Louisiana Softball Collects Two Victories on Opening Day

LAFAYETTE – Top 10-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball posted a clean sweep of the opening day of the 2020 season at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park. The Ragin’ Cajuns held off a late push from Ball State for a 3-2 win, then used a power surge to finish off UTSA in run-rule fashion 8-0 (5 inn.).
 
For No. 8 Louisiana (2-0), Friday’s action marked the start of the 40th season in program history and the third under Gerry Glasco‘s leadership.
 
Katilyn Alderink, who finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored in her Ragin’ Cajuns debut, had a hand in the two runs scored in the fourth inning vs. Ball State which snapped a 1-all tie and wound up making the difference. She delivered an RBI single to put Louisiana ahead for good, then later scored off a wild pitch for the all-important third tally.
 
The Cardinals (0-2) scratched a run in the top of the seventh inning, and threatened for more after loading the bases with one out. Megan Kleist, who entered the circle in relief earlier in the inning, induced an infield pop and registered a strikeout to close the door.
 
Summer Ellyson scattered six hits and struck out 10 Ball State batters over six innings before giving way to Kleist. Julie Rawls had an RBI double which opened the scoring in the second inning, Bailey Curry doubled to lead off the fourth-inning rally and Raina O’Neal singled to move Alderink in position to score on the wild pitch.
 
In the nightcap, it was a two-run single by Rawls in the third inning that accounted for all of the scoring by either side, that was until Louisiana unleashed a pair of home runs in the fifth inning to put UTSA (1-1) away early.
 
The march to the finish line started when Curry deposited a two-run homer to right center, increasing the lead to 4-0. The Ragin’ Cajuns later loaded the bases off of Roadunners reliever Marena Estell, setting the stage for a three-run home run off the bat of JUCO transfer Melissa Mayeux that allowed Louisiana to walk off the field early.
 
Kleist struck out eight and held UTSA to three hits over five innings in her first start for Louisiana. Curry, Mayeux and Rawls each delivered multiple-RBI outings, combining to bring home all but one of the Ragin’ Cajuns’ runs.
 
UP NEXT
No. 8 Louisiana concludes the opening weekend of the 2020 season with its final two contests in the 34th Annual Louisiana Classics on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Lamson Park.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns are scheduled to meet North Texas at 2 p.m., immediately followed by another contest against UTSA.
 
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