Logos from sportslogos.net
The top-ranked Louisiana Ragin Cajuns dug down deep in a battle with #5 Texas State in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Softball Championship. In a game that featured a bunt-double and diving catches, the Cajuns outmatched the Bobcats to win 4-1 and advance to the Championship round on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The first two innings were an incredible display of defense and pitching between Jessica Mullins and Meghan Schorman. In the top of the third however, Louisiana had some offense come into their own with a single by Maddie Hayden, a double by Victoria Valdez that put runners at second and third, and then an incredible two-run bunt double by Cecilia Vasquez to put the Cajuns on the board.
Texas State came back in the bottom half of the third with an RBI double by Megan Kelnar to score Ciara Trahan and make it a 2-1 contest then threatened with another base hit to the outfield but an incredible throw from Mihyia Davis got the runner at the plate to end the inning.
In the fourth, Louisiana extended their lead with an Alexa Langliers double before Maddie Hayden brought her in with an RBI single to make it 3-1 Cajuns. Louisiana rattled Jessica Mullins for seven base hits and three runs scored to this point.
Sophie Piskos cushioned the Louisiana advantage in the fifth with a solo blast to center field to make the score 4-1 and that was enough to pull Jessica Mullins for the night.
Texas State loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with two outs, but Kandra Lamb was able to get the critical third out and keep the Bobcats off the board.
Kandra Lamb came back out for the bottom of the seventh and gave up the lead off base runner, but was able to get the final strikeout on Sara Vanderford to win the game 4-1 and advance to the championship game.
BIG NUMBER: .500
Louisiana was 4-8 in the game when they had runners in scoring position, which was a huge difference in the 4-1 game.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mihyia Davis/Cecilia Vasquez
Vasquez got the game rolling early with her two-run bunt double, which set the tone for the rest of the contest. Mihyia Davis had a huge hand in the game with two critical defensive plays: throwing a Texas State run out at the plate and making a diving catch in center field.
This freshman class for Louisiana is making a major impact early in their careers.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will return to its home field to battle with second-seeded Marshall for the Sun Belt Championship. First pitch for the title bout is set for 1:00 p.m.