Friday, May 21
Cajuns Move into Winner's Bracket of Lafayette Regional
LAFAYETTE – A pair of three-run innings early in the game built a sizeable margin that No. 9-ranked Ragin' Cajuns Softball used to distance itself from fourth-seeded Boston University in a 9-5 win in the 2016 NCAA Lafayette Regional on Friday in front of 1,638 at Lamson Park.
With the win, No. 9 Louisiana moves into the NCAA Lafayette Regional winner's bracket final at 11 a.m. on Saturday against No. 25 Texas (38-14). It's the second time in the past three seasons that the Ragin' Cajuns and Longhorns meet in the winner's bracket (met in 2014 NCAA Lafayette Regional).
A run-scoring double from Lexie Elkins and two-run home run by Kelsey Vincent allowed the Ragin' Cajuns (44-7) to erase an early deficit and take a 3-1 lead in the first inning.
Louisiana added to the lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Haley Hayden after the bases were loaded following three straight singles to start the frame.
The second and vital three-spot of the night followed in the third inning as the Ragin' Cajuns opened with back-to-back singles, then walks, an error and sacrifice fly pushed across the runs to extend the lead to 7-1.
The Terriers (28-23) chipped into the Ragin' Cajuns lead in the fifth inning, plating three runs off a two-run double by Alex Ponce and RBI single from Emily Morrow to trim the deficit to 7-4.
Victoria Brown tossed the final two innings to preserve the triumph for Macey Smith who was making her first career NCAA Tournament appearance.
The offense gave Brown added cushion in the sixth inning as three walks loaded the bases and Kara Gremillion brought home two runners with a single up the middle, extending the lead to 9-4.
"I told my team it's about 'survive and advance'" Ragin' Cajuns Softball head coach Michael Lotief said. "We're right where we want to be. People mentioned how scrappy Boston was, but I told my kids we were a little scrappier.
"At this stage of the game everybody is good," Lotief added. "This is probably the most balanced regional in the country. We don't want it easy…tomorrow will be fun."
Louisiana, which opened its 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 26th overall in the last 27 years, will carry a 21-game win streak at Lamson Park into Saturday's battle for the driver's seat with Texas.
Texas State Drops Close Game To California In NCAA Tournament
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Texas State softball team dropped a close 1-0 game to California in the opening game of the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Friday afternoon. Cal scored one unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning to come away with the victory.
Texas State finished the afternoon with two hits, one from Kelli Baker in the top of the fourth inning and one by Kimberlin Naivar in the top of the seventh. Baker advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Naivar and that proved to be the furthest a Texas State base runner would advance all game.
The Bobcats got out of a jam in the bottom of the second inning as Cal put runners on first and second with one out. After tallying a strikeout for out number one in the inning, Randi Rupp forced a pop up and struck out another to get out of the inning.
Cal capitalized in the fourth after its lead-off batter doubled and advanced to third on a fielding error. The next batter hit a ball deep enough to centerfield to allow the runner at third to score.
Rupp pitched the complete game for Texas State as she falls to 29-13 on the year. She allowed just five hits in the setback to a Cal team who hit over .300 for the year.
WHO STOOD OUT
Randi Rupp / P / Sophomore / Mont Belvieu, Texas
Rupp struck out six in 6.0 innings of work for Texas State. The one run that scored was unearned for Rupp as her season ERA drops to 1.65. In the bottom of the second, Rupp worked out of a jam after having runners on first and second with just one out. She also worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth after Cal registered a pair of hits and a walk with two outs. She now has 322 strikeouts this season which is now the second most in a season in school history, surpassing Nicole Neuerburg's total of 321 in 2005.
Kelli Baker / 2B / Senior / Atascocita, Texas
Baker recorded one of the two Bobcat hits Friday afternoon. Baker led the fourth inning off with a bloop single to right before advancing to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Kimberlin Naivar.
Kimberlin Naivar / LF / Junior / Mont Belvieu, Texas
Naivar led the top of the seventh off with a single through the left side to try and spark the Bobcat offense. Earlier in the game, she successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt to put Kelli Baker in scoring position for the 'Cats.