Softball: No. 17 Cajuns Complete Sweep of MT
No. 17 Cajuns Complete Sweep of MT
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.-No. 17 Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team completed
the two-game sweep of Middle Tennessee in convincing fashion, claiming a 12-1
victory at Blue Raider Field.
The Cajuns (19-5, 2-0 Sun Belt) collected 14 hits in the game including five
extra base hits en route to the 11-run victory.
Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.) and Vallie Gaspard (Maurice, La.) led the
Cajuns with three hits apiece. Soto collected a pair of doubles and drove in
three runs, while Gaspard earned her first double of the season scoring two
runs and driving in a pair of runs.
Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) picked up her second win of the day. She
entered the game in relief of Brittany Cuevas (Brazoria, Texas). Brignac
worked 3.2 innings, allowing just one run on one hit. She struck out five
batters while walking one.
The Cajuns jumped onto the scoreboard in the second after being retired in
order in the first inning. Soto led off the inning with a double to
centerfield. Courtney Trahan (Maurice, La.) entered the game as a pinch
runner. A ground out moved Trahan to third base and the pinch runner came
around to score on a wild pitch.
Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) doubled to left centerfield to lead off
the inning. A fly ball allowed the runner to move to third and a sacrifice
fly by Soto scored Tankersley.
With UL leading 2-0, Middle Tennessee got on the scoreboard on one swing of
the bat. With two outs, Corrie Abel hit a solo home run to cut the Louisiana
lead to just one run.
The Cajuns broke the game open in the top of the fourth inning. UL scored
five runs on four hits and a pair of MT errors. Gabriele Bridges (Lafitte,
La.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Kelly Cormier (Abbeville, La.)
entered the game to run for Bridges. Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) singled
to the pitcher and advanced to second on an error. Cormier advanced to third
on the play. A shallow fly ball was not deep enough to advance the runners,
but Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) followed with a three-run home run to
left field.
Tankersley extended the inning and reached on a fielding error by the Blue
Raiders. Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas) singled up the middle to give UL a
pair of runners. Shari Sigur entered the game to pinch run for Tankersley
and came around to score on a Soto double. Verde sprinted around third base
on the play and collided with the Middle Tennessee catcher knocking the ball
loose to score.
UL added a run in the top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back-to-back singles
by Gaspard, Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) and Brodhead scored a run to increase
the Cajuns’ lead to seven runs.
The Cajuns added four more runs in the top of the sixth inning on five hits
and an error. Soto led off the inning with a single down the right field
line. Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas) hit a Texas League single into left field
to give the Cajuns a pair of base runners. A single by Hubbard back to the
pitcher loaded the bases. Gaspard cleared the bases with a double to left
centerfield. She rounded second and headed for third, but Hubbard had
stopped at third. As Gaspard was caught in a run down, Hubbard broke for
home. Hubbard scored easily and Gaspard dove back into second safely on the
play. Gaspard advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a fielding
error.
The Ragin’ Cajuns will continue their road trip as they venture west to
California for the Judi Garman Classic. At the Classic, the Cajuns will play
three teams ranked in the top-10 and the United States Olympic Team.
-www.RaginCajuns.com-
No. 17 Cajuns Claim SBC Opener
MUFREESBORO, Tenn.-No. 17 Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team opened up
Sun Belt Conference play on the road taking on the Middle Tennessee Blue
Raiders. The Cajuns (18-5) claimed an 8-1 victory in the first game of the
double dip.
The Cajuns collected 14 hits in the game, including a three-run homer from
catcher Lana Bowers (Crosby, Texas).
Katie Smith (Ruston, La.) and Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) led
Louisiana with three hits apiece. Smith collected three singles while
Tankersley had a pair of singles and a double.
Brooke Brodhead (Lafayette, La.) and Vallie Gaspard (Maurice, La.) both had
multiple hits in the game as well.
In the circle, Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) pitched 5.0 innings,
allowing one run in the game. She fanned 11 batters while scattering just
three hits. She did not allow a free pass in the game, earning her 11th win
of the season.
Over her last two games, Brignac has worked 10.0 innings, allowing just one
run. She struck out 24 batters without allowing a walk and surrendering just
three hits. Brignac retired 19 consecutive batters during the two-game span
with a perfect game against IUPUI.
The Cajuns jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning. Leadoff
batter Brodhead reached base on a throwing error by the Blue Raiders.
Tankersley doubled to left centerfield. Brodhead ran through the stop sign,
but slid under the tag to score the first run of the game.
The Blue Raiders knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second
inning. Whittney Padgett lined a single down the left field line. A
successful sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position and a pitch
in the dirt allowed the runner to advance to third base. A Texas league
single to shallow centerfield plated the runner and tied the score at 1-1.
The Cajuns broke the game open in the fourth inning scoring five runs on
three hits and a little help from a pair of errors from Middle Tennessee.
With one out, Smith singled to the shortstop to get things started for UL.
Brodhead followed with a fielder’ choice, but the throw to try to retire
Smith was off the mark, leaving both runners safe. Tankersley singled back
to the pitcher loading the bases for Melissa Verde (Beaumont, Texas). The
sophomore belted a deep shot to right field. The Middle Tennessee right
fielder chased down the fly ball, but dropped the ball allowing a pair of
runs to score. With two runners on and two outs, Bowers went opposite field
with her fourth home run of the season. The three-run shot gave the Cajuns a
6-1 lead through four and a half innings.
With two outs in the fifth inning, Smith once again reached base safely with
an infield bunt single. The speedy Smith stole second base. An RBI single by
Brodhead scored Smith from second easily, giving the Cajuns a 7-1 edge.
The Cajuns added a run in the final inning of play to claim the 8-1 victory.
The Ragin’ Cajuns and Blue Raiders will play a second game at approximately
2:00 p.m.
-wwwRaginCajuns.com-
Chris Whitehead
UL-Lafayette Sports Information
201 Reinhardt Drive
Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 851-2255
www.ragincajuns.com
whitehead@louisiana.edu
