TROY, Ala. ? The dream run for the ULM softball team finally
came to a close in the championship game against heavily favored
Louisiana-Lafayette.
The
top-seeded Ragin' Cajuns used three big innings, including a trio of home runs,
to power past the seventh-seeded Warhawks, 13-0. Playing in its first
conference tournament since the 2002 season, ULM (22-37) advanced to the tournament's
final game but couldn't overcome the high-powered ULL (46-12) offense.
After
sophomore Kandace Causey (L, 13-13) retired the side in order in the top of the
first, freshman Jessica Olguin reached first on a bunt single with one out in
the bottom of the frame. Ashley Brignac (W, 27-6) fanned the next two and
retired the next 12 to allow ULL to build the big lead.
Sun Belt
Conference Player of the Year Holly Tankersley led off the second with a
towering home run to centerfield. Two batters later, Lana Bowers lined a homer
to left center to make it a 3-0 lead and chase Causey. The Ragin' Cajuns would
add an unearned run in the inning before senior Lindsay Rittenhouse (ND) could
notch the third out.
Vanessa
Soto extended the lead for Louisiana-Lafayette with a three run homer as part
of a six-run fourth inning. ULL would add three more in the fifth for the final
13-0 score.
The game
marked the final contest for seven seniors. Playing in their first ever
conference tournament the seniors showed no quit in advancing to the final
game. Against long odds
Three
Warhawks were named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team in junior
catcher Megan Miller, sophomore pitcher Kandace Causey and freshman first
baseman Molly McNeill.
ULM ends the year one win shy of
reaching its first regional tournament since the 1997 season.
