It was a successful weekend for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and McNeese Cowgirls. Both softball programs swept their conference opponents, leading into this midweek matchup between long-time rivals. Cowgirl Diamond was the setting of Tuesday’s game as Louisiana was the visiting team.
The Cowgirls took an early lead at home and held on late to secure the 4-3 win on Tuesday. The win improved McNeese’s record to 32-18, and Louisiana’s record dropped to 25-23.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana’s bats were on fire to begin the game. Haley Hart and Mia Liscano each recorded hits to lead off. Hart was 60 feet away from scoring, and Liscano was caught out at second. The Cajuns failed to score a run after Brooke Otto fouled out in the infield and Kennedy Marceaux grounded out.
The first run was scored at the bottom of the first. Kassidy Chance singled into left-center field and advanced to second off a Bailey Mackels wild pitch. She advanced to third on a Maddie Weeks groundout and then scored when Rylee Cloud singled down the left side. McNeese followed that up by loading bases when Mackles hit Jada Munoz with a pitch and walked Corinne Poncho. All three runners were stranded after Malayna Daigle grounded out.
Cowgirls starting pitcher Brookelyn Taylor had a strong second inning by striking out all three batters she faced.
The Cowgirls added on to their lead at the bottom of the frame. After a leadoff pop fly by Meiko Dominguez, there were back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second before advancing on a wild pitch. Cloud then hit a two-RBI single before stealing second and scoring on an infield hit by Maddie Taylor. McNeese was ahead 4-1.
The Cajuns cut into the lead on their next time at the plate. Natalie Johnson began the inning by reaching on an infield error, and McKayla Ferguson pinch ran for her. After Miki Watts struck out, Hart singled, and Otto walked to load the bases. Marceaux drove in Johnson with two outs to make it a two-run game.
Neither team scored in the fourth or fifth inning, and the Cajuns made a pitching change at the bottom of the fifth. Coach Alyson Habetz switched out Mackles for Julianne Tipton. Louisiana’s relief pitcher gave up a double to the first batter she faced, but forced Poncho to hit a pop fly and Daigle to ground out to end the inning.
Louisiana went hitless in the sixth and needed at least two runs in the seventh to stay in the game. The Vermilion and White were down to their final out when Taylor forced Johnson into a groundout to third base and struck out Mia Norwood. Hart kept her team alive with a solo home run over the left-center field wall, and Liscano doubled, putting the winning run at the plate. Otto couldn’t come up clutch and fouled out, winning the game for McNeese by a score of 4-3.
The Cowgirl win put them at 32-18, and the Cajuns dropped to 25-23 on the season with the loss.
BIG NUMBER: 1
In the two games played this season, McNeese and Louisiana split the series at one game apiece. The Cajuns previously won 5-2 back on March 24th.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Rylee Cloud
Cloud was one of two Cowgirls with multiple hits on Tuesday and capitalized with runners in scoring position, recording three RBI on the night. McNeese improved to 32-18 in the win, and Louisiana dropped to 25-23 with the midweek loss.
NEXT UP: The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will begin a weekend series with the Marshall Thundering Herd on Friday, April 24th. First pitch from Lamson Park is scheduled for 6:00 PM. The McNeese Cowgirls will travel to Commerce, Texas, for their weekend series with East Texas A&M. Game one’s first pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM.