The first day of the Mardi Gras Invitational was a major success for the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (8-3) as they were able to win both of their games on Thursday in convincing fashion against Drake and Bowling Green.
In the first game, it was deadlocked until the top of the third when Hayley Hayden sent one sailing over the left field wall. Later in the inning, Aleah Craighton capitalized on a fielding error by Drake to make it a 2-0 lead. Daniella Chavez wrapped up the third inning with an RBI single to right field that would score DJ Sanders.
Craighton would extend the Cajuns lead in the top of the fifth with a three run blast to left center field. The Cajuns would score two more runs in the sixth inning before the Bulldogs finally got on the board in the bottom half of the inning with a three run blast of their own by Sarah Maddox.
The Cajuns would put it away in the seventh inning with another home run, this time from Chavez to give the Cajuns a 9-3 victory.
The bats for the Cajuns did not let up when they took on Bowling Green as they put up three runs in quick fashion thanks to a two run shot from Chavez. However, the Falcons fired back in the bottom half of the inning when Alex Sorgi scored from third after Wheeler was caught stealing.
The Cajuns put up three more runs in the third with two more runs coming off the bat of Chavez making it six RBIs for the junior on the day.
DJ Sanders continued to put the hurt on Bowling Green with a three run blast to left field in the fourth inning. The Falcons got one over the left field wall as well in the bottom half of the inning, but it was too little too late as the Cajuns put up four more runs to force a run rule after five innings.
The Cajuns will return to action on Friday when they take on Dartmouth (0-0) with first pitch set for 3:45 pm.
-Clint Domingue