Cajuns Softball Begins 2020 Campaign With a Bang
The 40th season of Ragin' Cajuns Softball is FINALLY HERE as they played in the 34th annual Louisiana Classics on Friday evening. The Cajuns played a doubleheader as they opened their season against Ball State before taking on the University of Texas at San Antonio in the nightcap.
Louisiana escaped with a narrow victory against Ball State 3-2 as senior transfer Megan Kleist came on after Summer Ellyson gave up a leadoff single to begin the seventh inning. The Cardinals would end up loading the bases with one out against Kleist but she bore down forcing a pop-up and then struck out the final batter she faced to secure the victory.
Ellyson got the win as she pitched six-plus innings allowing six hits, one earned run, one walk, and 10 strikeouts. Kleist picked up her first save of the season.
At the dish, it was newcomer Kaitlyn Alderink a transfer from Texas A&M who led the way going 2-3, scoring two runs, and knocking in the other to account for all three UL runs.
In the nightcap, the Cajuns were sluggish offensively early stranding a bunch of runners but finally broke through late to secure an 8-0 victory in five innings to sweep the doubleheader.
In this victory, Megan Kleist was very good keeping Road Runner batters off-balanced with her devastating changeup. She pitched all five innings, allowed just three hits, one walk, and struck out eight securing her first victory as a Cajun.
Offensively, the Cajuns pounded out 11 hits with a couple of players having big games. Raina O'Neal went 2-3 with two runs scored, Bailey Curry had one big hit which was a two-run homerun, and junior transfer from Miami Dade College Melissa Mayeux delivered the knockout blow with a walk-off three-run homerun while going a perfect 2-2.
The Cajuns will play another doubleheader Saturday beginning around 2 p.m. against North Texas and then whenever that one finishes up they'll take on UTSA once again.
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