Taylor Roman’s blast keeps Ragin’ Cajuns alive in NCAA Clemson Softball Regional

Walk-off home run makes Ragin’ Cajuns the winner in pitcher’s duel with UNCW

CLEMSON, S.C. – Taylor Roman crushed a two-run home run to end an 11-inning marathon game and lift the No. 22-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball team to a 3-1 win over UNCW on Saturday at the NCAA Clemson Regional at McWhorter Stadium.

With the win the Ragin’ Cajuns (46-12) survived elimination in the Clemson Regional and moved on to face No. 17 Auburn (40-16) at 7:05 p.m. (CDT) for a chance to advance and meet No. 10 Clemson (40-15) on Championship Sunday.

Roman’s heroic shot ended an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel between the combination of Louisiana’s Kandra Lamb and Meghan Schorman and UNCW’s Kara Hammock.

Lamb and Schorman limited the Seahawks to just two hits over 11 innings, while Hammock was able to hold the Ragin’ Cajuns in check for the first 10 innings despite yielding 14 base hits.

A 1-1 stalemate was carried into extra innings with neither team producing an RBI. Louisiana plated a run off a wild pitch in the fourth inning and UNCW’s tally came off a steal attempt in the seventh inning after a walk and single ended Lamb’s perfect game and no-hit bid.

Roman’s home run came with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning and prevented UNCW relief pitcher Emily Winstead from continuing the duel on to a 12th frame.

Lamb struck out 11 batters and took a perfect game bid into the seventh inning. Schorman worked three scoreless innings of relief to set the stage for Roman’s winning blast.

Hammock struck out a season-high 10 batters and worked her way out of several jams to give the Seahawks a chance at the upset.