After having Monday through Wednesday off, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team returned to the diamond on Thursday for a home weekend series versus the South Alabama Jaguars. There was a lack of runs on the board until the final couple of innings, but the Cajuns took the lead in the eighth and came out on top 2-1 to improve their record to 21-22. The Vermilion and white are also now 7-9 in Sun Belt Conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Tyra Clary was Louisiana’s starting pitcher on Thursday and held strong through the first handful of innings.
Clary struck out just one South Alabama batter through the first four innings. The Jags made plenty of contact through those frames, but none of their batters got on base until Olivia Branstetter singled into center field with one out in the fourth. Clary’s lone strikeout to that point was against Amity White in the first.
Louisiana threatened to score at the bottom of the first. With two outs, the Cajuns loaded the bases when Emily Smith and Kayla Falterman singled, and a pitch hit Sam Roe. All three runners were left on base after Mia Norwood flew out in right field.
The next three innings were a struggle for the Cajuns’ bats as Jaguar starting pitcher Olivia Cato didn’t allow a hit and struck out two. The only time Louisiana got on base was when Smith walked in the third.
South Alabama picked up the pace in the fifth when, with two outs, Frankie Andujos singled into right field. Caitlyn Gavin followed that up with a hit down the third base line. Pinch hitter Sophia Mendoza ended the inning, however, after hitting into a fielder’s choice.
A pair of singles by Erin Ardoin and Mia Liscano put runners on first and second to begin the bottom of the fifth. After a couple of lineouts by Maddie Hayden and Laney Credeur, both runners advanced on a wild pitch to move into scoring position. Smith couldn’t drive in a run as she popped up into center field for the final out of the inning, keeping the game scoreless.
Clary’s day on the mound ended in the sixth after giving up a leadoff double to Presley Lively. Coach Alyson Habetz switched to Mallory Wheeler, who forced South Alabama’s Stephanie Gonzalez into a sacrifice ground out. The hit was enough to drive in a run and put the Jags on top by one.
The Cajuns had another opportunity to score when Sam Roe singled to at the bottom of the frame and had McKayla Ferguson pinch run. Ferguson made it to third after a sacrifice bunt by Falterman, Gabbie Stutes getting hit by a pitch, and Ardoin getting walked. Liscano couldn’t capitalize as she fouled out.
Wheeler kept South Al off the scoreboard in the seventh and gave her team a chance. In their final opportunity, Louisiana got on the board. Hayden singled, and Williams reached on a fielding error by the first baseman. Smith hit into a fielder’s choice, getting Hayden out and keeping runners on first and second base. Roe was hit on the elbow and loaded the bases again before Faltmerman stepped up to the plate and delivered an RBI single to second base, tying the game and sending it to extra innings.
In the eighth, White got on base with a single to left field but got out on a fielder’s choice on the next at-bat. Branstetter and Gonzalez made it on base and were left stranded after Megan Davidson popped up to Wheeler, who struck out Gracie Ward and got the Cajuns to the bottom of the frame unscathed.
Louisiana took the game in extras. Liscano and Hayden singled up the middle with one out, and Williams sealed the game when she hit an RBI single into left field, scoring Liscano and giving the Cajuns the 2-1 win, improving their record to 21-22 and 7-9 in Sun Belt play.
BIG NUMBER: 27
The trend continued for Louisiana. Since 2016, the Vermilion and White haven’t lost to Becky Clark’s program. Their win streak over the Jaguars is now 27.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Dayzja Williams
When it mattered the most, Williams stepped up as she hit the walk-off single to give the Cajuns the 2-1, extra innings win on Thursday. The win put Louisiana at 21-22 on the season and 7-9 in conference play.
UP NEXT: Game two between the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team and the South Alabama Jaguars is set for Friday, April 18th. The first pitch from Lamson Park is set for 6:00 p.m.