Softball: Sanders and Team USA Claim Gold at World Championship

OKLAHOMA CITY – With an 8-1 win over Japan Saturday evening at OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma City, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball shortstop DJ Sanders and the U.S. Junior Women’s National Team (JWNT) captured the Gold Medal at the 2015 Junior Women’s World Championship (JWWC).
 
The JWNT broke a scoreless tie in the third inning on a three-run home run by Jenna Lilley and extended the lead to 8-0 over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
 
Pitcher Kelly Barnhill made the lead stand as she struck out 11 and limited Japan to one run, four hits and one walk over seven innings.
 
Sanders started at first base, her 10th start of the JWWC, and finished 1-for-4 at the plate.
 
The Cajuns’ rising sophomore completed tournament play hitting .583 (14-for-24) with a home run, three doubles and eight RBI.
 
Sanders joins former pitcher Ashley Brignac as Ragin’ Cajuns to claim the Gold Medal at the Junior Women’s World Championship. Brignac helped Team USA win the title in 2007 event held in the Netherlands.
 
The JWWC brought a close to a summer of international competition for Sanders. The journey began with her selection to the U.S. Junior Women’s National Team in January and included an appearance in the World Cup of Softball June 29-July 5 in Irvine, Calif.
 
For more information on Ragin’ Cajuns softball, fans can follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball) and Twitter (@RaginCajunSB).