Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns took down the Ole Miss Rebels 2-0 in a Monday evening showdown at Lamson Park.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana plated a run in the bottom of the first as Maddie Hayden drew a one-out walk. After stealing second base, Hayden would score two batters later when Alexa Langeliers hit a single into left field.
It appeared that the Ragin’ Cajuns were going to add another run as Stormy Kotzelnick hit a single into right field. Kotzelnick made the turn around first and then was thrown out for the final out of the first.
Ole Miss threatened in the top of the second when Mikayla Allen hit a one-out double. Louisiana’s Meghan Schorman was able to get out of the jam by striking out Catelyn Riley and then getting Jamie Mackay to fly out to end the inning.
After that, neither team could get anything going at the plate as the Rebels got only two base runners (a single and a walk) in the next four innings.
The Ragin’ Cajuns managed only two base runners until the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Langeliers lifted a pitch from Aynslie Furbush over the wall in the left field.
Ole Miss tied the game in the top of the seventh as Allen and Riley reached base with a single and then a double. Schorman was able to get Mackay to fly out for the second out but then hit the nine-hole hitter Jalia Lassiter to load the bases with two outs.
Rebels’ Savana Sikes then hit a routine groundball to Langeliers who threw it away to second base. Ole Miss scored two runs on the play to tie the game.
Louisiana led off the bottom of the seventh as Lauren Allred reached first base after Ole Miss’ catcher was called for interference. The Ragin’ Cajuns were unable to take advantage as three straight pinch hitters failed to get on the base paths.
Ole Miss got the leadoff hitter on in the eighth as Paige Smith hit a single off of Sam Landry — who came in to relieve Schorman. After a sac bunt and a pop up, Landry got Allen to record her first out of the game — a shallow pop up to second base.
In the bottom of the frame, the Ragin’ Cajuns got things going. Mihyia Davis drew a leadoff walk and then Maddie Hayden laced a double into the gap in left-centerfield. Pinch hitter Karly Heath came in a was walked on four pitches which loaded the bases with no outs.
Langeliers then came to the plate and hit a bomb off the wall to drive in the winning run.
BIG NUMBER: 15
With two RBI in Monday evening’s victory, Langeliers now has 15 on the season which is the most on the Ragin’ Cajuns.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: ALEXA LANGELIERS
Langeliers came up clutch for the Ragin’ Cajuns as she went 3-for-3 with 3 RBI, a solo home run and one walk.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (10-6) returns to action on Friday when it takes on McNeese and the University of Texas in the Longhorn Invitational in Austin. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. and then at 7 p.m.