BATON ROUGE — LSU returned the favor on Sunday.
A day after losing 2-1 to the University of Louisiana softball team at Lamson Park, No. 7 LSU defeated No. 14 UL 4-3 at Tiger Park. LSU improved to 8-1 on the season while UL dropped to 7-2 overall.
How It Happened:
LSU struck first in the bottom of the first.
Tigers outfielder Ciara Briggs reached first base with a soft dribbler in the infield, and was brought home when Taylor Pleasants hit a two-run home run off of UL’s Summer Ellyson.
After both teams were retired in order in the second inning, the Ragin’ Cajuns got on the board, and tied the game, in the top of the third inning.
Melissa Mayeux led off the frame with a solo home run. Kaitlyn Alderink then got on the base paths with a double and then was brought home with a single by Alissa Dalton.
LSU threatened in the bottom of the third but left runners in scoring position as Ellyson got out of the jam by striking out Georgia Clark.
LSU retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth when catcher Morgan Cummins hit a one-out home run right over the wall in center field.
UL was a few inches away from retaking the lead in the top of the fifth inning.
Mayeaux led off with a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kendall Talley. Two batters later, Dalton hit the ball deep into right-center field but the ball would be caught at the wall for the third out.
UL railed in the top of the sixth.
Julie Rawls led off by drawing a walk and then Sarah Hudek reached on a single. Raina O’Neal reached first base on a fielder’s choice while Rawls scored from third due to a throwing error by LSU.
LSU got out of the jam as Taylor Roman’s hard hit was snagged by the second baseman and then O’Neal was caught too far off the bag at second as the Tigers turned the double play to get out of the inning.
LSU retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth as the Tigers got three hits off of UL’s Megan Kleist who came in relief for Ellyson starting in the fifth.
Clark got on base with a one-out single and then scored later on a two-out single to left field by Cummins.
In the top of the seventh, UL threatened.
Bailey Curry led off things by drawing a walk. Mayeux was up next but she flied out to the outfield and Tallery was called out after she made contact with the ball on a bunt attempt while still in the batter’s box. Alderink then drew a two-out walk to put runners on first and second.
Dalton came to the plate but the Cajuns shortstop popped up to end the inning and the game.
Big Number: 6
The Ragin’ Cajuns had opportunities to score runs on Sunday as the team recorded six hits and drew four walks off of Shelbi Sunseri and Ali Kilponen. UL though left a total of six runners on base in the loss.
Player of the Game: Melissa Mayeux
The Ragin’ Cajuns third baseman was the only UL player to record multiple hits in Sunday’s loss at LSU. Mayeux went 2-for-3 with as she hit a solo home run — her second of the season.
Next Up: UL will return to action on Friday taking on Oklahoma State at the UAB Blazer Classic. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.