The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team earned two wins against Coastal Carolina to begin a weekend series with the Chanticleers, including a 13-0 win in five innings on Saturday. In Sunday’s matchup, Louisiana got on the board early in the first inning and never trailed as they improved to 21-13 on the season with a 3-1 win over Coastal.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Lefty Chloe Riassetto was Louisiana’s starting pitcher, forcing a groundout and second base by Libby Pippin and a fly-out by Delaney Keith. Sam Landry who caught the fly ball in right field made her way to the mound to get the third out of the opening inning.
Mihyia Davis began the bottom of the first with a single past the second baseman and advanced on a groundout by Maddie Hayden. Davis then stole third base and got home courtesy of a throwing error by catcher Maddie Jennings where the ball was overthrown to the third baseman.
Landry forced a couple of outs at the top of the second, including a line out straight to third base, and then retired Ava Strickland to end the inning.
At the top of the third, Landry struck out Brie Normandin and then moved back to right field as Riassetto went to the mound for a second time. The sophomore left-handed pitcher ended the inning with a strikeout one, then had a pop fly by Pippin as the Cajuns maintained a one-run lead.
After a ground-out by Victoria Valdez, Cecilia Vasquez hit a double into right-center field and advanced to third base off a fielding error that allowed Hayden to reach first. Hayden stole second but Laney Creduer’s deep into center field left two on base.
At the top of the fourth, Keith hit the flyout and Landry returned to the pitcher’s mound while Riassetto went to dp. Kayla Falterman however went into right field before Riley Zana and Jennings struck out swinging as Louisiana was still up by one heading into the bottom of the frame.
With two outs, Brooke Ellestad and Sophie Piskos each hit singles as Piskos was pinch-hitting for Riassetto. Valdez ended the inning when she hit the ball to the shortstop and sent us to the fifth inning.
At the top of the sixth, Riassetto returned to the mound and Falterman remained in right field while Piskos was at dh while Valdez continued to play catcher. Coastal Carolina hit a ground out and had a foul out before Keith hit the ball deep to right field but Faltmeran made the catch at the warning track for the final out of the inning.
Dayzja Williams pinch-ran for Creduer after she was walked and advanced to second on a single by Sam Roe. Both runners advanced on a bunt by Alexa Langeliers and then Williams scored on a sacrifice out by Ellestad. Roe then tried to steal home at the end of the play but was called safe after a review. Riassetto then recorded her first collegiate hit before heading to the top of the seventh as the Cajuns went up three.
Landry made it back to the mound one more time and allowed Louisiana’s first hits of the game as Iyanla De Jesus and Jennings hit a single into left and right field as De Jesus advanced to third base. Riassetto returned and got a fly out but pinch runner Ally Wojciechowski scored Coastal’s first run. Livi Payne however struck out swinging as the Cajuns improved to 21-13 with a 3-1 win.
BIG NUMBER: 83
The Cajun extended their Sun Belt Conference win streak to 83 in the wins over the Chanticleers and are winners of three straight in the weekend series against Coastal Carolina.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Sam Landry
Landry wasn’t the starting pitcher but was part of a game plan where she would switch with Chloe Riassetto depending on the matchup. In the three and two thirds innings she pitched, Landry struck out seven Chanticleer batters in the 3-0 win on Sunday.
UP NEXT: The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team will head to Boone, North Carolina for a weekend series against App State. Game one against the Mountaineers is set for Thursday with the first pitch at 5:00 p.m.