Ashlan Ard RBI double against the Ragin' Cajuns in the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Championship quarterfinals
Sun Belt Conference
1
ULM ULM 25-32
3
Winner Louisiana LA 44-13
ULM ULM
25-32
1
Final
3
Louisiana LA
44-13
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
ULM ULM 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1
Louisiana LA 1 0 0 2 0 0 X 3 6 0

W: Landry, Sam (16-4) L: Hulett, Gianni (8-5)

Game Recap: Softball |

ULM Softball Falls to Cajuns in Sun Belt Quarterfinals, 3-1

LAFAYETTE, La. – Sam Landry scattered two hits en route to her seventh complete game of the season and Jourdyn Campbell delivered a pinch-hit RBI triple in the fourth inning as No. 1 seed Louisiana Lafayette outlasted ULM, 3-1, Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Championship at Lamson Park.
 
"It was a tough way to lose, but that was an incredible game," ULM head coach Molly Fichtner said. "It was fun for everybody – even us as competitors – and everyone watching it. Our team gave it everything they had, and you can't ask for anything more as a coach. But, it never gets easier when you see your seniors take their last at-bat or take the field for the last time.
 
"The Ragin' Cajuns are tough to beat. We put up a really good fight, and we gave everything we had. They had clutch hitting. They came through when they needed to most and they did a great job."
 
Mihyia Davis led off the bottom of the first with a single to left field off ULM starting pitcher Adrianna Chavarria and stole second. With two outs, Lauren Allred drew a four-pitch walk, and Laney Credeur followed with an RBI single up the middle to give the Ragin' Cajuns a 1-0 lead.
 
ULM answered in the top of the second. Campbell Selman led off the frame with a single to center field and advanced to second on Kennedy Page's sacrifice bunt. Ashlan Ard lined Sam Landry's 3-1 pitch into right-center field that scored Selman from second base to tie the score at 1-1.
 
"It was incredible to see our team respond in the next inning," Fichtner said. "It was fun. That's what the postseason is all about, going back and forth like that. Campbell Selman had a great at-bat to get us started, then we got a textbook bunt to get her into scoring position and Ashlan Ard doubled into right center."
 
Chavarria and reliever Gianni Hulett kept the Ragin' Cajuns' high-powered offense in check through the first three innings, stranding five base runners.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Maddie Hayden reached on a five-pitch walk and stole second base. Campbell, who pinch hit for Victoria Valdez, drove a 3-2 pitch off the right-field wall for an RBI triple, scoring Hayden for the Cajuns' go-ahead run (2-1). Another pinch hitter, Stormy Kotzelnick, followed with a sacrifice fly to center field as Campbell scored from third on the lineout as UL Lafayette extended its lead to 3-1.
 
Landry (16-4), who held the Warhawks without a hit over the last five innings, retired the last 13 batters in a row. She surrendered one run on two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
 
"Sam Landry was extremely effective," Fichtner said. "When you can go through a lineup one time, and then the second time you dominate even more, and the third time you dominate even more. It just goes to show you how dynamic she is in the circle and what she can do with the ball. So, hats off to her. She's a great pitcher – tough to beat and tough to hit. Landry did a really good job tonight, firing on cylinders with her pitches."
 
Chavarria threw 1 2/3 innings and allowed one run on three hits with one walk and no strikeouts. Hulett (8-5) worked the final 4 1/3 innings and permitted two runs on three hits with two walks and no strikeouts.
 
"The Ragin' Cajuns have one of the most potent offenses in the country," Fichtner said. "I don't know how many games that they've scored three or fewer runs this season, but obviously, we did good in the circle tonight. Rocky gave us a great start, getting through the lineup one time, and then we went with Gianni, our lefty, and she did a great job too.
 
"So, when you hold them to three runs, you just got to score four to win. It was a good effort by both of them in the circle."
 
The Cajuns outhit ULM, 6-2.
 
ULM concluded the 2023 season with a 25-32 record.
 
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