Frightening injuries mark Cajuns’ softball sweep of FIU.

LOUISIANA La — Team doctors were as important as runs batted in on Sunday as Louisiana put together a rugged 3-2, 3-2 doubleheader sweep of Florida International at Ragin’ Cajun Softball Park.

Junior shortstop Tiffany Hebert was spiked by FIU’s Cindy Turek on an unsuccessful steal and slide in the third inning of the opener, suffering a gruesome gash to the right thigh that shelved her for the day.

Three innings later, pitcher Brooke Mitchell was struck above the left eye by a line drive off the bat of Lindsay Tippings and toppled to the ground, stunned.

Both are in satisfactory condition, but it was a traumatic afternoon for the Cajuns and co-head coach Stefni Lotief.

“Tiffany had 21 stitches in her leg,” Lotief said. “It was torn wide open. Our team doctor, Dr. Brian Rich, was here, thank God.

“The girl (Turek) was out by two steps, and she didn’t have to do that. That’s the only thing that bothers me. I mean, it’s a game.”

Teurlings Catholic product Hebert was celebrating her 21st birthday on Sunday, and when she went down her teammates were visibly shaken. But she was back in the dugout for Game Two.

Mitchell, UL’s season and career strikeout record-holder, received nine stitches to the forehead and was treated at a local hospital.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com