the Seminole Softball Complex.

The pitcher’s duel pitted Mitchell (17-1) against Florida State All-American Jessica van der Linden (10-2), who was one day removed from a perfect game. Both pitchers went the distance, pitching 10 innings for their respective teams.

The win improves Louisiana to 23-2 overall, while the loss drops the Seminoles to 19-3. The win is also the Cajuns’ first in 2004 against a nationally-ranked opponent. For the Seminoles, it was the second game in a week against a ranked opponent from Louisiana.

“It was a great atmosphere for college softball,” said UL Lafayette head coach Stefni Lotief. “It goes without saying that Brooke pitched a great game, but our defense made some incredible plays as well.”

In game one, freshman centerfielder Hillary Guidry sent a van der Linden pitch up the middle for the first hit of the game in the top of the first. Holly Tankersley and Danyele Gomez both flew out, before Ashley Evans advanced Guidry to second on a single to left field. Freshman Lacey Bertucci struck out for the Cajuns’ third out, ending the top half of the first.

UL Lafayette starting pitcher Brooke Mitchell did something van der Linden couldn’t do in the first inning-strike out the side. Mitchell fanned Veronica Wootson, Natasha Jacob and van der Linden in order.

In the top of the second, Brittany Bryant drew a lead-off walk, before being thrown at second on a fielder’s choice by Crystal George. Joy Webre flied out to left and Tiffany Hebert fouled out to the catcher to end the inning for the Cajuns.

From there, van der Linden would retire 16 straight Cajuns until Bryant ripped a single to center field in the top of the seventh.

Mitchell allowed her first base runner in the bottom of the second, walking third baseman Lesley Palmer. Mitchell then hit Elisa Vasquez in the knee, giving the Seminoles two runners with nobody out. Mitchell settled down to strike out the final three FSU batters, getting the Cajuns out of the jam.

In the bottom half of the third, Mitchell retired the side for the second time, striking out two to keep the Seminoles hitless through three complete innings.

Mitchell retired the first two batters she faced in the bottom of the fourth, before Vasquez hit a hard liner to left to end Mitchell’s attempt at a no-hitter. On the next at bat, Wade hit a ball to the middle of infield, but Hebert dove and got the force out at second to keep the game scoreless after four complete innings.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Mitchell retired the side. Carly Brieske flew out to right, while Kim Hoffer popped out to Bertucci. Mitchell then fanned LaShaun Davis her ninth strikeout of the afternoon.

In the top of the seventh, van der Linden kept the Cajuns at bay, striking out the first two batters of the inning. Then, Bryant laced a single to center, giving the Cajuns their first hit since the first inning and first base runner since the second. Florida State catcher BillieAnne Gay threw out Bryant trying to steal second, ending the Cajuns rally.

The pitcher’s duel continued into the bottom half of the seventh. Mitchell struck out the side to send the game to extra innings.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the 10th inning. As per the international tie-breaker rule, Bertucci was placed on second base since she was the last Cajuns out in the previous inning. Michelle Bergeaux replaced her as the pinch runner. Bryant grounded out to third for the first out.

In the next at bat, George came through for the Cajuns, breaking the scoreless tie with a single to center field scoring Bergeaux for the go-ahead run.

In the Seminoles’ half of the 10th inning, Webre picked off van der Linden at second base, giving the Cajuns a quick out. Palmer followed with a single to left. Mitchell struck out Vasquez, before Seminole first baseman Beth Wade sent another liner to left. Brieske then flew out to Evans to end the game.

“Our girls handled the pressure of the international tie-breaker very well,” Lotief added. “This win and experience will give these kids the understanding of what big time softball is all about.”

In game two, Mitchell struck out the side in her only inning of work against Rhode Island. The Cajuns took advantage of three fielding errors in the bottom of the first to take an early 6-0 lead.

Heather Bobbitt came on in relief of Mitchell to begin the second inning. Bobbitt retired the first batter, before allowing a double to Jaime Hughes and walk to Kim Custance. A two-out double to left field by Melanie Gregory scored Hughes and Custance to cut the Cajuns lead to 6-2.

After Bobbitt gave up a run and loaded the bases in the third, Mitchell re-entered the game and struck out her fourth Rams batter of the game.

In the bottom of the third, Brittany Bryant sent a one-out home run over the left field fence to give the Cajuns a 7-3 advantage.

Mitchell retired the side for the Cajuns in the top of the fourth. In the Cajuns’ half of the frame, Tankersley hit a two-out opposite-field home run to give the Cajuns an 8-3 edge.

In the bottom of the fifth, Evans smashed the Cajuns’ third home run of the night cap, giving the Cajuns a commanding 9-3 lead. Desi Chatman and Bryant followed each with a walk.

Leslie Pierce reached on a fielder’s choice, but Chatman was thrown out at third for the force. With two outs, shortstop Christine Collins sent a double into the left centerfield gap to score Bryant and Pierce, giving the Cajuns (24-2) the decisive 11-3 victory.

Mitchell improves to 18-1 overall. Rhode Island falls to 0-8 overall.

LOUISIANA SI