CajunsWin SB G2 Louisiana 5, Marshall 2
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball team used an early offensive surge and steady pitching to hold off a late push from Marshall and secure a 5-3 victory on Saturday, April 25 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park, clinching a Sun Belt Conference series victory.
Louisiana (27-23, 10-10 SBC) built all of its offense in the second and third innings, then leaned on Bethaney Noble in the circle to navigate traffic down the stretch. Marshall (35-14, 15-5 SBC) threatened late, plating three runs over the final two frames, but the Ragin' Cajuns maintained control.
The Ragin' Cajuns extended their conference winning streak to five games going back to the Coastal Carolina series sweep, while pulling their league record back even at .500 and moving back into a tie for sixth place in the SBC standings.
Louisiana handed Marshall its first SBC series defeat of the season and will attempt to make it a sweep when the series wraps up at Lamson Park on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless opening inning, Louisiana broke through in the second. Cecilia Vasquez, playing her 200th game in the Cajuns uniform, started the rally with a single, and pinch runner Erin Ardoin eventually came around to score on Madyson Manning's RBI double.
The Ragin' Cajuns continued to apply pressure as Lily Knox singled after Manning's double and Kennedy Marceaux followed with a run-scoring hit to center. Brooke Otto capped the inning by drawing a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, giving UL a 3-0 advantage.
Louisiana added to the lead in the third inning. Ardoin was in the mix again, reaching via walk and advancing on a sacrifice bunt. Manning delivered once more, hustling up the line on an infield single to draw an errant throw to score Ardoin, and Knox followed with a ground-rule double to extend the lead to 5-0.
Noble cruised through the middle innings, working around scattered baserunners while keeping Marshall off the scoreboard through five frames. The Thundering Herd finally broke through in the sixth, capitalizing on a Louisiana error and an RBI single from Chandler Hoskins to make it 5-1.
Marshall mounted its biggest threat in the seventh. Sydni Burko homered, and after a pair of baserunners reached, a sacrifice fly from Tia Titi trimmed the deficit to two runs. Noble, however, limited further damage by inducing a game-ending pop-up to preserve the win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Louisiana finished with eight hits, led by Manning, who went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Knox turned in a 2-for-2 performance also doubling and posting an RBI, while Marceaux added a hit and a run batted in.
Marceaux's RBI single in the second inning extended her conference play hitting streak to 15 games. Mia Liscano drew a pair of walks to increase her reached base streak in SBC play to 19 games.
In the circle, Noble (9-4) tossed a complete game, allowing five hits and three runs — two earned — while striking out four and walking six. It was the second complete game performance by a Ragin' Cajuns pitcher in as many days.
For Marshall, Hoskins paced the offense with two hits and an RBI and Burko homered. Starting pitcher Maddie Veal (10-3) yielded five runs on six hits in 2.1 innings while Paige Maynard provided relief, holding Louisiana scoreless over the final 3.2 innings
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana wraps up the Sun Belt Conference series with Marshall on Sunday, April 26 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
The Ragin' Cajuns will an attempt to collect a second consecutive SBC series sweep.
Sunday's contest marks the final regular season home game for Louisiana prior to the May 6-9 SBC Championship tournament the program is hosting at Lamson Park.
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