Softball: Cajuns Grab Mardi Gras Invitational Title

Box Score: UL vs. Louisiana Tech
Box Score: UL vs. Northwestern State

Louisiana’s softball team added another title to their 2012 campaign Sunday as they were named the 8^th Annual Mardi Gras Invitational champions after an undefeated 4-0 weekend.
 
The Cajuns (7-0) made short work of their opponents, winning both of their contests Sunday in six innings. UL topped in state rivals Louisiana Tech (3-5), 9-0 and Northwestern State (2-6), 10-0.
 
Jordan Wallace (3-0) stood in the circle for UL in game one and tossed her first ever no-hitter in her young freshman career, hurling six innings, while fanning seven hitters and allowing just one walk.
 
Ashley Brignac shut down the Lady Demons lineup in game two striking out nine batters in six innings, while surrendering three hits and zero walks
 
Christi Orgeron continued to amaze this weekend, launching her second grand slam of the tournament against Louisiana Tech on her way to a 2-for-4 game and drove in four runs. Orgeron didn’t stop there as she was 3-for-3, with three runs scored and two RBI against Northwestern State.
 
Matte Haack broke through over the weekend, homering for the first time as a Ragin’ Cajun in each of the two games on Sunday. Paige Cormier tied a team-high hitting her sixth homerun of the year against Northwestern State.
 
Louisiana outscored their opponents 36-5 in the four games and tallied 30 hits, eight of which left the yard. The Cajuns were a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen bases and had a team on base percentage of .423.
 
GAME ONE
 
Both teams were held scoreless through the first two frames with neither team posing a serious threat.
 
The Cajuns changed the tempo in the third, as Erikka Murphy provided a spark with a pinch hit triple to leadoff the inning. The next batter, Katie Smith, reached on an error and later stole second, before Nerissa Myers drew a walk to load the bases for Orgeron with no outs.
 
It looked as though the Cajuns may spoil a grand opportunity with two straight groundouts from Orgeron and Brianna Cherry, resulting in no runs. However, UL received a little help from the Lady Techsters as Cormier reached on an error by shortstop, Michelle Jones, which scored Myers.
 
Haack stepped in the box and singled to left to bring in Cherry and Orgeron, giving Louisiana a 3-0 lead. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored their fourth and final run of the innings on a wild pitch that scored Cormier.
 
Wallace kept the Louisiana Tech offense at bay, retiring 13 straight batters until she hit Alayna Kipp with a pitch, putting her first running on base since walking her first batter of the game. Wallace went on to strike out the next two LTU hitters to end the inning without a threat.
 
Louisiana put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth, as Haack launched her first homerun of the season to center field, making the score 5-0. The Cajuns proceeded to load the bases with two outs for Orgeron, who hit her second grand slam of the weekend on the way to a 9-0 final.
 
GAME TWO
 
UL jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Orgeron reached base on a two out single, setting up a Cormier two-run blast to left center.
 
Brignac shut down Northwestern State in the bottom of the first retiring the side in order, including two strikeouts.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns kept the foot on the gas, scoring five runs in the top of the second. Myers drew a two out bases loaded walk to score Natalie Fernandez and a wild pitch sent Smith crossing home plate for a 4-0 advantage. Myers and Murphy scored on a triple off of the right center wall by Orgeron, who scored on the play due to an errant throw to give UL a 7-0 lead.
 
Brignac continued to deal as she struck out the side in the bottom of the second-a stretch that included six of her first seven outs coming by way of a strikeout.
 
Louisiana got the bats going again in the sixth as Myers and Orgeron reached base for Haack, who sent her second ball into the bleachers for a three-run homer.
 
Brignac allowed a one out triple in the bottom of the frame, but retired the next to hitters to secure the 9-0 victory.
 
UL will return to action next weekend as they travel to Clearwater, Fla. next weekend for the NFCA Leadoff Classic Feb. 24-26. The Cajuns are set to play Mississippi State, Hofstra, Boston University, Michigan, and Winthrop in the tournament.
 
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