The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns advanced to the next round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament by defeating South Alabama 10-3 on Thursday.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Ragin’ Cajuns got on the scoreboard in the first inning.
Kaitlyn Alderink got on with a one-out single and then Kendall Talley stepped into the box and hit a two-run home run off of Olivia Lackie that went over the right-centerfield wall.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Ragin’ Cajuns got on the board again as Julie Rawls led off with a single to center field.
Two hitters later, pinch hitter Bailey Curry hit a single to left center field and then Piskos reached on a sacrifice bunt.
With the bases loaded, Ciara Bryan’s sac fly to right centerfield scored Rawls. Alderink was then hit by a pitch to reload the bases.
The Ragin’ Cajuns then pulled off a triple steal and Curry crossed home plate. The Ragin’ Cajuns attempted it again but this time Piskos was out at home plate for the final out of the inning.
The Ragin’ Cajuns added to their lead with another three runs in the fifth.
Talley led off by getting hit by the first pitch of the at-bat. Justice Milz then singled to right-center field and Talley advanced to third on a throwing error. Jade Gortarez proceeded to drive in Talley as she reached first base on a fielder’s choice.
Rawls then drew a walk and the bases were loaded as Allissa Dalton hit a single to right. Curry then drove home two Cajuns with a double to left center.
South Alabama’s lineup meanwhile was unable to get anything going at the plate through five innings as Summer Ellyson was dealing.
The former Tuerlings Catholic star gave up a single to leadoff hitter Caroline Nichols to start the game. After that, Ellyson did not surrender another hit while striking out 10 Jaguars in the next four innings.
In the sixth, South Alabama finally got to Ellyson.
With one out, Nichols hit a single and then was joined on the base paths by Mackenzie Brasher who reached on a single as well.
Two hitters later, Kennedy Cronan took an Ellyson pitch over the centerfield wall for a three-run homer. The Jaguars managed to get another hit but Ellyson got Abby Allen to fly out to end the inning.
The Ragin’ Cajuns responded in the bottom of the sixth. Talley reached first base on a one-out throwing error and Milz hit a single to center field. Gortarez then loaded the bases with a single to center of her own.
Rawls then hit a single to shortstop which scored Talley. Dalton reached on a fielding error that also allowed both Gortarez and Milz to score.
BIG NUMBER: 5
The Ragin’ Cajuns lineup had five players with multi-hit games as Justice Milz, Jade Gortarez, Julie Rawls, Alissa Dalton and Bailey Curry all had two hits each in the contest.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Kendall Talley
Talley went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI as she put the Cajuns on the board first with a two-run homer in the first.
UP NEXT: Louisiana advances in the winner’s bracket and will face the winner of the UTA-Texas State game at 10 a.m. on Friday.