Softball: Senior-led Rally Claims Series and 40th Win for No. 14 Louisiana Softball

LAFAYETTE – The bats of seniors Justice Milz and Ciara Bryan carried No. 14 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball back to an 8-6 come-from-behind win over ULM on Friday in one of the program’s more memorable Senior Weekend contests at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.

Trailing 5-2 in the fifth inning after uncharacteristic errors handed the Warhawks the advantage, Louisiana (40-9, 21-2 Sun Belt) was in need of a spark after scoreless frames in the third and fourth inning.

With two outs in the home half of the fifth it was Milz (1-for-3, HR, 4 RBI) who answered the call when she unloaded a grand slam, right after the Warhawks (15-30, 5-15 Sun Belt) had pitched around Julie Rawls, to lift the Ragin’ Cajuns into a 6-5 lead.

ULM drew even in the sixth inning with yet another unearned run, but Louisiana didn’t allow the momentum gained from Milz’s grand slam to slip away.

Bailey Curry started the bottom of the sixth drawing a walk and two batters later Sophie Piskos drove a double to deep center field to place two runners in scoring position. In stepped Bryan (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI) who ripped a two-run single through the right side to give the Ragin’ Cajuns the lead for good.

Summer Ellyson (3.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 5 K) put the finishing touches on a shutdown relief effort by promptly retiring the next three batters after a leadoff double in the seventh inning.

By gaining the win in relief, Ellyson (20-5, 2.18 ERA) reached the 20-win for the third time in her collegiate career and moved into a tie with Ashley Brignac for third place in program history with her 94th career win.

The win secured the series victory for Louisiana, extending the program’s nation leading streak of consecutive conference series won to 64 straight dating back to March 2013. It’s the seventh consecutive completed season that the Ragin’ Cajuns have claimed every Sun Belt series.

Louisiana also locked up its 22nd consecutive 40-win season, a streak which began in 1999, and the 30th overall in program history. The Ragin’ Cajuns join Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the nation’s group of fastest to reach 40 wins in the 2021 season.

No. 14 Louisiana plays its final home game of the season and celebrates Senior Day on Saturday (May 8) facing ULM in a 2 p.m. single game at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park. The Senior Day festivities will be held after the conclusion of the contest.

Live video coverage is available on ESPN?, and Ragin’ Cajuns fans can also follow along on SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM and at CajunStats.com.