It's a good thing Jill Robertson came back for one more year.

Robertson saved Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns from a fate worse than ratings oblivion on Friday, delivering a majestic two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning for an 8-6 victory over Nicholls State on the opening day of the 19th Louisiana Classics at Ragin' Cajun Softball Park.

The No. 5-ranked Cajuns were stunned when Nicholls State rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh, capped by Brandi Hahn's grand slam home run, to tie the game at 6-6 and force extra innings.

That was all for UL starting pitcher Heather Bobbitt, with All-American Brooke Mitchell coming on to work three scoreless innings for her seventh win of the young season.

Mitchell walked one and struck out five, including the final four batters she faced, but the game was a showcase for the long ball as the two in-state rivals hit a total of six home runs.

None was more dramatic than the game-winner by Robertson, who missed the 2004 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament but has already produced three circuit clouts in 2005.

Codi Runyan was hit by a pitch from reliever Ally May with one out in the 10th. Robertson stepped to the plate and sent the ball sailing deep into the left field bleachers to regain the edge for the Cajuns.

That was all Mitchell needed as she fanned the side in the bottom of the 10th to finally halt a game that lasted four hours and 15 minutes.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com