Softball: Verde’s Grand Slam Lifts Cajuns
LAFAYETTE-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team scored five runs in the top
of the 10th inning thanks to a grand slam by Melissa Verde as No. 20 UL
defeated Connecticut 9-4 at the Mardi Gras Invitational at Alfred and Helen
Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park.
Leading 4-3, the Cajuns allowed a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to
force extra innings. Neither team could score in the first two extra frames,
until the Louisiana bats came alive in the 10th. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored
the go-ahead, but added four insurance runs with one swing as Verde connected
on her third home run of the season – a grand slam over the right center
field fence.
The Cajuns offense finished with 12 hits on the night, including three extra
base hits. Karli Hubbard, Verde and Vallie Gaspard finished the night with
multiple hits in the game. Hubbard was 3-for-5 with three runs score and two
runs batted in, while Verde and Gaspard closed out the game with a pair of
hits apiece. Verde’s hits included a double and her grand slam.
In the circle, Donna Bourgeois picked up her sixth win of the year. She
entered the game in the fourth inning in relief and pitched the final 7.0
innings of the game. Bourgeois fanned 11 batters in the game with no
walks. She scattered five hits and allowed just one run.
Brittany Cuevas started the game for the Cajuns. The junior worked the first
3.0 innings, before being relieved in the fourth. Cuevas allowed three runs
on five hits. She struck out three batters without surrendering a walk.
UL opened up the first inning of the game with a run to take a 1-0 lead.
With one out, Hubbard drew a free pass to get things started for the Cajuns.
Two pitches later, Verde ripped a double to right center field to score
Hubbard from first and give the Ragin’ Cajuns a 1-0 edge.
The Cajuns added a run in the second. Once again, Hubbard reached base, but
this time it was with an infield single to the shortstop. Hubbard stole
second and Verde walked to give the Cajuns a pair of base runners with
Gabriele Bridges stepping to the plate. Bridges delivered an RBI single off
the left field wall to increase the Louisiana lead to 2-0.
UConn took the lead with one swing of the bat. UL surrendered back-to-back
singles to start off the fourth inning. Danielle Del Ponte made the Cajuns
pay with a three-run home run to right center field to give the Huskies a 3-2
edge. A fourth consecutive hit extended the inning and the Cajuns went to
the bullpen. The call to the pen worked as Bourgeois recorded a ground ball
out and fanned the final two batters of the inning.
Louisiana regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning. With a runner on
base, Vallie Gaspard reached on a fielder’s choice. A single by Katie Smith
combined with an error by UConn allowed Gaspard to score from first and Smith
to reach third. An RBI single up the middle by Hubbard plated Smith and gave
UL a 4-3 advantage.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Connecticut tied the game at 4-4. The
Huskies loaded the bases with no outs, until Bourgeois fanned the next
batter. A fielder’s choice plated the tying run and left the Huskies with
the bases loaded. Back-to-back strikeouts by Bourgeois ended the UConn
threat and sent the game into extra innings.
Both teams were held scoreless until the 10th inning.
The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team will continue the play in the 2009 Mardi Gras
Invitational with a pair of games on Saturday. The Cajuns will play San
Diego State and Kentucky.
-www.RaginCajuns.com-
Chris Whitehead
UL-Lafayette Sports Information
201 Reinhardt Drive
Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 851-2255
www.ragincajuns.com
whitehead@louisiana.edu
