Softball: Myers’ Clutch Three-Run Blast Helps Cajuns Stay Perfect

Contact: Cory Weigel
Box Score vs. UK
Box Score vs. Nicholls State

Lafayette, La — Nerissa Myers’ three-run blast with two outs in the top of the seventh against Kentucky saved the Cajuns and kept their undefeated season alive for at least one more day as they defeated Kentucky, 5-4, and Nicholls State, 15-1, on Saturday afternoon.
 
Louisiana (15-0) trailed the entire game in their opener of the double-header to UK (9-8), before the squad recorded a four-run seventh inning – all with two outs – to come away with the victory.
 
Ashley Brignac started the opener, allowing four runs, three which were earned in the first inning, forcing the Cajuns to battle back all game. The senior threw five innings and struck out four hitters in the no decision.
 
Shelbee Rodgers (1-0) came in for relief in the sixth earning her first win of the year in two innings of work, surrendering just one hit and fanning two.
 
Myers was just 1-for-4 in the game but had the most important hit of the contest, driving in all three of her runs on that one swing. Myers was 4-of-5 in game two, finishing the afternoon with five hits and five RBI.
 
Matte Haack launched a long solo shot in the second inning against the Wildcats and was 3-for-3 with two RBI in game two against Nicholls State (4-14).
 
Megan Granger had two hits on the day and drove in three runs, while Katie Smith was 3-for-7 with three runs scored.
 
Jordan Wallace (6-0) earned the start in the second game, throwing three innings of no hit ball and struck out three.
 
GAME ONE
 
The Wildcats struck first in the bottom of the opening inning as Kara Dill, the leadoff batter, reached on an infield hit and advanced to second on a stolen base. Dill came around to score on an RBI singe by Joiner Griffin snapping Brignac’s scoreless innings steak at 19. The next hitter, Rachel Riley, homered to left field on a 2-2 pitch to put the visitors in front by three. Kentucky scored their final run of the inning on a single to center field and a throwing error by Brianna Cherry as they increased their lead 4-0 heading to the second frame.
 
Haack woke up the Cajun’s offense in the top of the second with a monster homerun to left field, cutting the UK lead to 4-1. UL loaded the bases with no outs on a Paige Cormier single, Sarah Draheim walk and Natalie Fernandez reaching on an error, but came up empty as Erikka Murphy grounded out and Smith lined into a double play to end the threat.
 
Both starting pitchers shut down the opposing team’s offenses all the way through the sixth inning without allowing a base runner to reach second base.
 
Shelbee Rodgers came into relieve Brignac in the bottom of the sixth, retiring the side in order and struck out one UK hitter.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns came to the plate in the top of the seventh down to their final three outs, trailing 4-1 with their undefeated season in jeopardy.
 
Cormier started off the inning with a base on balls before Draheim popped out to second to bring up Fernandez with one out. The sophomore reached on an infield single to shortstop, advancing Cormier to second as the Cajuns brought the tying run to the batter’s box with just one out.
 
Granger struck out looking on a borderline payoff pitch and Louisiana was down to their final out with Smith coming to bat. The senior came through with a double to left field, scoring Cormier as UL cut the UK lead to 4-2 with Myers set to hit.
 
Myers stepped in the box and took a 0-1 pitch over the right center field fence for a three-run shot giving the Cajuns their first lead of the contest, 5-4. It was the junior’s second homerun of the year, doubling a total of one she had all of last season.
 
Rodgers ran back out to the circle in the bottom of the seventh holding the one run lead and in line for the win. The sophomore pitcher retired the first two UK hitters before allowing a bunt single to Dill with two outs. Rodgers bared down and induced Brittany Cervantes into a fly out to secure the win for the Cajuns.
 
 
GAME TWO
 
Smith got the Cajuns on the board first in game two. The senior led off the contest with a four pitch walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With two outs and Haack on first, the duo completed a double steal to score Smith, her seventh steal of the year, giving Louisiana a 1-0 lead.
 
Myers wasn’t done for the day as she doubled to the right center gap with Draheim and Smith aboard, increasing the UL advantage to 3-0 in the second inning.
 
In the third inning, Haack singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Cherry moved her over to third on a single to left field before Haack crossed home plate on a passed ball giving Louisiana a four run cushion.
Wallace recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the frame as she completed her afternoon by giving up just one base runner, due to a walk, in three innings of work.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns broke the game open in the fourth, tallying eight runs on eight hits with Haack and Granger each credited with two-run doubles, giving UL a 12-0 lead.
 
Louisiana scored three more runs in the fifth on RBI’s from Draheim, Granger and Smith for a 15-1 score.
 
Maggie Ham recorded the first two outs of the bottom half as Prophet Gaspard took over and struck the final Colonel batter out to end the game.
 
UL wraps up its play in the 2012 Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational as they play a double-header against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi and Stephen F. Austin on Sunday starting at 12:00 p.m.
 

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