LAFAYETTE, LA. – Georgia Southern Softball got two runs in the fifth to cut the Cajuns lead in half, but four runs down the stretch gave No. 7 UL Lafayette an 8-2 win to open the league series. The game was the Eagles' first in Louisiana since playing a doubleheader at LSU in 2013. It was also the Eagles' first trip to the capitol of the Acadiana in program history.
Monday's game opened a seven game road swing through Louisiana and Texas. The three-game set at UL Lafayette is followed by a Thursday night contest at Texas which can be seen on the Longhorn Network. A three-game series at UT Arlington closes the trip this weekend with games on Saturday and Sunday.
"I thought we did some good things today, but the result obviously wasn't what we wanted," said Head Coach
Annie Smith. "We got down early but we battled hard and did some good things late in the game. That has us excited to come back out to play two more tomorrow."
The Ragin' Cajuns got two runs in the third with a pair of doubles, and added two more in the fourth with a two-run home run by Shellie Landry. With starting pitcher Jordan Wallace carrying a no-hitter through four innings, the Cajuns looked to be in control.
Georgia Southern mounted a rally in the fifth, earning two walks to open the frame and chase Wallace from the game after four complete. A single by
Taylor Rogers to load the bases allowed
Emily Snider to drive in two runs, and cut the lead to 4-2.
Lafayette responded with a run in the home half of the fifth and three more in the sixth to push the lead to 8-2.
The spring break road trip continues on Tuesday when the Eagles face UL Lafayette for games two and three of the Sun Belt Conference series. First pitch is set for 5 p.m., and both games can be seen live on GS All-Access thanks to a partnership between Georgia Southern and UL Lafayette Athletics.
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