TROY, Ala. – The first day of double-elimination play at the Sun Belt Softball Championship was highlighted by a pair of one-hitters, an extra-innings upset, and a closely-contested defensive battle on Wednesday.

Top-seeded Louisiana (41-10, 21-3 SBC) shut out No. 9 seed ULM (17-31, 6-15) in a 7-0 decision to open a day that was expected to be interrupted by continued rain. The Ragin’ Cajuns gave up just one hit in the victory. No. 4 seed South Alabama (27-17, 13-9) followed suit in Game 2, delivering an 11-0, five-inning one-hitter to No. 5 seed App State (26-18, 8-12).

No. 6-seeded UT Arlington (17-32, 9-14) upset No. 3 seed Troy, 2-1, in an eight-inning thriller in Game 3, before No. 2 seed Texas State (37-10, 17-6) took down No. 10 seed Georgia State 2-0 to cap off the day.

Competition resumes at 10 a.m. CT Thursday, as Louisiana takes on the South Alabama, followed by a 12:30 p.m. matchup between Texas State and UT Arlington.

Elimination games begin at 3 p.m., with ULM squaring off against Troy (34-14, 17-6), before Georgia State (16-29, 3-18) and App State close the day with a 5:30 p.m. showdown.
 
(1) Louisiana 7, (9) ULM 0
The Ragin' Cajuns broke through with a four-run third inning, scoring all of their runs with two outs. In the fourth inning, Sun Belt all-conference infielder Kaitlyn Alderink, who recorded a game-high three RBIs, hit a sacrifice fly to right that plated two runs to push the lead to 6-0. Louisiana tacked on the final run in the sixth inning as Sun Belt Player and Newcomer of the Year Ciara Bryan stole second and came around to score on a throwing error on the play to provide the final margin. Bryan, who matched her season-high with three steals against the Warhawks, increased her Sun Belt-leading total to 34 stolen bases.

Standout pitcher Kandra Lamb picked up her 16th win of the year, recording seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work and surrendering just one hit.
 
(4) South Alabama 11, (5) App State 0 (5 innings)
The Jaguars delivered the first run-rule of the Championship, as first-team all-conference pitcher Olivia Lackie carried a perfect game through 4.1 innings of work, before giving up a walk and a hit in the Mountaineers final at-bat.

Offensively, South Alabama exploded in the bottom of the fourth, tallying eight runs off seven hits, including a three-run home run from all-leaguer Abby Krzywiecki and a solo shot from Kennedy Cronan. Six different Jaguars ended the day with an RBI.
 
(6) UT Arlington 2, (3) Troy 1 (8 innings)
The Trojans plated the first run of the game off a solo shot over the left field wall by All-Sun Belt selection Kelly Horne in the second inning. However, the Mavericks defense stalled the Trojans from there, allowing its offense to build gradual momentum.

UTA pitched by committee starting with senior JoJo Valencia, who allowed one earned run and two hits in 3.0 innings. Sophomore Kenedy Hines replaced Valencia on the mound and had a stellar outing, throwing 4.1 innings and allowing just one hit across 16 batters. Junior Allie Gardiner came in and recorded the final two outs to earn her fifth save and secure UTA's 2-1 victory. 

The Mavericks pitching staff opened the door for the offense to recover from the one-run deficit in the sixth inning, where KJ Murphy came home on a sacrifice fly to knot things at 1-1. Jessic Carreon bolted home on an errant throw and slid under the tag safely in the top of the eighth inning to secure the victory for UTA. 
 
(2) Texas State 2, (10) Georgia State 0
After four scoreless innings, the Bobcats struck first with a solo shot to center field by all-conference designated player ArieAnn Bell in the bottom of the fifth. Texas State built a little insurance in the next frame after Piper Randolph stepped in to pinch hit for senior Marisa Cruz. Randolph reached on an infield-single and then made her way around the horn on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Sara Vanderford stepped to the plate and connected for the sacrifice fly to bring Randolph home and secure the 2-0 victory.

Jessica Mullins, the reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week, went the distance while surrendering just three hits and a pair of walks. She also delivered six strikeouts on her way to her 20th win of the year.
 
Tournament Schedule
Thursday, May 13
Game 7 – No. 1 Louisiana vs. No. 4 South Alabama (ESPN+), 10 a.m.
Game 8 – No. 6 UT Arlington vs. No. 2 Texas State (ESPN+), 12:30 p.m.
Game 9 – No. 9 ULM vs. No. 3 Troy (ESPN+), 3 p.m.
Game 10 – No. 5 App State vs. No. 10 Georgia State (ESPN+), 5:30 p.m.
                                           
Friday, May 14
Game 11 – Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 (ESPN+), 10 a.m.
Game 12 – Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9 (ESPN+), 12:30 p.m.
Game 13 – Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 10 (ESPN+), 3 p.m.
Game 14 – Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13 (ESPN+), 5:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 15
Game 15 – Loser Game 11 vs. Winner Game 14 (ESPN+), 11 a.m.
Championship Game – Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 15 (ESPN+), 2:30 p.m.
All times are Central and subject to change.