No. 9 UL Lafayette Sweeps Saturday's Louisiana Classics Action
LAFAYETTE - Strong pitching performances by freshman Kylee Jo Trahan and sophomore Alex Stewart coupled with a power display by the offense led No. 9 UL Lafayette to a pair of run-rule victories Saturday afternoon at Lamson Park in Louisiana Classics play.
Louisiana (3-0) downed Central Arkansas 8-0 in five innings in the opener behind a complete game, seven-strikeout performance from Trahan and a Shellie Landry grand slam that put the game out of reach.
The Cajuns sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning piling up eight runs on the way to a 17-0 win over Eastern Illinois in the finale. Haley Hayden homered twice and Aleah Craighton launched her first collegiate home run and posted four RBI.
Stewart held EIU to one hit over three innings and collected five strikeouts. Christina Hamilton made her season debut and pitched the final two frames to wrap up the Cajuns' third shutout of the weekend.
"We're playing good defense and we haven't given up a lot of free bases, although a couple of innings we've put ourselves in some tough situations," head coach Michael Lotief said. "But for the most part we're playing solid defense and not giving away anything free. Our pitchers are really executing two-to-three pitches, staying aggressive and staying ahead which is a good recipe right now."
UL Lafayette concludes play in the Louisiana Classics at 2 p.m. on Sunday with a rematch against Eastern Illinois.
It was a scoreless game through three complete with Central Arkansas (2-2). Trahan was able to work through two tough spots and strand four runners before the offense picked up steam.
"The game was in the balance for three or four innings and the first time she (Trahan) got into a bind it was real," Lotief said. "That's good for her. It's a confidence builder for her to know that if she keeps trusting her stuff and working the system then she can get out of it."
Landry's grand slam capped off a five-run, fourth inning for the Cajuns, then three additional runs in the fifth inning brought the contest to an early close.
Landry led the way with four RBI. Craighton had her first multi-hit game as a collegian while freshman DJ Sanders picked up her first two collegiate RBI off a sacrifice fly and run-producing ground out.
It wasn't long before the Cajuns began churning out runs against EIU - it took just two at bats. After Hayden reached on an error and stole second, Landry doubled to left center to bring her home. Louisiana wound up sending 11 batters to the plate before finishing the inning with an 8-0 lead.
UL Lafayette would bat around again in the fourth inning and add seven more runs to produce the final margin. The offensive showcase was punctuated by two-run home runs from Samantha Walsh and Craighton to close out the frame.
Hayden (2-for-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI) and Craighton (2-for-3, 1 HR, 4 RBI) combined for three home runs, four hits and seven RBI. Hayden increased her season home run total to three.
Stewart had little trouble with the EIU hitters, striking out the side in the first inning and retiring the Panthers in order in the third inning. The lone hit was a leadoff single in the second inning.
"We've been talking about Alex for a couple of weeks now and that's what we expected of her," Lotief remarked. "We took her out early so that she would be available tomorrow, which gives us options. Now we can play matchups."
DIAMOND NOTES: Head coach Michael Lotief moved within one win of career win No. 600 (599-147-1)...The Cajuns belted five home runs on the day, getting them from four different hitters - Aleah Craighton, Haley Hayden (2), Shellie Landry and Samantha Walsh...Freshman DJ Sanders picked up three RBI without the benefit of a base hit (sacrifice fly, RBI grounder, hit by pitch)...Cajuns pitchers have now tossed 17 innings and held the opposition scoreless...A day after Jordan Wallace struck out 13 batters, the trio of Kylee Jo Trahan, Alex Stewart and Christina Hamilton combined for 15 strikeouts...A total of 20 different hitters/runners saw action in the Eastern Illinois contest...UL and UCA met for the second straight season in a tournament at Lamson Park (met in 2014 Ragin' Cajuns Invitational finale)...It was the first meeting with EIU at Lamson Park since the 2000 Janette Spell Memorial tournament.
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Jags Rebound From Shutout Loss to EKU with 5-1 Win over McNeese State on Saturday
GULF SHORES, Ala. – No.23 University of South Alabama softball defeated 2014 Southland regular season champion McNeese State, 5-1, to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Eastern Kentucky earlier in the day on Saturday at the 2015 Sand Dollar Classic at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
The Jaguars (2-2) left nine runners on against the Colonels, and Devin Brown's wild pitch in the fifth inning led to the decisive run in the first game, but South Alabama scratched across five runs on seven hits versus the Cowgirls, using four pitchers to hold McNeese State to a single run in the nightcap to move to 2-1 on the weekend.
EKU senior right-hander Leanna Pittsenbarger moved to 2-1 on the year with her win over the Jaguars after allowing no runs off eight hits, while striking out six to a pair of walks. The Colonels moved to 3-2 on the year with the victory.
