STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern softball team battled hard Saturday afternoon and showed a lot of fight, but ultimately dropped a Sun Belt Conference doubleheader to the eighth-ranked University of Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. The Ragin' Cajuns won the first game 5-0 before claiming the second game 12-1.
 
Game 1: #8 ULL 5, GS 0
In the day's first game, the first two innings progressed scoreless with both offenses feeling out the opposing pitcher. Then, in the top of the third, the nationally-ranked Ragin' Cajuns (37-6, 18-1 SBC) scored five runs to take the lead. Those were the only runs to be scored in the game, but the Eagles (28-24, 11-9) battled hard and were able to get runners on and into scoring position with three hits spread out throughout the game.
 
Dixie Raley (21-11) started the game for GS and pitched the first three innings before Heather Felt came on to finish the game. Felt pitched four innings of scoreless ball where she gave up just two hits. Alex Stewart earned the win for the Cajuns, pitching the first six innings before Macey Smith came on in the final frame.
 
Game 2: #8 ULL 12, GS 1 (6 Inn.)
The early part of the second game progressed very similarly to the first with the first two innings passing scoreless before the Ragin' Cajuns scored five runs in the top of the third inning. They added another two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 7-0 lead and UL Lafayette added another five runs in the top of the sixth to extend the lead out to 12-0.
 
Similar to in the first game, Georgia Southern battled tough at the plate all game long and it paid off in the bottom of the sixth when Alesha Mann batted in Morgan Robinson with a single through the left side to break up the shutout.
 
Kierra Camp (6-12) was the pitcher of record for Georgia Southern, starting the game and pitching the first five and one-third innings before Felt made her second appearance of the day. Amanda Chambers came on in the sixth inning to finish off the game for Georgia Southern. Stewart (22-3) earned her second win of the day, pitching the first six innings for UL Lafayette with Smith once again closing things out in the seventh.

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The Eagles and Ragin' Cajuns will play the final game of the series on Sunday, May 1 at 1 p.m. The game will serve as the Eagles' Senior Day for lone senior A.J. Hamilton. GS will honor the four-year starter prior to the start of the game.
 
 
 
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