Cajuns collect signature win, break Sooners’ 71-game streak

NORMAN, Okla. – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball team snapped No. 1 Oklahoma’s NCAA record 71-game winning streak with a 7-5 (8 inn.) win on Sunday, March 3 at Love’s Field in Norman, Oklahoma, closing the team’s trip to the OU Tournament on a high note.

Louisiana (10-12) never trailed in defeating the Sooners (18-1) after scoring the game’s first run on a Jourdyn Campbell solo home run in the second inning.

An RBI single from Cecilia Vasquez and bases loaded walk drawn by Mihyia Davis increased the edge to 3-0 in the fourth inning, keeping UL ahead even though OU struck in the bottom half with a two-run homer from Kinzie Hansen.

Davis doubled to lead off the seventh inning and later scored on a mishandled throw of a fielder’s choice grounder – another crucial tally as the Sooners posted one of their patented late-game rallies in the bottom half to force extra innings.

Louisiana wouldn’t be denied, quickly loading the bases with no outs to start the eighth inning. Samantha Graeter delivered a pinch hit RBI single through the left side to reclaim the lead and Sam Roe stretched the lead out to 7-4 with her two-out, two run single.

Chloe Riassetto, who kept the Sooners off-balance the entire contest, finished off her workman-like eight-inning effort in the bottom half. Riassetto threw 136 pitches as she scattered 11 hits over the eight innings while protecting the lead.

UL rounded up 10 base hits off of the Sooners pitching staff with contributions from eight different players. The Cajuns bats posted five hits apiece off of transfer pitchers Kelly Maxwell and Karlie Keeney.

Five different Cajuns tallied an RBI, led by Roe who picked up her second multiple-RBI game with the clutch two-run single in the eighth that provided premium insurance.

Louisiana recorded its first win over the nation’s No. 1 team since topping Florida at the 2008 Women’s College World Series. With the win, the Cajuns regained the all-time series lead over OU at 16-15.

The victory over top-ranked Oklahoma was a pick-me-up for the Cajuns who were dealt a 7-1 defeat by Liberty earlier on Sunday morning.

Similar to the OU contest UL grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a home run, getting the early spark from Sophie Piskos. The boost was short-lived as the Flames (9-10) pushed across four runs in the bottom half.

Louisiana was unable to find the response as Liberty pitchers Katie Love and Kaylan Yoder closed with a combined five consecutive scoreless innings including escaping a bases loaded, no outs jam in the sixth while holding a 5-1 edge.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin’ Cajuns close out tournament play in the regular season from Saturday-Sunday, March 9-10 in Conway, Arkansas at the Milisa Moore Tournament hosted by Central Arkansas at Farris Field.

Louisiana is scheduled to play Stephen F. Austin and host-UCA at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 pm., respectively, both days.

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