"We didn't play well enough in the first game to win," said USA head coach Becky Clark."That was a good team with a good pitcher, and we didn't do what we needed to do to beat her. There are no excuses there, other than we just didn't compete the way we needed to compete.
"In the second game, we decided we were going to compete a little bit. We dug in and got after it," Clark added. "That's what we've got to get a little more consistent with: that level of committing to competing. Every time you step between the lines, you've got to go after the other person like your life depends on it. I thought they did that in the second game."
The Jaguars outhit McNeese State, 7-5, and stranded only four runners against the Cowgirls, powered by a pitching quarter consisting of starting senior Farish Beard and relievers Kaleigh Floore, Kalen McGill and Devin Brown. McGill, who made the first start of her career against EKU – she didn't factor into the decision in that game – picked up her first career save versus McNeese State after entering with the Jags ahead, 4-1, and striking out a pair in ? of an inning.
USA's offense in the second game was powered by senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. She'd not recorded a hit this season prior.
Sophomore Amanda Minahan also went 2-for-3, scoring a pair of runs. Junior center fielder Stephanie Pilkington had one hit for two RBI, and her classmate Emily Messer added a hit and a run.
"The difference in the second game was that we came out and really competed," Griffith said. "Some people stepped up and got some big hits, and that sparked a fire. We need to learn from that first game today and take what we did in the second and apply it to every game. That will translate to a good year for us."
No. 23 South Alabama 0, Eastern Kentucky 1 (Game One)
South Alabama, the designated visitors in game one, left a pair of runners on in the opening half-inning after Pilkington drew a two-out walk, and sophomore Chloe Rathburn doubled to left center, but senior left fielder Blair Johnson popped up to third base to end the chance.
Senior first baseman Amanda Herron delivered a two-out double to left field an inning later, and the Jaguars loaded the bases after senior Alyssa Linn and freshman second baseman Kaleigh Todd walked and singled, respectively; but Messer's liner was snuffed out by Pittsenbarger in the circle.
The Colonels loaded the bags in the bottom of the second on a pair of singles and a Jaguar fielding error, but McGill forced a grounder out of leadoff Krislyn Campos.
EKU's Katie Tackett got on with a one-out single in the bottom of the third, prompting Clark to insert Brown, who recorded her first career win on Friday in a shutout one-hitter versus Liberty. Brown hit the first batter she faced, but then struck out a pair to leave two Colonels stranded.
Each team went down in order over the next inning, until EKU scratched across the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth when Campos, after singling to lead off the frame, came around on Brown's second of two wild pitches.
USA was retired in order in the top of the sixth. Messer got on with a two-out double in the top of the seventh, but the Jaguars could not capitalize, Pilkington flying out to left field to end the contest.
Brown fell to 1-1 on the year with the loss after giving up one run on a single hit in 3 ? innings. She struck out 10 of the 14 batters she faced and gave up only one walk. McGill gave up three hits and struck out two to no walks in 2 ? innings.
No. 23 South Alabama 5, McNeese State 1 (Game Two)
Beard, Floore, McGill and Brown combined to allow just one McNeese State run (earned) on five hits, striking out six to nine walks.
Beard got the start and went two innings, striking out two to three walks before being exchanged for Floore, who pitched three frames, giving up the run on three hits, while striking out two to three walks. McGill gave up two hits and walked three batters in 1?, with Brown coming in to finish off the contest by striking out both batters she faced in the top of the seventh.
McNeese State loaded the bases in the top of the third inning, after Beard allowed a leadoff walk, and Floore gave up a single and base on balls, but the latter forced a groundout from Bryanna Castro to end the threat.
Pilkington's two-run single up the middle put USA on the board in the bottom half of the same frame, plating Griffith, who was hit by a pitch, and Messer, who got on with a single.
The Jaguars added two more an inning later when Griffith ripped a two-run double off the wall in right field, which allowed freshman Haleigh Lowe, pinch-running for senior catcher Alex Breeden (single), and Minahan (leadoff single) to score, making it 4-0.
The Cowgirls got on the board in the top of the fifth when Erika Piancastelli's RBI groundout allowed leadoff Lauren Lagner to come around.
Griffith's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth brought Minahan home after the latter led off the frame with a single to push USA's advantage to 5-1.
After McGill walked a pair and then gave up a single to load the bases for McNeese State, Brown entered and sat down the final pair of Cowgirl batters swinging, improving her weekend strikeout total to 18.
The Jaguars conclude the 2015 Sand Dollar Classic with a 1 p.m. showdown versus Houston.
Links to live stats and radio broadcast via Jaguar All-Access, featuring play-by-play by Braden Cheek, can be found on the South Alabama softball schedule page shortly before first pitch. In-game Twitter updates are provided for each Jaguar softball via the program's official handle @USAJagsSoftball.
