Big First Inning Leads No. 10 Louisiana Past GS Softball, 6-3, On Saturday

Saturday, March 30

Statesboro, GA

2 PM

Georgia Southern University

16-17, 3-8

Louisiana

28-4, 11-0

Louisiana

Georgia Southern

Big First Inning Leads No. 10 Louisiana Past GS Softball, 6-3, On Saturday

3/30/2019 4:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (.pdf)

Ragin' Cajuns put up four in the first inning, hold on for the win in game two of the weekend series

STATESBORO - No. 10-ranked Louisiana used a four-run first inning to pick up a 6-3 Sun Belt Conference victory over host Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon at Eagle Field.

The Ragin' Cajuns (28-4, 11-0 SBC) notched their fourth straight series win to start the league season while Georgia Southern (16-17, 3-8 SBC) falls in its third series out of the four played so far this year - to three of the of the top four teams in the current league standings. The two teams will wrap up the series at 11 a.m. Sunday, a time moved up an hour due to the forecast tomorrow in Statesboro.

Louisiana scored four runs in the first inning, knocking out GS starter Jodi Handler (1-2) before she could get an out. Raina O'Neal had an RBI single, while Bailey Curry's sacrifice fly to the second baseman in shallow right field brought home another run. Kara Gremillion then capped the inning with a two-run single to left.

"Anytime you can spot an incredible team like Louisiana four runs in the first inning, it really allows them to relax and not have as much pressure," Georgia Southern Head Coach Kim Dean said. "Their pitcher used her lead, forced us into having to get baserunners on and trying to score runs. Again, it was a tight game, but I'm happy that we fought hard to the end."

The Ragin' Cajuns got a run in the top of the second on a hustle play on the basepaths by Alissa Dalton, scoring from third after the Eagles had a rundown between first and second on a single by Sarah Hudek.

Georgia Southern got on the board in the bottom of the second thanks to back-to-back infield RBI singles from Mekhia Freeman and Faith Shirley.

Louisiana made it a 6-2 lead in the third on an RBI single to right by Dalton, but the Eagles got that run back in the fourth on an error.

Ragin' Cajun hurler Carrie Boswell (6-0) remained unbeaten on the year by hurling 6 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and three unearned runs, walking one and striking out one to notch the win. Summer Ellyson came into the game in the seventh after Hannah Farrell's two-out double to retire the last batter and pick up her first save of the season. Handler faced four batters in taking the loss for the Eagles, giving up a hit, three walks and four runs.

Faith Shirley and Farrell each had two hits apeice for the Eagles, while Kara Gremillion went 2-for-3 with two RBI to pace Louisiana.