The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns needed a late rally to take down McNeese on Wednesday night, but were unable to pull off another comeback against Baylor on Thursday night.
The Bears broke open the game with a six-run fifth inning and handed the No. 12 Ragin’ Cajuns a 8-1 defeat.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Baylor’s Nicky Dawson led off the game with a bunt single and then stole second base. Lou Gilbert reached on a bunt single which gave the Bears runners on the corners with no outs. Two batters later, Josie Bower grounded out which scored Dawson.
Louisiana answered in the bottom of the inning as Kaitlyn Alderink hit a one-out double to right center. Two batters later, Julie Rawls drove in Alderink with a single to right field.
Baylor reclaimed the lead as Dawson drove in Ana Watson with a single down the right field line.
Louisiana would get two runners on the base path in the bottom of the second with Alissa Dalton drawing a two-out walk and Ciara Bryan hitting a single up the middle. Alderink would ground out to end the inning.
The Ragin’ Cajuns had no problems getting runners on in Thursday’s game but they couldn’t drive them home. Louisiana left six runners on base in the first four innings of the game.
Baylor busted the game wide open in the top of the fifth as the Bears took both starter Summer Ellyson and relief pitcher Casey Dixon out of the game.
Ellyson would earn the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits in four innings of work.
Dawson led off with a single to centerfield and then scored on a double by Gilbert. Goose McGlaun drove in Gilbert with a double down the left field line.
Bower singled off Dixon and pinch runner Kettler stole second base. Dixon then walked Aliyah Binford and McGlaun scored on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Taylor Ellis laced a double down the left field line which drove in two more runs.
Dixon was then pulled for Karly Heath who eventually got the Ragin’ Cajuns out of the inning but not before giving up an RBI single.
BIG NUMBER: 14
Baylor racked up 14 hits as all three Louisiana pitchers gave up at least two hits. A total of seven different Bears recorded hits on Thursday night.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jade Gortarez
The Ragin’ Cajuns shortstop was one of the few bright spots for the team in Thursday’s loss. Gortarez went 2-for-3 at the plate and was the only Louisiana player to record more than one hit.
UP NEXT: No. 12 Louisiana (10-4) will return to action on Friday with the start of a three-game series at Memphis.