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Sixth Inning Comeback Keeps Night Perfect for Warhawks
RUSTON, La. – The Warhawks used a sixth inning rally to come from behind and pick up its second win of the night. Junior Faith Bohack carried the team with two triples in the doubleheader including the game winning 3-RBI liner.
Freshman Paige Porter picked up her third win on the season pitching a complete game. Senior Jessica Colliver grabbed her first victory pitching five shutout innings. Warhawk (4-1) pitching staff dealt 11 strikeouts over 14 innings.
Game One vs. Abilene Christian (W, 8-2)
Colliver picks up her first win on the season while Bohack had an impressive night at the plate as the Warhawks earn a victory in the program’s first meeting with Abilene Christian (0-4).
Colliver made a relief appearance in the second innings and would dish out five scoreless innings for ULM, ringing up six ACU batters.
Bohack picked up her second homer on the season as well as a triple, scoring two Warhawk runs. Sophomore Rochelle Roberts and senior Alexis Cacioppo proved lethal at the plate picking up two RBI each.
A leadoff single from Roberts opened the game for the Warhawks. Roberts swiped second and scored off an ACU throwing error on a sac bunt attempt from sophomore Sidney Coy.
Coy reached second on the error and flashed speed stealing third. Cacioppo’s single through the left side brought Coy home and put ULM up 2-0 in the top of the first.
Abilene Christian answered back in the bottom of the inning. After getting a runner aboard on an ULM throwing error, ACU used two doubles to tie up the game at two.
In the top of the second, sophomore Vanessa Garcia and Roberts drew walks to put ULM in scoring position. Coy flew out to center field, but a fielding error on the play scored Garcia (3-2 ULM) and move Roberts to third.
Cacioppo picked up her second RBI on the night with a clutch two-out hit and put ULM up 4-2.
ULM scored twice in the third starting with Bohack’s solo shot to left (5-2).
The Warhawks loaded the bases with one out on a walk from freshman Cheyanne Lyon, a single from Garcia and a walk from senior Mackenzie Miller. A sacrifice fly from Roberts scored Lyon and put ULM up 6-2.
Colliver shut down the Wildcats, retiring seven straight after a two-out ACU single in the third.
A leadoff triple from Bohack and a walk from Lyon put runners on the corners to start the seventh inning. A wild pitch from Abilene Christian’s Emily Seidel moved the runners and gave ULM a 7-2 advantage.
Roberts served the final blow with a two-out double, sealing the Warhawks’ 8-2 victory.
Game Two vs. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (W, 4-3)
After trailing Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (3-1) by three through five innings, the Warhawks used a four-run sixth inning to come from behind and take the victory.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Bohack tripled for the second consecutive game and picked up three RBI in the comeback win.
After giving up three runs in three innings, Porter dealt four shutout innings with three strikeouts to get her third victory of the season. The win was Porter’s first complete game outing.
After the leadoff batter took first via a hit by pitch to start the second inning, the Cougar struck first manufacturing a run with a two-out single.
The Warhawks got two quick outs to start the third, but a double to center and an ULM error pushed an unearned run across to put SIUE up 0-2. Cougars would generate a second unearned run in the fourth inning with help of a second ULM error (0-3).
After trading two scoreless innings, ULM would start a sixth-inning rally.
Miller led off the sixth beating out an infield single. Miller would steal second to get into scoring position.
Roberts reached on a fielding error by Cougar first baseman Rachel Keller, allowing Miller to score and cut the lead to 1-3.
After Roberts stole second, senior Molly Mackey would draw a one-out walk. Redshirt senior Miyuki Navarrete singled to third to load the bases for the Warhawks.
SIUE would strike out the next Warhawk batter, but with two outs, Bohack hit a triple for the second consecutive game to secure ULM a 4-3 come-from-behind victory.
The Warhawks return to the diamond for its home opener on Friday, Feb. 13 at 4:30 p.m. as they take on Alabama State in the first game of the Mardi Gras Classic.
For the latest on ULM softball, visit ULMWarhawks.com and follow the team on Twitter (@ULM_Softball) and Facebook (facebook.com/ULMSoftball).
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UT Arlington Wins Two on Saturday
HAMMOND, La. – UT Arlington softball was able to bounce back from an opening-game loss to improve to 3-1 after two days of play at the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic.
The Mavericks (3-1) dropped their first game to Nicholls State, but rebounded against Omaha to earn the team's second run rule of the season to close out the day.
"I was proud of how the girls did not let the first game affect the entire day," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "They bounced back and came out swinging with a lot of confidence in the second game."
UTA closes the tournament with a matchup against tournament hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday at 10 a.m.
Game 1 | Nicholls State 4, UT Arlington 0
After scoring 18 runs in two games to open the season, the Mavericks offense was unable to bring things together for a third consecutive game.
"We came out flat this morning and Nicholls took advantage," Fox said. "Sam did a great job giving us a chance to win and we did not play defense or get her run support."
