LAFAYETTE, La. - The ULM softball team took an early three
run lead but couldn't hold on to fall 11-4 in the rubber match against Sun Belt
Conference and in-state rival No. 5 UL-Lafayette Sunday at Lamson Park.
Miyuki Navarrete closed out the series with another
ULM-leading performance after going 2-for-4 and was the only Warhawk to have
multiple hits in all three contests of the series. Navarrete, Alexis Cacioppo,
Janel Salanoa and Roxy Cassel each scored a run. Navarrete and Cassel had one
home run apiece, which gave ULM two to UL-Lafayette's one.
Jessica Chastka (0-3) took the loss after she surrendered five earned runs on six hits after a one inning start. Haylie Wilson threw the remaining five innings and also allowed five earned runs with three strikeouts.
The battle started right from the start of the game, with
two Warhawks (24-24, 9-15 Sun Belt) going down before Salanoa singled and
Cacioppo walked. Cassel battled at the plate and nailed a rocket on a full
count just inside the left field foul post to take a quick three run lead.
UL-Lafayette (46-3, 21-3 Sun Belt) responded immediately
with its own home run in the bottom of the frame, a two-run bomb by Christi Orgeron
to plate Nerissa Myers who reached on a single.
The comeback continued into the next frame when the Ragin'
Cajuns put together back-to-back singles and took advantage of a throwing error
and a fielder's choice to grab their first lead of the game. A walk followed by
a single loaded the bases, and Myers managed a two RBI single before ULM
escaped the inning.
Back-to-back doubles by Brianna Cherry and Sarah Draheim
tacked on another run in the following inning.
The Warhawks posted their first run since the first frame in
the fourth inning off another home run, this time by Navarrete which was her
third of the year.
Orgeron singled in the sixth inning to plate Katie Smith
from second, who got on with a walk. The bases loaded up with another single by
pinch hitter Matte Haack, and the Ragin' Cajuns used a sacrifice fly, wild
pitch and single to cushion their lead 11-4.
Five Ragin' Cajuns had two hits for the contest, led by
Myers who went 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs and one walk. Orgeron also
scored two runs and seven other UL-Lafayette players crossed home plate.
Ashley Brignac collected her 20th win of the
season and took solo second place in the UL-Lafayette record books in career
strikeouts with seven in a complete game effort. All four runs she allowed were
earned off five hits.
The Warhawks sealed the No. 7 spot in the league standings
and will await the official seedings and bracket for the Sun Belt Conference
Tournament which will be released later Sunday evening. The tournament starts
next Wednesday in Boca Raton, Fla., and is hosted by Florida Atlantic.
