LAFAYETTE, La. — Senior Ashley Lewis came in with a stellar pitching performance to shutdown the Lady Cajuns, 5-0, in game two to salvage a split with Louisiana-Lafayette on Wednesday night in Lady Cajun Park. The Cajuns took game one 2-1.
“Lafayette made every play that they needed to win that game,” said head coach Yvette Girouard. “They are good as any Cajun team ever. We had our chances and left too many on base. I told the girls to relax between games. These games were not going to make or break us. Our goal is to win the SEC and make it to the World Series. Ashley came in game two and did wonderful. This is two great games back-to-back for her. If the old Ashley is back, our pitchers will be dangerous.”
LSU moves to 39-8 on the season, and Lafayette is now 32-7. The Tigers still control the all-time series with the Lady Cajuns, leading 8-3. The split was the first for the Tigers since the teams’ first meeting in 1997.
The two teams faced off in front of a record-setting attendance of 1,729 in Lady Cajun Park. The count was not only a Lafayette record crowd, but it was also the most fans to take in a collegiate softball game in the state of Louisiana.
The Lady Cajuns took the lead first in game one when Alana Addison singled through the left side with runners on first and second to send home Jill Robertson. Missy Martin then followed Addison with an RBI of her own with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Jerie Alexander.
To start the fourth inning, the Tigers narrowed the Cajun lead with a solo shot over the left center wall by second baseman April Janzen.
LSU had its best chance to pull ahead in the top of the sixth inning. Dee Douglas singled to start the inning, and Janzen was hit by a pitch from Melissa Coronado. Christy Connor was walked with one out to load the bases, but the Tigers would leave them there as the Cajuns retired the next two batters.
Coronado would pick up her 25th win of the season. She held the Tigers to only three hits, walked two and struckout one. Coronado is 25-6 on the season.
Tiger pitcher Britni Sneed fell to 24-5 on the season in her first loss since February 25. Sneed allowed four hits, walked one and sat down six Cajun batters.
LSU jumped ahead first in game two with a two out single by Christy Connor to send home Douglas from second base. Connor extended her hitting streak to eight games with the hit.
The Tigers added three runs on three hits in the top of the third to put the score at 4-0. Connor picked up a second RBI for the game when she knocked in Hastings with a double to center field. Erin Johnson got two RBI of her own with a double that sent home Trena Peel and Auburne Ziober.
Jennie Reeves scored from third in the top of the fourth when Cajun catcher Carrie Vernon overthrew third on a pick off attempt.
The Tigers combined for eight hits off Lady Cajun pitchers Micah Barbato and Coronado. Christy Connor hit her ninth double of the season, going three-for-six on the night.
Lewis topped her personal best with 12 strikeouts on the night. She allowed only two hits and walked four to run her season record to 13-3.
The Tigers will return home to Tiger Park to host Kentucky in a Southeastern Conference series this weekend. Saturday’s doubleheader will start at 11 a.m., and Sunday’s is at noon.