Sam Montes, earning her first start for UTA, was able to hold Nicholls State scoreless through the first two innings before the Colonels opened scoring on a leadoff homer to start the third.
Nicholls State added another in the sixth on a sacrifice fly and another two in the seventh off a pair of errors.
Montes finished with seven innings pitched for her first complete game and struck out one. Montes allowed eight hits and two earned runs.
Game 2 | UT Arlington 9, Omaha 1
The Mavericks scored in all four innings of action and were able to earn its second run rule of the season, again in five innings.
The first damage came from the bat of Anderson with two outs in the inning. Anderson followed Nina Villanueva's walk with her second homer of the season and the Mavs led 2-0 after the first.
Freshman Sandra Mendoza followed up Kacey Everett's double with one of her own for UTA's lone run of the second and then UTA's offense crossed a trio of runs to pull away in the third.
Omaha walked the bases loaded and Malory Foster made them pay with a single to push the first run across the plate. Joni Hanke got an RBI in her first at-bat of her UTA career after a pinch-hit walk. Mendoza picked up her second RBI of the game with a walk of her own.
UTA would score another set of three in the fourth inning to put the game away. Shelbi Sikes scored Villanueva on a single and Sikes would join Anderson to add two more on a wild play the left the Mavs up 9-1.
Kayla Donaldson struck out two in five innings pitched and allowed just four hits to go with an earned run.
"Kayla did a great job in the circle and a lot of different people stepped up with big at bats," Fox said.
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Softball Splits Two Games at Plainsman Invite
AUBURN, Ala. – Appalachian State University softball split a doubleheader on the second day of the Plainsman Invite, which included its first win of the season.
Game One: App State 5, Evansville 4
The Mountaineers (1-2) found themselves down after the top half of the first inning. The Purple Aces (0-3) plated two runs off of a Mountaineer error for an early 2-0 lead.
In the bottom half, Cynthia Gomez (Oxnard, Calif./Pacifica) led off with a single to center field. With one out in the inning, Cara Parker (Lake Park, Ga./Lowndes) smoked a doubled into the left center field gap to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
The game remained 2-1 until the fourth inning when freshman Heather Josey (Statesville, N.C./North Iredell) launched a three-run homer to straight away center field. Caroline Chambers (Kings Mountain, N.C./Kings Mountain) walks and Pepper Butler (Delray Beach, Fla./Boca Raton Community) reached via an Evansville error to set the table for the freshman’s first career home run.
With a 4-2 lead heading into the fifth, the Purple Aces would rally back. Evansville got an RBI double that ended up scoring a second run due to an Appalachian error to tie the game at 4-4.
A tie game in the bottom of the sixth, Chambers led off the game with a solo homer blasted into the opposite field and over the right field wall. The home run for Chambers was the first of the senior’s career and proved to be the game-winning homer for the Mountaineers.
Chambers finished last season with two hits and one RBI. Through three games, the Kings Mountain, N.C. native has five hits and three RBI.
Vanessa Ciocatto (La Habra, Calif./La Habra/Delaware State) got the start and pitched five innings, allowing four runs on four hits and striking out four. Katherine Johnson (Alameda, Calif./Alameda/Wichita State) received the win for 1.1 innings pitched and a strikeout. Alissa Schoelkopf (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) earned the save for punching out the final two outs of the game.
Gomez, Chambers and Josey all led the Mountaineers with two hits each, while Parker, Dani Heichen (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Pembroke Pines Charter) and Caroline Rogers (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett) each tallied one hit in the game.
Game Two: Chattanooga 3, App State 0
In game two, Appalachian dropped a tough battle with former Southern Conference rival UTC by a final of 3-0.
Chattanooga pushed its first run across in the bottom of the third. Sam Taylor doubled in a run for the 1-0 advantage. The 1-0 lead stood until the sixth for the Mocs when they tacked on two more.
Johnson pitched three innings for App State and allowed just one run and two hits, while fanning one batter. Ciocatto pitched the remaining three innings and allowed two runs on three hits, while striking out four.
App State managed five hits in the contest against Taylor Deason. Heichen, Chambers, Butler, Sarah Warnock (Jamestown, N.C./Southwest Guilford) and Alicia Van Winkle (Coppell, Texas/Coppell) tallied hits for the Mountaineers.
Appalachian’s best opportunity in the game came in the top of the seventh. The Apps loaded the bases with two outs, but couldn’t scratch anyone across.
The Mountaineers will return to action tomorrow for the final day of the Plainsman Invitational. App State will face-off against George Washington at 11 a.m. ET and the No. 19 Auburn Tigers at 1 p.m. ET.
The game against Auburn will be televised on the SEC Network+, which is only available on the Watch ESPN app or WatchESPN.com.
— www.appstatesports.com —