Softball: Myers Sets Ragin’ Cajuns Run Record; Cajuns Improve Streak to 21

MONROE, La. – No player in Ragin’ Cajuns history has crossed the plate more times than Nerissa Myers.  Myers scored three runs in the Cajuns doubleheader sweep of ULM, and now has now scored 251 career runs.  The Cajuns won the games by scores of 8-2 and 12-3 on Saturday, May 4 at the ULM Softball Complex in Monroe, La.

 

“It’s really exciting,” Myers said of setting the new Cajuns record.  “I have had great teammates behind me through the years that have helped me pass this.  Hopefully we can keep on trucking and going on so I can build it up.”

 

“Nerissa has had a special career,” Head Coach Michael Lotief said.  “Hopefully she will score a bunch more runs before she’s done.  She has really played hard and been a table setter.  She does whatever we ask her to.  If she needs to hit for power she does and if she needs to walk and be a table setter she does that too.”

 

The sweep improves the Cajuns’ record to 39-11 on the season and 18-4 in Sun Belt play, and it pushes their current winning streak to 21 games.

 

“It’s all steps in the process,” Lotief said after the sweep. “This team is playing with good confidence and good momentum.  We need to continue to play the game right and playing the game hard and execute.  If we do that, things will work out for us.”

 

Myers’ 251 runs tops Jerie Alexander, a Ragin’ Cajun from 1999-2002, who finished her career with 250 runs.  Run number 251 came off a two-run homer by her cousin, Brianna Cherry, in the third inning of game two.

 

“It makes it a little more special,” Myers said of the run coming on her cousin’s home run.  “She’s a great hitter and she’s been hitting wonderfully this year and she’s behind me.  I wouldn’t have asked it to come any other way.”

 

The Cajuns took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one, off of a Sarah Draheim double, scoring Cherry.

 

They added to the lead in the second with two two-run homers, one from Sara Corbello and the other from Myers to make it 5-0.

 

Corbello struck again in the seventh after two more Cajuns runs, with her second homer of the game two make it 8-0.

 

ULM tagged the Cajuns for two runs in the seventh, but couldn’t muster up any more and the Cajuns won 8-2.

 

Natalie Fernandez finished the game 3-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt and a run scored, and Myers, Sarah Draheim and Corbello all went 2-for-4.  Corbello drove in three runs, Myers drove in two and Draheim drove in one. 

 

The Cajuns featured three pitchers in the first game.  Jordan Wallace got the start, tossing 3.0 innings, allowing two hits, striking out four and getting a no-decision.

 

Christina Hamilton was the winning pitcher, throwing 3.0 innings as well, allowing three hits and striking out one.  She improved to 3-1 on the season.

 

Victoria Brown tossed the final inning, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk.

 

The Cajuns started game two with first inning runs as well, a feat they have achieved 29 times this season.  They are now 24-5 when scoring in the first inning.

 

The runs came off the bat of Matte Haack, a grand slam, after two walks and a hit batter started the inning.  It was Haack’s 11th home run of the season and 20th in her two years as a member of the Ragin’ Cajuns.  Her four RBI in the game give her 50 on the season, which is second on the team and in the conference.

 

The Cajuns made it 5-0 in the second inning with an RBI single from Draheim.

 

ULM closed the gap in their half of the second with an RBI double and a two-run homer to make it 5-3, before the Cajuns scored seven unanswered runs, including six in the third inning, to give the Cajuns a 12-3 victory.

 

The six run third inning was highlighted by two home runs for the Cajuns; a three-run shot by Kelsey Vincent and the aforementioned two-run homer by Cherry, scoring Myers for her record 251st run.

 

The Cajuns got production from the entire lineup in the game, including game two which featured eight hits from eight different Cajuns, including three homers.

 

On the day the Cajuns saw six home runs from five different players, improving their conference lead to 76 on the season.

 

“One of the keys of success is everybody being able to contribute,” Lotief said.  These kids have worked extremely hard.  They fought through a lot of adversity and have continued to believe in themselves, each other and their dreams. Down the stretch they need to play hard and execute.”

 

The Cajuns and Warhawks will wrap up the series and regular season with a final game tomorrow afternoon.  First pitch is slated for 1:00 P.M. at the ULM Softball Complex.  The teams will have a quick turnaround, with the Sun Belt Conference Tournament starting on Wednesday in Troy, Alabama.  Schedules and Match Ups will be announced after the conclusion of the regular season.

 

— Ragin’ Cajuns —

 

Nick Ross

Sports Information Assistant

University of Louisiana-Lafayette

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