ULM, Coastal Carolina highlight dramatic Thursday at Sun Belt Softball Championship

Championship Central

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Intriguing storylines continued on Day 2 of the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship as No. 6 Coastal Carolina won its third game in two days, No. 1 Louisiana won its 25th in a row and No. 8 ULM pulled off its second upset in as many days.

Thursday’s trio of games provided plenty of drama with the Chanticleers dispatching No. 2 Troy 4-2, the Ragin’ Cajuns earning a 4-3 win over No. 4 Texas State and the Warhawks eliminating the Trojans 3-0 in an extra-inning thriller.

Due to the threat of inclement weather, the day’s fourth game between the host Bobcats and No. 3 UTA was moved to Friday at 10 a.m. CT. That game kicks off another trio of games that includes No. 6 Coastal Carolina vs. No. 1 Louisiana at 12:30 p.m. and No. 8 ULM vs. the Texas State-UTA winner at 3 p.m. CT. This schedule adjustment moves Game 11 (Game 9 Loser vs. Game 10 Winner) to Saturday at 10 a.m. CT with the championship game following at 1 p.m. CT.

Coastal Carolina continued to live by the long ball in advancing to its first-ever Sun Belt Tournament semifinal. The Chanticleers’ runs came via two, two-run home runs. Sophomore outfielder Stavi Augur connected on her 10th homer of the season in the third inning to give Coastal a 2-1 lead. Senior outfielder Natalie David stretched the Chanticleer advantage to 4-1 with her second round-tripper of the tournament an inning later.

The Trojans cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to an RBI single by sophomore second base Hope Hernandez. Senior pitcher Ashley Guillette took control in the circle for Coastal from that point, not allowing Troy a hit or run and striking out three to send Coastal on to a Friday date with Louisiana.

The Ragin’ Cajuns toughed out their one-run win over Texas State in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Bobcat Softball Stadium. After the teams traded runs in the first, the Bobcats took the lead in on a wild pitch in their half of the fourth. Louisiana responded in its half of that inning with three runs via an RBI double by senior designated player Lexie Comeaux and an RBI single by sophomore first base Kourtney Gremillion.

An RBI single by senior outfielder Mari Cranek in Texas State’s half of the seventh cut the lead to a run but that would be how the game would end, sending the Bobcats to face their in-state Sun Belt rival in an elimination game. In the final game of the day, ULM and Troy engaged in a scoreless duel through six innings. Lightning in the area delayed the start of the seventh for 40 minutes. When action resumed, the two teams played three innings of scoreless softball until the top of the 10th.

The Warhawks got two runners with two outs when junior shortstop Jayden Mount came to the plate. Mount worked her at-bat to a 3-2 count before blasting a three-run shot over the left field wall to propel ULM to its first Sun Belt Tournament semifinal since 2015.

The 2019 Sun Belt Softball Championship continues Friday with Matt Stewart and Francesca Enea calling all the action from Bobcat Softball Stadium. All remaining games are set for live coverage on ESPN+, available online and via the ESPN app, with live statistics on SunBeltSports.org.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
2019 SUN BELT SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, May 10
Game 8 – No. 4 Texas State vs. No. 3 UTA (ESPN+), 10 a.m.
Game 9 – No. 6 Coastal Carolina vs. No. 1 Louisiana (ESPN+), 12:30 p.m.
Game 10 – No. 8 ULM vs. Game 8 Winner (ESPN+), 3 p.m.

Saturday, May 11
Game 11 – Game 9 Loser vs. Game 10 Winner (ESPN+), 10 a.m.
Game 12 – Game 9 Winner vs. Game 11 Winner (ESPN+), 1 p.m.

All Times Central and Subject to Change