Softball: Cajuns Reel Off Two Wins To Open Mardi Gras Invitational

UL vs. UTEP Box Score
UL vs. Northwestern Box Score

The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team completed the double-header sweep Friday afternoon as they defeated UTEP, 11-1 in five innings and Big Ten opponent, Northwestern, 6-4.
 
The Cajuns (5-0) received terrific pitching efforts from Jordan Wallace (2-0) and Ashley Brignac (2-0). Wallace threw a five inning complete game, allowing one earned run while striking out five UTEP (4-2) hitters. Brignac battled against a tough Northwestern (2-4) lineup, hurling a complete game and fanning seven batters.
 
Christi Orgeron had another huge day from the plate, as she finished the afternoon 3-for-6 with three homeruns and drove in nine runs. Cormier added to the homerun total, launching her fifth of the season against Northwestern.
 
GAME ONE
 
For the first time all season, the Cajuns were unable to put any runs on the board in the first inning as Cormier popped out to end the top half with Myers standing on second.
 
With a runner on third and one out, Wallace was able to induce UTEP’s Chelsea Troupe into a pop out to second base and strike out the five hole hitter, Samantha Alvillar, two batters later to end the Miner’s threat in the bottom of the first.
 
The Louisiana bats awoke in the second frame as they were able to get seven players cross home plate in the inning.
 
The Cajuns scored their first run on an error by UTEP’s pitcher, Cynthis Villastrigo, as she was attempting to get the force out at home after an Erikka Murphy ground ball with the bases loaded and one out.
 
The following batter, Katie Smith, drew a walk to bring in the second run of the game making the score 2-0.
 
Then came fireworks, as Orgeron unleashed on an offspead pitch to dead center for a grand slam, giving UL a 6-0 advantage. The Cajuns scored their seventh run on four straight walks, including one to Matte Haack giving her five RBI on the year.
 
Wallace didn’t look like a freshman in the home half as she sent the side down in order on strikeouts.
 
Louisiana plated three more runs in the top of the third, including a Brianna Cherry single up the middle scoring Orgeron and Myers, upping the lead to 10-0.
 
The next half inning, Wallace lost her shutout on an RBI ground out from Troupe as the Miners scored their first run making the score 10-1.
 
Orgeron put the icing on the game as she sent another ball flying into the bleachers for her second of the game in the top of the fifth. The long ball regained a 10 run cushion for the Cajuns, as they coasted to an 11-1, five inning final.
 
GAME TWO
 
Both squads threatened in each of their halves of the first inning. Louisiana was unable to sneak a run in as Cormier flew out after having runners on first and second. Brignac showed guts in the ladder part of the inning as she was able to find her way out of a two out, runners on second and third jam, by striking out Amy Letourneau to finish the frame.
 
UL was sent down in order in the top of the second and saw themselves trailing for the first time in the 2012 season when Northwestern scored on a wild pitch from Brignac in the bottom half.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns wasted no time responding, as Murphy led off the top of the third inning with an infield single and Smith drew a walk setting up Orgeron two batters later. The senior stepped to the plate with two ducks on the pond and one away and crushed her third homerun of the day and fifth of the year to left center, putting UL in front 3-1. The next hitter, Cherry, was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch, leading to Cormier launching her fifth long ball of the year for a 5-1 lead.
 
The Cajuns needed a shut down inning and that’s just what they got. Brignac sent the Wildcats down in order in the bottom of the third, keeping a four run lead for Louisiana.
 
UL added their sixth run of the contest scoring Murphy on sacrifice fly from Orgeron, giving her four RBI in the game.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Northwestern’s Kristin Scharkey singled and the next batter, Emily Allard, doubled to score Scharkey, making the score 6-2.
 
The Wildcats had no quit in them as they plated two runs in the sixth on an RBI groundout by Allard and a single up the middle from Anna Edwards to make it 6-4 going into the final inning.
 
The Cajuns went down in order in the top of the seventh, but Brignac turned away any momentum NU had, sending their batters down in order to seal the victory.
 

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