BOONE, N.C. (Press Release) – 10th-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning of a scoreless contest and wound up pushing across the winning runs in a 3-1 triumph over Appalachian State on Friday at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.
Bailey Curry, Kara Gremillion and Kourtney Gremillion singled in succession to start the final frame of regulation play and set up the end to Kenzie Longanecker’s hold on the Louisiana offense.
Lexie Comeaux drove an infield single between second and third base which plated pinch runner Casidy Chaumont to break the tie, then an errant throw resulted in a second tally. Julie Rawls later drew a bases-loaded walk to complete the three-run inning.
The Mountaineers benefitted from solid defense to carry the stalemate into the final inning. The hosts caught a pair of Ragin’ Cajuns attempting to steal and turned two double plays early on.
Louisiana (35-4, 16-0 Sun Belt) collected its 12th consecutive road win and stretched its current win streak to 12 games. The Ragin’ Cajuns increased their lead in the Sun Belt standings over Appalachian State (27-12, 11-4 Sun Belt) to 4-1/2 games.
LEADING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
Louisiana tallied nine hits paced by two apiece from Kourtney Gremillion (2-for-3), Sarah Hudek (2-for-4) and Keeli Milligan (2-for-3).
The Ragin’ Cajuns drew five walks led by two from Rawls.
Summer Ellyson picked up her nation-leading 24th victory by scattering four hits and striking out nine. She held a Mountaineers runner at third base in the fifth inning by inducing a shallow pop up and ground out.
NOTEWORTHY
Louisiana’s leadoff hitter reached base in six of the seven innings.
Summer Ellyson reached a new career-high in wins, surpassing the 23 she posted in 2018.
Summer Ellyson’s first strikeout of the game was her 200th of the season. She reached the 200-mark for the second straight season (220 in 2018).
For the 24th time in 31 appearances, Summer Ellyson’s final line included one run or fewer allowed.
Keeli Milligan increased her hitting streak to five games and posted multiple hits for the second time in the past three outings. It was her ninth multiple-hit game of the season.
Sarah Hudek increased her season hits total to 40. She is the third Ragin’ Cajun to reach the mark, joining Alissa Dalton (42) and Raina O’Neal (40).
Now at 16-0 in Sun Belt Conference play the Ragin’ Cajuns are two wins away from tying the program’s best start. The record 18-0 start was first established in 2001 and matched by the 2004 squad which finished with that mark.
Louisiana took the field in Boone for the first time since April 2015. The team’s last scheduled visit in 2017 was cancelled by winter weather.
The Ragin’ Cajuns improved to 9-0 all-time against Appalachian State.
UP NEXT
No. 10 Louisiana and Appalachian State continue the weekend series on Saturday with first pitch set for 11 a.m. (CDT). There’s a possibility of a doubleheader, with the decision to be made Saturday, depending on Sunday’s weather forecast.
