UL Softball Hangs On To Beat Oregon, 5-4
The 7th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajun softball team was victorious on the second day of the 30th Louisiana Classics on Saturday, recording a 4-2 win over the 6th-ranked Oregon Ducks at Lamson Park.
The victory gave Louisiana two wins in three games over Oregon, after the two teams split a doubleheader on Friday, with the Cajuns winning the first game, 3-2, before the Ducks took the second game, 6-3.
Louisiana got on the scoreboard first, in the top half of the opening inning, when senior catcher Lexie Elkins belted a solo home run, her 7th of the young season, to left-centerfield, giving them a quick 1-0 advantage.
Oregon answered right back in the bottom half of the frame with a solo homer of there own, when shortstop Nikki Udria went deep, to tie the game, 1-1.
The Cajuns regained the lead in the top half of the second inning, when they loaded the bases on three walks, before junior second baseman delivered a clutch two-out, three-run double, making the score 4-1.
Louisiana extended their lead in the top half of the third inning, when senior first baseman Kelsey Vincent drew a one-out walk, and later scored on a two-out single off the bat of sophomore shortstop D.J. Sanders, making it 5-1.
The Ducks drew closer in bottom half of the third, scoring two runs on three hits, to trim the deficit to 5-3.
Oregon added an unearned run in the bottom half of the fifth inning, when right-fielder Alyssa Gillespie crossed the plate, to get within one run, 5-4.
The Ducks had an opportunity to tie the game, and also take the lead, in the bottom half of the sixth inning, when they put runners at second and third with one out, but failed to score.
That was Oregon's final chance, as UL retired the Ducks in order in the bottom half of the seventh inning, as they held on for the one-run win.
Elkins led the way or the Cajuns at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run, while Hayden drove in three runs.
Alex Stewart recorded the win in the circle for Louisiana, allowing 4 runs, including three earned runs, on 8 hits, while striking out 4, as she improved to a perfect 5-0 on the year.
Cheridan Hawkins (3-2), suffered the loss for Oregon, allowing 5 runs in 2.2 innings of work.
With the victory Louisiana improved to 7-1 on the season, while Oregon fell to 6-3.
The Cajuns will wrap-up play in the tournament on Sunday, taking on Central Arkansas at 12:30.