Logos from sportslogos.net
After losing their first Sun Belt Conference series in 10 years, the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns were ready to get back to winning ways at home against the UL Monroe Warhawks. ULM jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Cajuns scored 3 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings before Sam Roe sent the fans home happy in extras with a 5-3 Louisiana win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
On ULM’s third at-bat of the game, Morgan Brown took a fastball for a ride to center field to give the Warhawks a 1-0 lead. Louisiana tried to answer in the bottom half by getting a pair of base runners on, but ULM got out of the job to keep the early advantage.
Two innings later, the Warhawks added to their total with a second solo home run, this time to the left field foul pole as Jacelyn Buck sent one over the wall at Lamson Park to make it a 2-0 lead for ULM.
Reece Briggs joined the home run party in the fourth as she hit the third solo shot of the game, this one also going to center field to increase the ULM lead to 3-0 as the Cajuns struggled offensively in their first SBC home game under Habetz.
In the bottom of the seventh, it was the last chance for the Cajuns and it started with Laney Credeur legging out a single to get an early runner on. A pair of walks to Savannah White and Gabbie Stutes loaded the bases with one out. Kayla Falterman laced a double to left center field to score three runs and tie it with two outs in the seventh and send the game to extra innings.
To start the 8th inning, there was controversy as a bunt was laid down, but the bat ended up in the field of play and the ball made contact with the bat. However, umpires reviewed the play and decided to keep the Warhawk runner at 1st base. A grounder induced by Tyra Clary led to a huge double play from Cecilia Vasquez to end the frame.
In the bottom of the eighth, Louisiana got a base runner on an illegal pitch walk to Emily Smith. Sam Roe then delivered a walk-off home run on her senior day with a two-run blast to center as the Cajuns scored five in the final two innings to win it 5-3.
BIG NUMBER: 5
The Cajuns got three runs in the bottom of the seventh before a two-run homer from Sam Roe in extra innings won it for Louisiana.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Sam Roe
On her Senior Day celebration, Roe delivered a two-run walk-off home run in the eighth inning to win it for the Cajuns.
UP NEXT: Louisiana and ULM will meet for Game 2 of a three-game Sun Belt series on Saturday afternoon with the first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. from Lamson Park