We got a rematch between two in-state rivals Tuesday evening between the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and the LSU Tigers. The Bayou Bengals stole the first game when they played at Tiger Park two weeks ago, 14-0 and run-ruled the Vermilion and White in five innings. This matchup took place in Lamson Park as the Cajuns took an early lead before the Tigers responded in dominating fashion, winning 11-4. LSU improved to 30-2 with the win, while Louisiana dropped to 16-15.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Tyra Clary was Louisiana’s starting pitcher on Tuesday and tallied a trio of strikeouts through the first couple of innings. The only times LSU got on base was when Jalia Lassiter, Tori Edwards, and Jadyn Laneaux were walked.
Tiger starting pitcher Ashley Vallejo allowed a leadoff single down the left field line to Maddie Hayden, who advanced to second and third base after a pair of groundouts by Dayzja Williams and Cecilia Vasquez. Emily Smith popped up into left field, and Laneaux made the catch to end the first.
It was a three-up-three-down second inning for the Cajuns as Vallejo forced a fly out and line out on Sam Roe and Laney Credeur. Savannah White then struck out to end the frame.
After a quick top of the third for LSU, Louisiana took the lead at the bottom of the inning. Mia Liscano led with a single past the left field line before Erin Ardoin hit into a double play. With two outs, Hayden reached on a fielding error after a review. Williams followed that up with a single in right field, and Vasquez was walked to load the bases. Smith put up the first runs of the game with a three-run RBI double into center field over Lassiter’s outstretched arms. Roe added onto their lead with a single out in right field to give the Cajuns the 4-0 lead through three innings.
Jayden Heavener replaced Vallejo before Roe’s hit. Vallejo finished with four runs and hits allowed in 2.2 innings.
The Tigers responded right away at the top of the fourth with a six-run inning themselves. Tori Edwards walked and then stole second before scoring on a McKenzie Redoutey RBI double. Sierra Daniel singled and then advanced to second on a bad throw, putting two runners in scoring position. Laneaux reached on a fielding error by Liscano, putting up two more runs, then Emily Hodge hit her first home run of the season to give LSU their first lead of the game. Lassiter followed that up with a double in center field, and Maci Bergeron’s RBI single gave the bayou Bengals the two-run advantage through four innings.
Clary was taken out for freshman right-hander Mallor Wheeler, who forced a line out on her first pitch. The fifth was much more difficult for Wheeler after Heavener struck out two Cajuns batters and forced Hayden into a groundout at the bottom of the fourth.
Wheeler walked three batters, allowed a single to Laneaux, and hit McKaela Walker with a pitch. That led to a pair of unearned runs for the Tigers and a decision by coach Alyson Habetz to go to Bethaney Noble.
Noble’s first batter faced was Lassiter, who reached on a fielder’s choice throw to home, but Bergeron hit a double into right-center field to score three more runs. LSU was ahead 11-4.
The Cajuns made a couple of changes to their hitting lineup, as Lillian Soto and Gabbie Stutes replaced Savannah White and Erin Ardoin and the seven and nine-hole hitters. Soto struck out, and Stutes popped out at third base while Hayden grounded out to end the sixth.
Louisiana couldn’t muster up any runs in the seventh, and LSU secured the 11-4 win over the Cajuns. The victory improved the Tigers to 30-2, and the Cajuns fell to 16-15 with the seven-run loss.
BIG NUMBER: 11
After the Vermillion and White took a commanding 4-0 advantage through the first three innings, the lead evaporated as soon as it arrived. LSU responded by scoring 11 straight runs through the fourth and fifth innings. The loss gave Louisiana a 2-8 record versus ranked opponents.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Maci Bergeron
Bergeron finished Tuesday night going 2-4 from the plate and recorded four RBI as LSU rallied to beat Louisiana 11-4. The win puts the Tigers’ record at 30-2 while the Cajuns dropped to 16-15 on the season.
UP NEXT: The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team will travel to Conway, South Carolina, for a Sun Belt matchup against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. First pitch from St. John Stadium is set for 5:00 pm on Friday, March 28th. LSU will host the South Carolina Gamecocks for their SEC weekend series. The Tigers will have the same first pitch time and date at Tiger Park.
