Cajuns Split Day One at Houston Hilton Plaza Classic

Contact: Nick Ross

B ox Score vs. Lipscomb

Box Score vs. Iowa

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajun Softball team started the season off with a split in day one at the Houston Hilton Classic on the University of Houston campus. The Cajuns topped Lipscomb University by a score of 5-2, before falling to the University of Iowa in a high scoring affair, by a final score of 13-10.

“I thought the girls showed up and pursued excellence.” Head coach Megan Granger said about the set of games. “I felt that they came with a lot of fight, had a lot of poise and we were free and loose. We were ready to go no matter what adversity came towards us. We just kept our mindset on the game.”

The Cajuns didn't take long to get on the scoreboard as Nerissa Myers, who hit .436 with 13 home runs and 79 RBIs last year to earn third team All-America honors, led off the bottom of the first by lining a 301 pitch over the wall in left center to put Louisiana ahead, 1-0.

Myers keyed a three-run Cajuns second inning by singling home Samantha Walsh. Brianna Cherry followed with a two-run double that scored both Natalie Fernandez and Myers to put Louisiana ahead, 4-0.

“I think [Myers] set the tone,” noted Granger. The first at bat game she hits a home run and sets the tone for the game. The rest of the squad followed her and were ready to go.”

Jordan Wallace earned the start and cruised through four innings, striking out eight and allowing three hits, including a solo home run that fell just inside the foul pole in left field by Haley Elliott with two outs in the fourth.

Louisiana made it 5-1 in the fifth. Sara Corbello led off with a walk and Leandra Maly ran for her, coming around to score on a double off the wall by Shelli Landry,

Wallace gave way to freshman Victoria Brown to start the fifth and the freshman went the final three innings to pick up the save. Brown retired the first seven batters she saw before allowing one unearned run on two hits.

The 9-1-2 slots in the batting order of Fernandez, Myers and Cherry led the way for the Cajuns offensively, each with two hits on the game, and Myers and Cherry each drove in two runs. Fernandez also had a two hit night, both singles, extending her streak to 109 consecutive singles.

Game two had a much different tone to it, with both teams getting on the board early and often. After getting runners on base in every inning, the Cajuns failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 runners on base. The Hawkeyes scored in five of the seven innings, with the Cajuns responding each inning with runs, but never winning an inning.

Sarah Draheim, Sara Corbello and Matte Haack highlighted the Cajuns offense in game two, driving in seven of the Cajuns 10 runs. Haack had an RBI single in the fifth and a two RBI single in the sixth, Sara Corbello drove in two runs with a two run double in the fourth, and Draheim had an RBI single in the first and a solo home run to lead off the third inning. Myers, Landry and Samantha Walsh would also drive in runs for the Cajuns.

Kristin Martinez got the start for the Cajuns, pitching 2.1 innings before yielding to Christina Hamilton and Brown out of the bullpen. Martinez would return to the game in the sixth inning and finish it without allowing a runner on base. Her final line on the day would be 4.0 innings, allowing six runs, three earned on five hits and one walk while fanning three batters. Christina Hamilton tossed 0.2 innings, allowing an unearned run in and striking out one, and Victoria Brown tossed 2.1 innings allowing six runs, all earned on six hits and one walk while fanning two.

“We're still trying to find another pitcher defensively, and offensively we're going to need to stop leaving so many runners on base to get things done.”

The Ragin' Cajuns and Hawkeyes will be back on the diamond tomorrow morning with first pitch scheduled for 11:30 AM. The Cajuns next home game will be Wednesday, February 13 at Lamson Park when they take on Mississippi State. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Cajuns Split Day One at Houston Hilton Plaza Classic

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Team Stats

Sarah Draheim

Matte Haack

Nerissa Myers

Sara Corbello

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