The No. 22-ranked Louisiana softball team began its six-game homestand on Wednesday night with a 5-2 victory over old I-10 rival McNeese.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana’s Meghan Schorman gave up a leadoff single to Alayis Seneca to start the game but managed to get out of the frame unscathed.
The Ragin’ Cajuns would then take the lead in the bottom frame. Stormy Kotzelnick drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a bunt single by Maddie Hayden. After a fielder’s choice by Sophie Piskos, Kotzelnick scored on a Laney Credeur’s fielder’s choice.
In the second, Louisiana added to its lead as Samantha Graeter singled and then scored on a fielding error. McNeese’s Caleigh Cross led off the third with a single down the left field line and former Louisiana outfielder Kendall Talley singled through the right side of the infield. Two batters later, Josie Willingham hit a single which brought in a run. Talley then scored the tying run on a fly out by Jil Poullard.
Louisiana would reclaim the lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Jourdyn Campbell hit a leadoff double, Alexa Langeliers drew a walk and Graeter hit a double to deep right center field which brought home two runs. Graeter would score three batters later on a double by Kotzelnick.
McNeese put its first two batters on the base paths in the fifth as Talley and Seneca got back-to-back singles. Kandra Lamb would get out of the jam by getting three straight outs.
After striking out the first two hitters in the sixth, Lamb then hit Reese Reyna and Cross. Talley then came to the plate and hit a double to score Reyna. Lamb got out of the inning as she struck out Seneca. Lamb would then seal the win by striking out two of the three hitters she faced in the top of the seventh.
BIG NUMBER: 7
McNeese had no issue hitting Louisiana’s pitching staff on Wednesday night as the Cowgirls recorded a total of nine hits. The issue was that McNeese left a total of seven runners on the base paths.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: SAMANTHA GRAETER & KENDALL TALLEY
Louisiana left fielder Samantha Graeter had a big night at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with a double, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. McNeese outfielder looked comfortable playing against her old team as she went 3-for-3 with 1 double, 1 run scored and 1 RBI.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (13-4) will begin Sun Belt Conference play with a three-game series against Georgia State starting on Friday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. McNeese (10-9) meanwhile returns home for a three-game series against Boise State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Friday.