Gold Nuggets split at Louisiana Christian behind another strong Chargois pitching effort

PINEVILLE, La. — Is it time to call her Carina Stargois? Recent performances say yes.

Xavier University of Louisiana’s right-handed freshman softball pitcher — actual name Carina Chargois — continued to impress Saturday. She pitched a three-hitter and won 5-1 against Louisiana Christian in the first game of a Red River Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The Wildcats gained a split with a 13-4 victory in the second game.

Chargois is 6-1 with an ERA of 0.91 in her last seven appearances, which covers 46 innings. Against the Wildcats she pitched a seven-inning complete game, allowed three singles, walked two and struck out three. Louisiana Christian’s first-inning run was unearned.

Chargois’ teammates supported her with three runs in the first inning and one apiece in the fourth and fifth. Chenai Keyes and Brittany Ensley hit run-scoring singles in the opening inning, and Vivionna Robles’ sacrifice scored Keyes to make it 3-0.

Kyla Porche’s bunt single in the fourth scored Alexis Richardson, and an error during Ensley’s fifth-inning sacrifice scored Keyes with the final run.

XULA led 1-0 in the first inning of the second game, but the Wildcats took the lead for good with three runs in their half of that inning. The game was called after 4 1/2 innings because of the eight-run rule; LCU produced 20 baserunners in its four offensive innings.

LCU sisters Kayla and Jordan Dauthier combined for five RBIs. Jordan hit a two-run homer during a six-run third inning. Porche, Keyes, Ensley and Shay Angelle drove in runs for XULA. Keyes reached base safely six times in the doubleheader.

XULA is 18-25 overall and 12-12 in the RRAC. LCU is 24-16 and 13-7. Next for XULA will be RRAC home doubleheaders at Wesley Barrow Stadium: 1 p.m. Friday against Houston-Victoria and noon Saturday against Huston-Tillotson.