Softball: UL Sweeps Georgia Tech, Orgeron Becomes Cajun’s RBI Leader

LAFAYETTE, La. — The Eighth ranked Ragin’ Cajuns softball team used an eight-run fourth inning to erase a seven-run deficit in game one, and Christi Orgeron became the school’s all-time RBI leader in game two as the Cajuns remained unbeaten on the year and extended their nation’s longest home winning streak to 33 games.

With the team trailing 8-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Paige Cormier hit a three-run double and Sarah Draheim launched a two-run shot to aid the Louisiana comeback.

UL saw themselves behind a run in the bottom of the sixth, before Cormier evened the score on a sacrifice fly and Draheim gave the Cajuns a 12-10 lead with her second two-run homer of the game.

Louisiana (28-0, 3-0) hung on to win by a score of 12-11 in game one and used a six-run fifth inning to come away with a 10-2 victory in game two.

Orgeron blasted her third grand slam of the year in game two giving her 249 career RBI, passing Danyele Gomez as the school’s career leader. The homerun was the senior’s 11^th of the year and upped her RBI total for the season to 55.

Jordan Wallace (14-0) was in the circle for game one throwing six and a third innings, while allowing a season-high seven earned runs and struck out five Georgia Tech (19-16) hitters.

Ashley Brignac (11-0) surrendered two first inning runs in the second game, but settled in to hurl a one-hit complete game, striking out five in the five innings.

“Ashley is very good,” co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “In game one she was sitting in the dugout screaming at Jordan and encouraging her as she was battling. She showed great leadership, and when it was her turn she went out and go the job done. She was a leader on the field and off tonight.”

Cormier equaled her season-best with four RBI in the first game, while Draheim tied her career-high by also driving in four runs. Nerissa Myers recorded four hits on the evening, while Katie Smith and Natalie Fernandez had three apiece.

GAME ONE

The Yellow Jackets tagged Wallace for two runs in the top of the first to gain an early advantage. After giving up a leadoff single to Ashley Thomas, Wallace gave up a two-run blast to Kelsi Weseman to center field for a 2-0 lead.

Smith and Myers began the bottom half, each reaching first by way of a bunt but were left stranded as Georgia Tech pitcher Hope Rush sent the next three Cajuns down in order.

Brianna Cherry was responsible for the first Louisiana run as she stepped to the dish with one out in the bottom of the second and launched her second homerun of the year. The long ball was the junior’s first in 16 games and cut the Tech lead to 2-1.

Ashley Thomas started the Yellow Jackets off in the third with another single and stole second to move into scoring position. The following batter Kate Kuzma, plated Thomas on an RBI single to left. Weseman was hit by a pitch from Wallace and Alysha Rudnik walked to fill the bases, with still nobody out. Kuzma would score the second run of the inning on a wild pitch as the visitors took a three-run lead.

Chelsie Thomas reached on an error to begin the fourth and stole second a pitch later. She advanced to third on an Ashley Thomas single and was able to score on the play due to an error by Cherry.

Shelbee Rodgers replaced Wallace in the fourth with one out and runners on first and second. Rodgers walked the next two batters to bring in the sixth run for Georgia Tech. Karly Fullem recorded a two RBI fielder’s choice groundout to give the Yellow Jackets a commanding 8-1 advantage.

The Cajuns fourth inning is going to be one to remember all season. With UL trailing by a season-high seven runs, the squad put an eight spot on the scoreboard to gain their first lead of the day.

Draheim singled, Cherry walked and Erikka Murphy reached on an error to load the bases and begin the Louisiana rally with no outs. Fernandez recorded the first RBI of the inning on an infield single to score the catcher Draheim. The Cajuns plated their third run of the game on an RBI groundout by Smith to cut the Tech lead to 8-3. Myers, who has been clutch all season, singled through the left side on a 3-2 pitch, scoring Murphy with just one out in the inning. Orgeron was walked on four pitches to reload the bases and Haack popped out to bring Cormier to the plate, with two outs. The fifth year senior lifted a 3-2 offering from Rush for a three-run double to center, pulling the Cajuns to within a run at 8-7. Draheim was due to hit next and on the very first pitch, the junior smacked a two-run shot to right center for a 9-8 lead.

“We really played very poorly early on and it wasn’t just the walks and the defense, things just weren’t going our way,” Lotief said. “The kids huddled together, took a deep breath and smiled. I said how are we going to get back in this? They said pitch by pitch.”

The Yellow Jackets responded right away as Ashley Thomas walked and stole second to begin the fifth. Kuzma came to the box next and doubled to right center to even the score at 9-all. Kuzma would move up to third on a wild pitch and crossed home for Georgia Tech’s 10^th run of the game on an RBI single by Weseman.

Wallace re-entered the game for Rodgers and retired the next three hitters to end the Yellow Jackets fifth.

The score remained unchanged heading to the bottom of the sixth. Myers recorded her third hit of the game and Orgeron walked for the second straight at bat to start the inning. Both runners advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by Haack. Cormier tied the game again on a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Myers. Draheim stepped in and took a 2-0 pitch to center for a two-run blast, giving the Ragin’ Cajuns a 12-10 advantage.

Georgia Tech didn’t go down quietly in the seventh as they put another run across on a Weseman single, but Wallace recorded the next two outs to secure the one run victory.

GAME TWO

Georgia Tech posted two runs in the opening inning for the second consecutive game as they filled the bags with one out against Brignac. Thomas came home on an illegal pitch and Weseman scored on an RBI groundout by Karly Fullem for a 2-0 lead.

The Yellow Jackets were held scoreless in the top of the second as Brignac struck out two and Smith made a diving catch in foul territory to complete the frame.

Haack singled to start the bottom half and Cormier walked, putting Cajuns on first and second with no outs. Haack advanced to third on a fly out by Draheim and later scored on an RBI groundout from Cherry. The next batter, Murphy lined a double to left, which was misplayed by the left fielder, scoring both Cherry and Murphy on the play to give UL a 3-2 lead.

The Ragin’ Cajuns manufactured their fourth run of the contest in the bottom of the third as Smith scored from third on an Orgeron sacrifice fly, increasing the advantage to 4-2.

Brignac struck out two Georgia Tech hitters and sent the side in order in the fourth, giving her eight consecutive batters retired.

The senior pitcher continued her dominance in the fifth, recording two groundouts and a foul out, making it 11 in a row sent down.

The Cajuns used a six-run fifth inning to wrap the game up. Fernandez, Smith and Myers each began the inning with an infield hit before Orgeron launched her third grand slam of the year on a 1-2 pitch for a six-run lead. UL loaded the bases again and scored their final two runs on a Cherry walk and Granger pinch hit single to finish off the sweep.

“These kids are mature and compete at a high level. It’s not like we are perfect, like I’ve said all along we are a flawed team. But we are not a flawed team in the way that we compete.”

Louisiana return to conference play this weekend as they travel to play Troy in a double header on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m. and a single game finale on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

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