Feb. 20, 2005
LAFAYETTE, La. - After managing just three runs in the last 15 innings, the No. 5 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns found their bats, much to the dismay of the Boilermaker softball team. UL dealt Purdue a 15-5 loss to take the Louisiana Classic tournament title, despite a fifth-inning charge led by DaQueta Johnson's second-career grand slam.
The Ragin' Cajuns loaded the bases to start the game as Jill Robertson and Danyele Gomez singled, then Brittany Bryant followed with a walk. Joy Webre scored two and moved Bryant to second with a single to center field. Lacey Bertucci filled the bases once again with another walk. Sophomore Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) entered the game to try to get the Boilermakers out of the jam. A wild pitch turned out to be a blessing in disguise as Purdue caught Bryant trying to score with a run down. The next two batters grounded out to prevent any further damage.
The Boilermakers got one run back in the bottom of the first on a hit and an error. Senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) reached on a fielding error by the third baseman to kick off the inning for Purdue. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) sent a hit deep into left center for a single, scoring Messer from first. Sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) walked to put two on, but a pop-up and a ground ball left them stranded.
Purdue put two on again in the second as redshirt junior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.) reached on a throwing error by the UL third baseman. Senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) pushed pinch runner Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) to second as she singled to short. A pop-up and ground ball again stopped the Boilermakers from converting.
UL added five runs in the third on five hits. Bryant started things off with a single up the middle, then moved to second on a Bertucci walk. Ashley Evans hit into a fielder's choice, which saw Bryant out at third for the inning's second out. Tara Hamilton then singled into left center to load the bases for Crystal George, who delivered with a triple to the right field wall. A wild pitch then scored George from third. Tiffany Hebert walked, then Robertson hit a strong single back at pitcher Brooke Baker. Gomez followed with a single up the middle to drive in Hebert from second. A ground ball to short left two runners stranded.
The Cajun scoring continued in the fourth inning as Bertucci and Evans walked, then George offered more two-out heroics with another triple into the right field corner. Hebert walked, then a Robertson single scored George and pushed Hebert to third. Gomez then singled just inside the left field line to drive in Hebert and make it 11-1 Cajuns. A pop-up ended the inning.
Louisiana-Lafayette scored another run in the top of the fifth on a trio of hits all by pinch hitters. Desi Chatman hit a lead-off double into right center, then Leslie Pierce singled through the right side. Deserea Griffin followed with a one-out single up the middle to score Chatman. Kelsey Cammarata drew a walk, prompting Purdue to reenter Diana LaRiva on the mound in place of freshman Melissa Burns. Codi Runyan walked in a run bringing up pinch hitter Hillary Guidry, who singled up the first baseline, scoring two. A strikeout and a fly ball to short center field finally ended the stanza.
The Boilermakers did not lay down in the fifth, instead mounting a come-back effort. Messer doubled that hopped over third base and straight up the line. Falzon took advantage of a fielding error by the pitcher to get on base and move Messer to third. Senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) walked to juice the bases for Johnson, who delivered with the second grand slam of her career. A pair of strikeouts cut the rally short and sealed the UL win.
Messer, Falzon, Johnson and Absher accounted for Purdue's four hits.
Brooke Mitchell (9-1) earned the win, allowing just one run in three innings of work. LaRiva was charged with the loss after allowing two runs in the opening stanza.
The Boilermakers will have a few days to recuperate before taking on Bradley in the opening game of the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Friday, Feb. 25.