UL Softball Downs Texas, 9-1, Advances To Regional Finals
Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun softball team continued to stay unbeaten in NCAA Regional play, after defeating the Texas Longhorns, 9-1, in the second first day of play in the Lafayette, La. Regional at Lamson Park on Saturday.
The Cajuns used a 2-run home run by senior outfielder Shellie Landry, a 13-hit hitting effort as a team, and the complete-game pitching of junior right-hander Alex Stewart, to help them to the 8-run triumph in the winners bracket.
Louisiana, the top-seed, and hosting a regional for the 12th time in program history, will now move on to the finals of the winners bracket, where they will take on Texas A&M, who survived through the elimination bracket, with an opportunity to advance to an NCAA Super Regional for a 5th-consecutive year.
With the win, the Cajuns, making their 18th-consecutive regional appearance, extended their winning streak at Lamson Park to 22-straight games, including 23 wins in 24 tries.
Louisiana got on the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the top half of the first inning, when senior outfielder Aleah Craighton delivered a clutch two-out single, scoring junior second baseman Hayley Hayden, giving them a quick 1-0 lead.
The Cajuns added to their lead in the top half of the third inning, scoring two runs, courtesy of a 2-run home run by Landry, her 16th of the season, to widen their lead to 3-0.
Louisiana put up another run in the top half of inning number five, when sophomore shortstop D.J. Sanders singled home a run, to extend their advantage to 4-0.
The Cajuns put the game away in the top half of the 6th inning, scoring 3 runs on 3 hits, as senior catcher Lexie Elkins drove home two runs with a double, followed by a run-scoring single by senior first baseman Kelsey Vincent, to make the score 7-0.
UL added two more insurance runs in the top half of the 7th inning, when Landry delivered a two-out single, scoring two runs, to make it 9-0.
Texas scored their only run of the game in the bottom half of the 7th inning, on a two-out solo homer by centerfielder Lindsey Stephens, but it was not nearly enough, as UL cruised to the 8-run win.
Louisiana, who outhit Texas, 13-8, was led at the plate by Landry, who went 3-for-5 with a homer and three runs batted in, and Elkins, who went 2-for-5 with 2 RBI's and two runs scored.
Stewart (28-4) recorded the win for the Cajuns, tossing an 8-hitter, allowing one run, while not walking a batter, and striking out three.
Tierra Davis (23-10) suffered the loss for the Longhorns, allowing 9 runs, including 6 earned, on 12 hits in 7 innings of work.
With the victory, Louisiana improved to 45-7 on the season, while Texas dropped to 38-15.
The Cajuns advance to Championship Sunday, and the finals, where they will need only one win the win the regionals.
First-pitch on Sunday, in the Louisiana/Texas A&M match-up is set for 3:30 pm.
You can hear al the play-by-play action on ESPN 1420 and espn1420.com, beginning with the pregame show at 3:15 pm.
If Texas A&M wins, there would be an "if necessary" game 35 minutes following the completion of the 3:30 pm game.
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, 2016
G3: Louisiana defeated Texas, 9-1
G4: Texas A&M defeated Boston U., 6-0 (Boston U. eliminated)
G5: Texas A&M defeated Texas, 9-3 (Texas eliminated)
Sunday, May 22, 2016
G6: Louisiana vs. Texas AM—3:30 pm
G7: (if necessary) Louisiana vs. Texas A&M