ULM Warhawks

LAFAYETTE, La. ? Behind a complete game shutout by sophomore Kandace Causey, the ULM softball team snapped a 20-game home win streak by No. 16 Louisiana-Lafayette to force a series-opening split at Cajun Park in Lafayette, La. on Saturday afternoon. ULM won the opening game, 1-0, before falling in the finale, 9-1.

In game one Causey (W, 11-11) allowed no runs and passed the 200-mark for career strikeouts after fanning four. The Ragin' Cajuns managed only six hits against the Warhawk-hurler, but none left the infield.

“Kandace pitched a great game for us today,” ULM softball head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill said. “She was able to dig deep when she was in a hole and come away with the complete game win today. We were able to keep ULL guessing and they only got a few bunt singles. I was proud of the way our defense picked Kandace up and of course she did the rest.”

Louisiana-Lafayette (41-12, 18-3 Sun Belt) threatened to take an early lead after loading the bases in the first inning with only one out, but a strikeout and fly ball to centerfield ended the early threat. In the second inning, ULL put runners on second and third with one out, but lined into a double play with sophomore Michelle Farrell-Fink making a diving tag at third to end the inning.

ULM (19-35, 9-14 Sun Belt) plated the only run they would need in the third inning. After senior Calli Baker doubled off the left field wall with one out. Pinch runner Robin Biddle advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Courtney Cleveland before coming home on a rocket-shot single by freshman Brianna Love down the leftfield line.

The Ragin' Cajuns would make one final push in the opener, after putting runners on second and third with only one out in the fifth inning. The runner on third broke for home on a ground ball to junior Erica Darden, but was thrown out at the plate to preserve the ULM advantage.

ULL freshman Donna Bourgeois (L, 13-4) fanned a career-high 12 batters, but allowed her first earned run at home this season in the loss.

In the second game, Causey (L, 11-12) started the game, but left after 2/3 of an inning after allowing a trio of runs. The final blow for the Denham Springs, La.-native was a two-run homer to centerfield by Melissa Verde.

After Love reached with a leadoff single, Louisiana-Lafayette starter Ashley Brignac fanned the next six batters.

ULL extended its second-game lead to 6-0 after plating a trio of runs against Warhawk reliever Lindsay Rittenhouse, including two that were unearned.

ULM would get a run back in the top of the fourth inning after freshman Jessica Olguin reached on an error before stealing second base. The Yorba Linda, Calif.-native advanced to third on a groundout by junior Megan Miller before coming home on a base hit through the right side by Darden.

Louisiana-Lafayette would plate three more unearned runs in the fifth inning to end the game at 9-1. Gabriele Bridges provided the final blow with a two-out single up the middle.

Rittenhouse (ND) worked the final four innings of the game and allowed six runs to score ? five unearned ? off six hits and a pair of strikeouts. Brignac (W, 24-6) earned the win after allowing one unearned run off three hits in a complete game, 11 strikeout performance.