LAFAYETTE, La. - No. 16-ranked Louisiana completed a Sun Belt Conference series sweep of visiting Georgia Southern on Monday by taking a doubleheader from the Eagles by scores of 6-0 and 7-3.
The Ragin' Cajuns improved to 22-6 overall and 8-1 in Sun Belt play with the wins, while Georgia Southern fell to 7-14 overall and 0-5 in the league. The Eagles will return to Sun Belt play on Friday, traveling to Sun Belt-leading Troy for a series against the Trojans that begins with a single game at 6 p.m.
"It's still very early in the conference season," Georgia Southern Head Coach Kim Dean said. "We're going to continue to use these games to better ourselves, and try and establish a lineup that can be consistent. We do feel like we're creating some momentum and taking steps in the right direction. These wins are not far off, we just need to clear up a few things on our end. While we do have a quick turnaround with our trip to Troy, I still believe we are taking positive steps forward."
GAME ONE: Louisiana 6, Georgia Southern 0
Louisiana pitchers Summer Ellyson and Casey Dixon combined on a one-hit shutout, and the Ragin' Cajuns used three first-inning runs to cruise to a game-one win over the Eagles.
Kendall Talley, Jade Gortarez and Melissa Mayeux each had RBI singles in the first inning for Louisiana. The Ragin' Cajuns added a pair of runs in the fifth, then capped the scoring with an RBI single by Ciara Bryan in the sixth. Louisiana stole nine bases in the contest.
Allyssah Mullis had the Eagles' lone hit with her single in the second
Ellyson (7-4) notched the win, giving up just the one hit in 5 2/3 innings of work, walking one while striking out five. Kyleigh Richardson (2-3) took the loss for the Eagles in the circle, giving up nine hits and six runs - five earned - in six innings of work, walking one while striking out two
GAME TWO: Louisiana 7, Georgia Southern 3
The Ragin' Cajuns used a five-run fourth inning to overcome an early deficit and claim the win.
Georgia Southern plated two in the top of the second inning on an RBI double by Mullis, while Alia Booth scored on the same play thanks to an error.
The score remained that way until the fourth, when Louisiana exploded for five runs, capped by an Alissa Dalton two-run single that gave the Ragin' Cajuns a 5-2 lead.
Mekhia Freeman led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run, her first of the season, to bring the Eagles back to within two. But Louisiana's Ciara Bryan launched a two-run shot in the sixth for the final margin.
Kandra Lamb (11-2) picked up the win in relief for Louisiana, giving up four hits and one run in 4 1/3 innings of work, striking out five. Anna Feil (0-4) took the loss for the Eagles, giving up five hits and four runs in 3 1/3 innings of work, walking three and striking out one.
Freeman, Mullis and Olivia Creamer each had two hits for the Eagles in game two.
