Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun softball team opened up NCAA Regional play with a victory on Friday night, defeating the Boston University Terriers, 9-5, in the first day of play in the Lafayette, La. Regional at Lamson Park.

The Cajuns used a 3-run first inning, as well as a 3-run third inning, to help them to the 4-run triumph.

Louisiana, the top-seed, and hosting a regional for the 12th time in program history, will now move on in the winners bracket, where they will take on the Texas Longhorns on Saturday morning/afternoon.

With the win, the Cajuns, making their 18th-consecutive regional appearance, extended their winning streak at Lamson Park to 21-straight games, including 22 wins in 23 tries

Boston got on the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the top half of the first inning, when Alexa Ponce was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Brittany Younan, giving them a quick 1-0 lead.

Louisiana answered right back with 3 runs of their own in the bottom half of the first inning, when senior catcher Lexie Elkins doubled home junior second baseman Haley Hayden, before senior first baseman Kelsey Vincent blasted a two-run home run, her 14th of the season, to grab a 3-1 advantage.

The Cajuns added another run in the bottom half of the second inning, when Hayden lifted a sacrifice fly, scoring pinch-runner Kendall Smith, who was running for senior designated player Sara Corbello, to make it 4-1.

Louisiana put up three more runs in the bottom half of the third inning, courtesy of a bases loaded walk by Corbello, and a sacrifice fly by Hayden, her second of the game, to widen their lead to 7-1.

The Terriers got closer in the top half of the 5th inning, scoring 3 runs on 3 hits, including a two-run double by Ponce, and a run-scoring single by Emily Morrow, to trim the deficit to 7-4.

The Cajuns scored two big insurance runs in the bottom half of the 6th inning, courtesy of a clutch two-run, two-out single by freshman third baseman Kara Gremillion, to make it 9-4.

Boston U. able to score a run in the top half of the 7th inning, when Alex Heinen homered, making it 9-5. But it wasn't enough as UL went on to the 4-run victory.

Louisiana, who was actually outhit by Boston U., 13-9, was led at the plate by.Vincent, who went 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs batted in, and Hayden, who drove in two.

The 13 hits allowed by the Cajuns was the most they gave up in a single game all season.

Macey Smith (4-0) recorded the win for the Cajuns, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits in 5 innings of work.

Victoria Brown picked-up the save, allowing one run in her two innings in the circle.

Melanie Russell (14-10) suffered the loss for the Terriers, allowing 8 runs on 9 hits in 6 innings.

With the victory, Louisiana improved to 44-7 on the season, while Boston U. dropped to 28-23.

The Cajuns advance to take on Texas in a winners bracket game at 11 am on Saturday, while Boston U. faces Texas in an elimination game at 1:30 pm.

The complete Lafayette, La. schedule/bracket is below:

NCAA LAFAYETTE REGIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, May 20, 2016
G1: Texas A&M defeated Texas, 5-0
G2: Louisiana defeated Boston University, 9-5

Saturday, May 21, 2016ated
G3: Louisiana vs. Texas---11 am
G4: Texas A&M vs. Boston U.---1:30 pm
G5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3---4 pm

Sunday, May 22, 2016
G6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5---3:30 pm
G7: (if necessary) Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6

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