Softball: Bourgeois, Cajuns No-Hit Southern Miss

LAFAYETTE-After not playing for over a week, Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns
softball team stepped onto the field with Southern Miss and came away with a
5-0 no-hit shutout on Wednesday afternoon at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’
Cajuns Softball Park. 

The Cajuns improve to 11-2 on the season and have now won 10 games in a row.

Sophomore hurler Donna Bourgeois threw the complete game no-hitter.  She
allowed just three base runners as she walked a trio of batters.  Bourgeois
fanned 12 batters in the game; marking the seventh time in 11 appearances she
has recorded double-digit strikeouts. 

Bourgeois fanned five of the first seven batters she faced and retired the
final 10 batters of the game in order.  The Lafayette native ended the game
how she started it by fanning the final three Southern Miss batters she
faced. 

Offensively, Louisiana scored five runs on 11 hits.  Three Ragin’ Cajuns
players finished the game with multiple hits, led by junior Melissa Verde. 

Verde finished the game 3-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.  She was joined by
Gabriele Bridges and Karli Hubbard, who each had a pair of hits in the game. 
Bridges collected an RBI, while Hubbard finished the game with a run scored. 

Codi Runyan led the team with two RBI, while Katie Smith paced the Cajuns
with two runs scored.  Runyan finished the game 1-for-2 with a run scored,
two walks and two RBI.  Smith also drew a pair of walks and closed out the
day, 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a stolen base. 

The Cajuns were the first team to scratch the scoreboard.  Smith led off the
game with a walk.  She stole second base to move into scoring position.  With
one out, Verde laced a base hit down the third base line to score Smith from
second and give Louisiana a quick 1-0 lead. 

UL added a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to increase their
lead to 3-0.  With two outs, Smith walked. Hubbard followed with a single and
the two base runners advanced a base because of a Southern Miss error.  Verde
drew a free pass to load the bases for Runyan.  The senior shortstop lined a
single to left center field, plating Smith and Hubbard. 

Louisiana increased their margin to 5-0 with two runs in the bottom of the
fourth inning.  With one away, Verde singled for the first base runner of the
inning.  Courtney Trahan entered the game to run for Verde and immediately
stole second base.  Runyan worked the count full before drawing a free pass. 
Bridges connected on a base hit up the middle.  Trahan scored on the play and
Bridges advanced to second base on the throw to the plate.  The Southern Miss
catcher tried to throw out Bridges and Runyan was able to advance home on the
errant throw. 

The score would remain 5-0 and Bourgeois would keep the Golden Eagles off the
bases as the Cajuns picked up their 11th win of the season. 

The Ragin’ Cajuns will return to action on Tuesday, March 10 as they host
Louisiana Tech in a doubleheader.  First pitch for game one is slated for
4:00 p.m. at Lamson Park. 

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

Chris Whitehead
Louisiana Sports Information
201 Reinhardt Drive
Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 482-6329
www.RaginCajuns.com
whitehead@louisiana.edu