UL defeated the Tigers, twice, at the old Tiger Park on its way to the 2008 Women’s College World Series

With the win, the Cajuns advance to Championship Sunday for the second time in three years. The Cajuns will face the winner of the elmination game featuring Texas A&M and LSU. 

The win also marked UL’s second-straight win over a nationally-ranked team after beating No. 18 Texas A&M on Friday and the fourth shutout in the last five games.

The winning hit was Myer’s sole hit on the afternoon as she finished 1-for-3 with one RBI. It was the second time in as many weeks that the freshman shortstop provided the game-winning RBI. In the Cajuns 1-0 win over FAU at the Sun Belt Tournament, Myers provided another two-out, game-winning RBI-single in another 1-0 win.

But the deciding factor on the afternoon was a superb defensive effort from Donna Bourgeois and the Cajuns.  Bourgeois threw the complete-game shutout to improve to 23-9 this season. In her 10th complete shutout this season, she struck out five, walked three and surrendered five hits.

The Cajuns’ defense forced LSU to strand nine runners on base, including three in scoring position on the afternoon.

The Tigers were in position to take the early lead in the top of the first. A hit and a two-out walk put runners on first and second for LSU. But Bourgeois battled back from a 2-0 count to catch Juliana Santos swinging to end the frame.

The Cajuns countered, putting a runner in scoring position, with Melissa Verde hitting a one-out double to right center. But back-to-back strikeouts would strand the senior.

In the third inning, LSU was poised again to score the first run. A lead-off double and back-to-back ground outs moved LSU over to third base. But Bourgeois came through again, fanning Ashley Langoni to get out of the jam.

Then in the bottom of the fourth inning, Verde reached base in her second at bat after being hit by a pitch. After fly-out, Gabriele Bridges reached first after also being pegged by LSU’s Cody Trahan. The Cajuns finally broke the stalemate when Myers ripped the two-out, RBI-single through the left side, allowing Verde to cross the plate.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cajuns tried to put some distance on the Tigers. Erikka Murphy drew a one-out walk and Vallie Gaspard followed with a single up the middle. A fielder’s choice by Verde put Cajuns on the corners before Verde stole second. But a strikeout left two runners in scoring position.

LSU looked to try and make some headway in the top of the sixth inning but was stymied by Bourgeois. After allowing a one-out single, the junior hurler posted back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.

In the top of the seventh, the Tigers able to put the tying run on first after a one-out. A ground-out was able to move the tying run over before a hit-by-pitch put a runner on first. But Bourgeois induced a fly-out to center field to clinch the win.  

Three other Cajuns had a hit to go along Myers’ game-winner. Verde, Gaspard and Lana Bowers each posted one hit. Verde finished the day 1-for-2, reaching base in all three plate appearances and tacked on a stolen base.