The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns defeated the Marshall Thundering Herd 5-3 Saturday afternoon. With the win Louisiana claimed the series victory, and improved to 27-23 (10-10 SBC) and Marshall fell to 35-14 (15-5 SBC).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Senior Day festivities got underway at Lamson Park with a short ceremony honoring Louisiana’s five seniors. McKayla Ferguson, Cecilia Vasquez, Lexie Delbrey, Erin Ardoin, and Bethany Noble were all celebrated with their parents and family members before first pitch.
Noble got the start in the circle for the Cajuns. She ran into trouble right out of the gate by walking the bases loaded, but her defense made a few routine plays to get out of the inning unscathed.
For the Thundering Herd, sophomore Maddie Veal got the nod in the circle. She cruised through the first to keep things tied at 0.
Vasquez led off the bottom of the second with a single to the left side. She was moved over on a sacrifice bunt from Mia Norwood, and then Madyson Manning broke the deadlock with an RBI double—again to the left side—to give the Cajuns a one-run lead.
The Cajuns added another to make it 2-0 thanks to a bloop single to right field from Kennedy Marceaux.
Things got worse for Veal. After a walk loaded the bases, she hit only her second batter of the year—Brooke Otto—to force in another run before finally getting out of the inning. The Cajuns led 3-0 after two complete.
Louisiana put two more on the board in the third after Manning reached on an error and Knox ripped a ground-rule double. The Cajuns led 5-0, and Veal’s day came to an end.
Veal’s final line: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 HBP.
For the Herd, senior Paige Meynard came on in relief and managed to get her side back to the dugout without surrendering another run.
In the top of the fourth, Marshall threatened. Noble started the inning by hitting Tia Titi, then gave up an infield single to Paige Simpson. She responded with back-to-back pop-ups to get out of the inning and keep the Herd off the board.
Marshall capitalized in the sixth inning on a throwing error from Otto to score their first run of the game and cut the lead to four.
Liscano turned a double play to stifle Marshall’s attempted rally and keep the score at 5-1.
Marshall continued to keep things interesting in the seventh. Sydni Bruno crushed a one-out solo shot to left field, cutting the Cajuns’ lead to three.
Noble gave up a walk and a double to the next two batters she faced, then intentionally walked Bella Gerlach to load the bases and set up a force at every bag with one out.
Titi hit a sacrifice fly to plate another run, making it 5-3 with two outs.
Noble then faced Simpson and got her to pop up for the final out.
BIG NUMBER: 118
Bethany Noble needed 118 pitches to get her team the win. The most she has thrown in a game this season.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Bethany Noble
Bethany Noble tossed a complete game against one of the best lineups she faced this season. Her final line: 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 4 K, 118 TP.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will play Marshall in game three tomorrow, April 26th, at 12 PM.