It was a trip around the bases almost a decade in the making.

Since Shellie Landry was 10 years ago, she dreamed of playing for the UL Ragin’ Cajun softball team and performing at Lamson Park in front of the home crowd.

On Wednesday night, that achievement was realized.

"It was a dream come true," Landry said. "Ever since I was 10, I always wanted to do this. Even if we would have completely lost tonight, it would have been a dream come true."

Even better, it was in a winning effort with UL run-ruling Mississippi State 9-1 in six innings in the home opener.

And making it even better than that, Landry homered in a win in her first regular season game at Lamson Park.

"I was just thinking (rounding the bases) what a great accomplishment," she said. "It was a great feeling."

Landry was 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs on the night. As special a home opener as it was for the former St. Thomas More star, enjoying an even bigger night at the plate was senior first baseman Matte Haack.

In the third inning, Haack broke the 1-1 tie with a three-run home run to right to finish off the four-run frame. Then in the sixth, Haack hit a two-run double to right center.

"After my first at-bat, they were staying away from, so I knew I had to change my approach," Haack said. "We have been working on hitting to both sides."

Haack now has eight RBIs in the young season hitting in the clean-up spot.

"My goal right now is just to be more consistent at the plate," Haack said. "I want to drive in runs, but I don’t feel more pressure to drive in more runs. We’ve got a real good lineup. It doesn’t really matter to me who drives in the runs."

The Cajuns improved to 3-1 with the win, and more importantly showed the crowd of 837 braving the cold evening that little has changed on the field despite the controversy surrounding the program that reduced Michael Lotief to a volunteer coach and Megan Granger being promoted to interim head coach.

"It was important to show the community that we’re going to fight like we normally would," Haack said. "It’s making us stronger. It’s brought the team closer. We’re going to fight and never give up."

The game actually ended when pinch-hitter Shelbi Redfearn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The pitching star of the game was Jordan Wallace, who allowed six hits, walked two and struck out 12.

"Jordan spun the ball well, she gave up a home run but came right back with a strike out," Granger said. "You can’t pitch up in the zone. Our gameplan is to pitch down and away and mix up the speeds."

Mississippi State’s only run came on a solo shot from Jessica Offutt from the nine-hole.