Softball: Cajuns Top McNeese, Set Program Record With 23-0 Start

LAFAYETTE, La. — The UL softball team has now started the 2012 season better than any Ragin’ Cajuns team in the program’s 32 year history. Louisiana has moved to 23-0 with a victory over rival McNeese State, 6-0, on Tuesday evening at Lamson Park.

The Cajuns (23-0, 3-0) were led by another outstanding pitching performance from freshman hurler, Jordan Wallace. Wallace (11-0) notched her sixth complete game and second shutout of the year. She allowed just three hits, walked two and fanned a career-high eight MSU (15-8) hitters.

“I think the more she gets to throw the more comfortable she is going to get out there in the circle, and the better she will be able to clear her mind,” said co-head coach Michael Lotief. “When a pitcher is not in their comfort zone, things tend not to go your way as much and you struggle to find your pitches. The more she is able to see time out there the more she will trust in herself, because in order for her to be successful she has to be able to command three pitches.”

Christi Orgeron smacked her team-leading 10^th homerun of the year on a three-run blast, while Nerissa Myers finished the night 1-for-2 with a two RBI triple. Matte Haack was hitless in the ballgame, snapping her 14 game streak.

Wallace shut down the Cowgirls in order in the top of the first recording a groundout, fly out and struck out the final hitter in the inning looking.

The Cajuns filled the bases in the bottom half as Myers was hit by a pitch, Orgeron walked and Haack reached on an error to bring Paige Cormier to the plate. The senior knocked in the first run of the game on an RBI single to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

Wallace continued her early dominance sending McNeese down in order in the second frame, including back-to-back strike outs to end the inning.

Myers gave Louisiana a three run advantage in the bottom half with her second triple of the year, plating Fernandez and Smith for a 3-0 lead at the end of two.

Fernandez and Smith each recorded hits to begin the fourth and came around to score again as Orgeron took a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall, upping the UL lead to 6-0.

Wallace took a no hitter into the fifth inning before the Cowgirl’s catcher, Stacey Conley, singled up the middle for their first hit of the game. The Weatherford, Texas native went on to punch out two of the next three McNeese hitters to get out of the frame and keep the shutout intact.

The freshman hurler entered the seventh needing two strikeouts to set a new career mark. Wallace sent the leadoff hitter, Kelsey Jolly, down swinging and two batters later struck out Courtney Hebert for the new high and final out of the game.

The Ragin’ Cajuns take their perfect season to Fullerton, Calif. as they prepare for the Judi Garman Classic, March 15-17. UL will open up with No. 5 Arizona State on Thursday evening at 9:30 p.m.

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