Explosive finish completes Cajuns softball series sweep of South Alabama

16th-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns plate six runs in final two at bats, collect third straight shutout

LAFAYETTE – With a four-run fifth inning No. 16 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball took the fast-track to completing the series sweep of South Alabama and went on to claim a 6-0 win on Sunday at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.

The first four batters reached base in the huge inning that allowed Louisiana (19-6, 5-1) to gain separation from South Alabama (16-11, 6-3 Sun Belt) for the first time in a series that began with back-to-back 1-0 decisions.

Kaitlyn Alderink drew a walk to lead off the fifth inning, then Kendall Talley ripped a double down the right field line as the Ragin’ Cajuns quickly placed a pair of runners into scoring position.

A fielder’s choice grounder from Melissa Mayeux – who earlier in the game had a two-run home run wiped out after a runner left early call – put Louisiana on the board. Ciara Bryan later lifted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly down the right field line for a 2-0 edge and Alissa Dalton immediately followed with the knockout punch by delivering a bases-clearing double that stretched the lead to 4-0.

Jade Gortarez led off the sixth inning with a solo home run into the left field bleachers for the first of two additional runs that put the exclamation point on the late-series surge.

The uprising in the final two bats allowed Louisiana to break free from Jaguars starting pitcher Olivia Lackie who had held them in check most of the series. Five of the six runs the Ragin’ Cajuns scored were charged to Lackie.

Summer Ellyson worked the first 4-2/3 innings and scattered six hits, then Kandra Lamb worked the final 2-1/3 innings to complete the pitching staff’s third shutout of the Jaguars in the weekend series.

Louisiana became the first team to shutout South Alabama in an entire Sun Belt Conference series since April 2017 (Texas State).

UP NEXT
No. 16 Louisiana plays the series opener of the rescheduled series with Georgia Southern (7-11, 0-2 Sun Belt) beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday (March 28) at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.

Live coverage is available through SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM and CajunStats.com.

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