Quick start, Ellyson’s craftiness lands No. 10 Cajuns a win at UNCG

GREENSBORO, N.C. – A dominant effort from Summer Ellyson and a quick strike sent 10th-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball on to a 6-2 win over UNCG on Tuesday in the final game of a five-game East Coast road trip to North Carolina.

Ellyson had the host-Spartans puzzled her entire time in the circle as the first eight putouts were recorded via strikeout and she totaled 12 over five innings.

Louisiana (39-4) wasted little time in taking the lead as Sarah Hudek doubled in a run and Raina O’Neal delivered an RBI single in the first inning for a 2-0 advantage. Run-scoring singles from Kourtney Gremillion and Keeli Milligan increased the advantage to 4-0 after four complete.

UNCG (25-16) picked up two runs on a Marisa Sholtes’ home run in the sixth inning which trimmed the Ragin’ Cajuns lead to 5-2. Alison Deville started her third scoreless relief effort of the road trip by recording the final two putouts to end the Spartans rally.

The win extended Louisiana’s overall win streak to 16 games and marked the 16th consecutive road win. The Ragin’ Cajuns also completed an undefeated through the five-game trek which began last Friday at Appalachian State.

LEADING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
Ellyson carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning and yielded only two singles. Her strikeout total increased her season figure to 232 which is a new personal single-season best.

O’Neal led the way with two RBI, the final tally coming on a solo home run in the seventh which added extra breathing room after UNCG’s two-spot in the sixth.

Milligan collected a season-high tying four stolen bases pushing her season total to 48 which leaves her four shy of breaking Dorsey Steamer’s record 51 from 1992. Her first swipe came after a leadoff walk and set up Hudek’s RBI double in the opening frame.

Kara Gremillion doubled twice in the game helping fuel Louisiana’s total of five extra base hits – the second time in the past three games the squad reached the mark.

Deville retired all three batters that she faced to close the road trip with eight consecutive batters retired in relief.

NOTEWORTHY
• Louisiana and UNCG met for the first time in program history.
• Keeli Milligan’s four stolen bases matched the amount she posted on Feb. 22 vs. Kent State at the Baylor Invitational.
• Summer Ellyson notched her ninth double-digit strikeout performance of the season and 12th of her career. Her season strikeout total of 232 surpasses her previous personal season-best of 220 set in 2018.
• Summer Ellyson increased her career strikeouts total to 475 which leaves her 25 shy of collecting the 500th tally of her career.
• Raina O’Neal’s home run was her ninth of the season placing her into a tie with Sarah Hudek and Julie Rawls for the team lead.
• Kara Gremillion’s two doubles pushed her season total to nine which is her personal single-season best total (previous best was eight as a freshman in 2016).
• Nine different players led Louisiana to a total of 11 hits in the contest. It marked the third straight outing that the Ragin’ Cajuns posted double figures in hits, increasing the tally during the streak to 38 hits.
• Gerry Glasco’s squad completed the five-game trek to North Carolina with a .393 showing at the plate. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored 35 runs and produced 12 extra base hits (9 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs).
• The first inning tally marked the 21st time that Louisiana has plated a run in the first inning. The Ragin’ Cajuns moved to 35-1 when scoring first.
• For the 33rd time in 43 games played, the Ragin’ Cajuns pitching staff limited the opposition to two runs or fewer.
UP NEXT
No. 10 Louisiana returns home to Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park for a Sun Belt Conference series with Georgia State over Easter Weekend. The Ragin’ Cajuns and Panthers compete in the three-game set Thursday-Saturday, April 18-20.

The series opener is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a 6 pm. matchup on Good Friday and a 1 p.m. finale on Saturday.