LAFAYETTE, La. – The ULM softball team (22-13, 3-2 Sun Belt) fell to the Ragin' Cajuns (16-13, 3-2 Sun Belt) on Saturday afternoon (March 22) in Lafayette. After an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Cajuns responded to find the lead and clinch the series, 9-3.
Brooklin Lippert opened things up quick with the lead-off single in the first inning.
Morgan Brown secured an RBI for the first score of the day.
Maryssa Zenzen hit an RBI single to snag the second run for the Warhawks. A fielder's choice scored the first Cajun to keep it close in the first, with a passed ball scoring the second to tie it up. To round out the scoring in the first, a two-run homer from Emily Smith captured the lead for the home team.
After a scoreless second for ULM, an error placed a Cajun in scoring position, allowing Maddie Hayden to pick up the RBI single for the fifth run. In the third inning, Sam Roe picked up an RBI to make it a 6-2 score for the home team. In the fourth, the Warhawks went three-up, three-down as a single and a fielding error scored two more runs, making it a six-run deficit for ULM.
Emily Smith tacked on another home run in the fifth, scoring the ninth run for the Cajuns.
Morgan Brown double to right center in the top of the sixth to build momentum for the Warhawks, scoring to cut the lead to six. A scoreless bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh held the 9-3 lead for the Cajuns, clinching the series for them.
Morgan Brown had her fifth-consecutive multi-hit game, with two hits and an RBI on the day. Lippert also tallied two hits, along with a stolen base. Zenzen picked up two RBIs, her fifth multi-RBI game of the season. In defensive efforts, Zenzen led the team with nine putouts, as the Warhawks picked up three double plays against the Cajuns.
Victoria Abrams was credited with the loss, with
Bristin Bordeau and
Mimi Blackledge also seeing action in the circle. Bordeau pitched three innings, allowing two runs—none earned—and snagging a strikeout. Blackledge pitched three innings as well, allowing one earned run and one walk.
ULM Softball will continue to play in Lafayette this weekend, taking on the Ragin' Cajuns in its first conference series on the road. The Warhawks will face the Cajuns to round out the series at 2 p.m. on Sunday (March 23).
