Lady Cajuns get back to winning ways

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Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns got back in the groove on Sunday, belting Purdue 15-5 on the final day of the 19th Louisiana Classics at Ragin' Cajun Softball Park.

It was just what the Cajuns needed after suffering their first loss of the season on Saturday, the kind of game that bodes well for this week's prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.

"I think it meant a lot," coach Stefni Lotief said. "We came back out with the right mindset and decided to go back out there and fight."

The Cajuns (12-1) needed a lift after losing to Nicholls State 1-0 on an eighth-inning passed ball on Saturday, and the Boilermakers (6-3) were the unwilling recipients of that renewed focus.

Senior outfielder Crystal George provided the big lift, lashing a pair of two-out, opposite field triples to break the game open.

It was the first time a Cajun had hit two triples in a game since Lynn Britton against Samford on April 14, 1995, and just the third time in UL history that it has happened.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com

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Softball team returns home with winning record in Louisiana Classic

The Purdue softball team continued its preseason success this weekend, going 3-2 in the Louisiana Classic in Lafayette, La.

Coach Carol Bruggeman said she was pleased with her team’s performance.

"Overall, I felt we competed extremely well in four of the five games we played," Bruggeman said.

"I felt like we competed pretty well and played well."

The Boilers (6-3) opened the tournament with a sweep of their Friday games. Purdue defeated Nicholls State, 6-1, and then defeated Mississippi Valley State, 5-0.

Sophomore Diana LaRiva struck out eight in the Mississippi Valley State game in a complete game effort, while sophomore DaQueta Johnson went 3 for 4 in the game.

Purdue lost its second game Saturday against host No. 5 Louisiana-Lafayette, 3-1. The Ragin’ Cajuns won the game on a seventh-inning home run, while the Boilers scored its solo run from sophomore Katie Fortune.

"The first time we competed against the No. 5 team in the country, it was a phenomenal game," Bruggeman said. "We could have won that game."

The Boilers responded in a rematch against Mississippi Valley State and won the game, 7-2. Purdue had 14 hits in the game, while sophomore pitcher Brooke Baker and freshman Melissa Burns combined for 11 strikeouts.

Purdue lost its final game of the tournament on Sunday in a rematch with Louisiana 15-5.

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By David Heckard
Senior Writer