DENTON, Texas–Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team had to come out of the loser’s bracket for the first time ever, but the result was the same as the Cajuns claimed their ninth Sun Belt Conference title in the past 10 years as they downed Florida Atlantic, 8-3, in the championship game of the 2009 SBC Tournament in Denton, Texas.
Louisiana placed three players on the All Tournament team as Donna Bourgeois, Lana Bowers and Melissa Verde all garnered honors. Freshman Christi Orgeron was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
The Ragin’ Cajuns collected 12 hits in the game, including two home runs from Bowers. Orgeron finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Bowers and Codi Runyan each finished with two hits apiece.
In the circle, Bourgeois was outstanding once again. She scattered six hits in 7.0 innings of work. Bourgeois allowed three runs with only one earned run. She fanned seven batters without allowing a walk.
Bourgeois’ seven strikeouts helped set a new tournament record for strikeouts by a team. The Cajuns fanned 52 batters as a team, breaking the previous record of 45 set by FAU in 2007.
FAU was the first team to score as they took a 1-0 lead after one inning. With one out, the Owls got a single to shallow right field. The runner stole second base and a two out double plated the runner to give the designated home team a 1-0 advantage after one complete inning of play.
The Cajuns threatened in the top of the second inning. Louisiana loaded the bases with base hits by Orgeron, Kelly Cormier and Katie Smith with two outs, but was unable to score as a fielder’s choice ended the inning.
Louisiana tied the score in the top of the fourth inning with one swing of the bat. Bowers connected on a solo home run to left field to knot the score at 1-1.
The Ragin’ Cajun took their first lead of the game as they scored four runs on three hits and a pair of walks in the top of the sixth inning. Runyan singled to center field to get things going for the Cajuns and Courtney Trahan entered the game to pinch run. Orgeron doubled off of the third baseman to give UL a pair of runners in scoring position. A single up the middle by Gabriele Bridges gave the Cajuns their first lead of the game at 2-1. Jessica Dupont entered the game to pinch hit and loaded the bases on an error by FAU. With two outs, Vallie Gaspard walked to plate another run and Karli Hubbard also drew an RBI walk of her own. A passed ball scored the final run of the inning and gave the Cajuns a 5-1 advantage.
Florida Atlantic cut into the Cajuns’ lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bourgeois struck out the first batter of the inning, but a passed ball allowed the rnner to reach base. A fielder’s choice eliminated the lead runner, but a throwing error by UL allowed the runner to reach second. A ground ball moved the runner and a second Cajuns’ error of the inning allowed the runner to score cutting the UL advantage to 5-2.
The Cajuns added some insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Runyan led off the inning with a single and Orgeron doubled down the left field line to give UL a pair of runners in scoring position. A passed ball plated the first run of the inning. Bowers followed with her second home run of the game to give the Cajuns an 8-2 cushion.
In the final inning, the Owls used a pair of hits and a fielding error to plate a runner, but Bourgeois fanned two batters in the inning to shut the door on a possible FAU comeback.
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