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Softball: More like itKevin Foote, The Advertiser, March 14, 2013 No one was ready to proclaim all the problems fixed. No one was suddenly making rash predictions about how the UL Ragin’ Cajuns would fare against red-hot South Alabama in this weekend’s crucial Sun Belt showdown in Mobile, Ala. But there were certainly a lot more smiles by the home team after Wednesday’s 4-1 and 9-1 doubleheader sweep of Louisiana Tech at Lamson Park. "It’s definitely nice to see the game reward these kids," UL coach Michael Lotief said. "They’re working hard and continuing to go through the process. And when you can get a win, it helps your confidence." Natalie Fernandez was certainly smiling after a 3-for-3 performance in game 2. Brianna Cherry was smiling after going 5-for-7 in the doubleheader. Sarah Draheim was smiling after going 3-for-3 with a double, a homer and five RBIs in the nightcap. Sara Corbello was smiling after going 3-for-4 with an RBI in the doubleheader. And everyone was smiling after freshman pitcher Victoria Brown delivered her best performance of her young career, allowing three hits, no walks and struck out three in five innings in the nightcap win. "That was the best I’ve seen her pitch," Lotief said. "She’s got incredible arm speed. She just has to work on her leg drive, work on her spin and work on her command. But she’s talented." In addition to starring at the plate, Draheim liked what she saw out of Brown behind the plate as well. "That was definitely her best performance of the season," Draheim said. "She’s been working hard to get better. She’s going to be good. She’s going to get even better." The first game was one that you just chalk up as a win and move on. Cherry did double in the four-run first and Corbello and Samantha Walsh both took bases-loaded walks for RBI, but two infield errors played a big role in scoring four runs in the 4-1 game one win. UL would get just four hits in the game. Making that work was pitcher Jordan Wallace, who was masterful in allowing one run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. It was a different story in the nightcap, however. The Cajuns pounded out 12 hits in that win, getting three runs in each of the first three innings. Draheim smashed a three-run homer in the first to give Brown a lead to work with. "I was sitting on an inside pitch with a 2-0 count," Draheim said. "They just played right into my plan on that one." As a senior leader, Draheim was glad to see the hits come in the nightcap after the team’s recent slump. "We were just trying to play free and just take our hacks," she said. "I’ve been talking to the younger hitters about making sure they develop a plan. And I’ve tried to keep them from being so tense when they go up there by making them smile." In the second, Haack delivered a two-run single and Corbello followed with an RBI of her own. Draheim’s two-run double in the third was preceded by Cherry’s RBI single to finish off her outstanding doubleheader at the plate. "I just tried to stick with my plan," Cherry said of Tech’s strategy of moving different pitchers in and out throughout the doubleheader. "I tried not to get too analytical or too mechanical. I just tried to square the bat and do what I need to do to help out my team." While Cherry hasn’t been slumping like many of her teammates of late, she’s tried to help out with veteran words of advice. "I try to get them to stay confident," she said. "Be confident in yourself 100 percent whether you strike out or hit a home run. I’ve been in slumps and you just have to look at your teammates to help you get out of it. It’s a sisterhood on this team. We’re one heartbeat."
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