Softball: Trahan Tosses No-Hitter in Ragin’ Cajuns Invite Opener

LAFAYETTE – Kylee Jo Trahan tied her career high with 10 strikeouts and tossed a no-hitter as the No. 6-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team defeated Rutgers 12-0 (5 inn.) in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational opener on Friday at Lamson Park.
 
Kelsey Vincent posted her third three-hit game of the season, which included her fifth home run, and reached four RBI for the second time to lead the charge offensively for Louisiana (11-1).
 
Lexie Elkins finished 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI and collected her 10th home run of the season. The home run was Elkins’ 66th of her career, tying her with Gabriele Bridges for fourth place in program history.
 
Trahan’s strikeout tally was the highest by a Cajuns pitcher this season, besting the nine strikeouts posted by Alex Stewart in both games of Thursday’s doubleheader with Texas Tech. She collected seven of the strikeouts through the first three innings, striking out the side in both the first and third inning.
 
In collecting her first career no-hitter, Trahan faced the minimum in three of the five innings worked. She wound up facing just two batters over the minimum as the Scarlet Knights (1-9) drew one walk in both the second and fourth inning.
 
No. 6 Louisiana continues play in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational at Lamson Park on Saturday facing Rutgers at 1:30 p.m. and Alcorn State at 4 p.m.
 
After Trahan breezed through the first inning striking out the side, her teammates began building the lead in the bottom half starting with Elkins’ home run in the third at bat of the frame. Vincent followed with a solo home run down the left field line to give the Ragin’ Cajuns a 3-0 lead.
 
Kara Gremillion later singled with the bases loaded, which coupled with a fielding error in center field cleared the bases extending the lead to 6-0.
 
Vincent’s second run-producing plate appearance of the game was a RBI single through the right side in the second inning that brought home the first of three runs the Cajuns scored that frame. Elkins and pinch runner Katie Smith later scored on a passed ball to stretch the lead to 9-0.
 
Vincent posted her final two RBI of the game in the third inning, making the Scarlet Knights pay for intentionally walking Elkins. Pinch runner Meagan Thomas stole second base to join Haley Hayden (leadoff double) in scoring position and Vincent dumped a single into center field to score them both to increase the lead to 11-0.
 
The Cajuns’ final run of the game came on a pinch-hit RBI single by Gabby Felps in the fourth inning.
 
Louisiana and Rutgers met at Lamson Park for the first time since meeting in the Louisiana Classics in February 2012. The Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 4-0 all-time against the Scarlet Knights.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 6-1 on their current 10-game homestand which began last Friday with the 30th Louisiana Classics and concludes with this weekend’s Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational.
 
For more information on Ragin’ Cajuns softball, fans can follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball) and Twitter (@RaginCajunSB).