The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns are conference champions yet again.
With Saturday’s 15-3 victory over South Alabama, the Ragin’ Cajuns claimed the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship for a record 16th time.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Ragin’ Cajuns wasted little time taking control.
Ciara Bryan led off the game with a single to center field and was quickly joined on the base paths by Kaitlyn Alderink who hit a single up the middle.
Kendall Talley drove them both home with a single to right field. Julie Rawls drew a walk and Alissa Dalton was then hit by a pitch.
Two batters later, Jade Gortarez brought home two with a double to right center to make it 5-0.
South Alabama got on the scoreboard in the second inning as Abby Allen led off with a solo home run over the left field wall.
The Ragin’ Cajuns struck again in the third.
Rawls led off by drawing a walk and then Dalton blasted a two-run home run over the right field wall. Two batters later Gortarez hit a double to left center and then Sophie Piskos hit a two-run homer.
Bryan reached first base on a bunt single and the play stood after a review. Bailey Curry stepped to the plate to pinch hit for Alderink and hit a two-run home run.
The Ragin’ Cajuns added to the lead again in the top of the fourth.
Dalton hit a one-out single through the right side of the infield. Justice Milz then hit a single to right which advanced Dalton to third.
Dalton would then score on a fly out by Gortarez, and Piskos reached base with a single.
Melissa Mayeaux then stepped to the plate and blasted a three-run home run over the wall in left center. South Alabama managed to add two runs in the bottom of the fourth but it was nearly enough.
BIG NUMBER: 4
The Ragin’ Cajuns lineup hit four home runs in Saturday’s championship game as Alissa Dalton, Sophie Piskos, Bailey Curry and Melissa Mayeaux all went deep. In addition, three of the home runs were two-run shots and all three of those took place in the third inning.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Alissa Dalton & Jade Gortarez
Dalton went 3-for-3 at the plate with 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs, 1 home run and was hit by a pitch. Gortarez went 2-for-2 with a run scored, two doubles and four RBI.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will find out on Sunday night which NCAA Regional it will be seeded in. The regional seeds will be unveiled at 8 p.m.