The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Louisiana-Lafayette Defeats Texas 5-3 in Elimination Game at NCAA Austin Regional
05.21.2011 | Softball
May 21, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - Junior Ashley Brignac tossed a complete game and junior Christi Orgeron went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the University of Louisiana-Lafayette softball team to a 5-3 victory against host Texas in an elimination game of the NCAA Austin Regional on Saturday night at Red and Charline McCombs Field.
With the win, Louisiana-Lafayette (51-10) advances to Sunday's regional championship game at 1 p.m. Central against Houston. The Ragin' Cajuns would need to defeat Houston twice on Sunday to secure the NCAA Austin Regional title, while Houston needs just one win to advance to next week's NCAA Super Regional. No. 3 national seed Texas concluded its season with an overall record of 46-10.
Junior Ashley Brignac (32-6) picked up the win in the circle for the Ragin' Cajuns, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two. Freshman Rachel Fox (18-2) took the loss for the Longhorns, working the first 2.2 innings and allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two and walking four. Sophomore All-American Blaire Luna relieved Fox in the third and pitched the final 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five and walking two.
Louisiana-Lafayette batted around and scored three runs in the third inning. Natalie Fernandez led off the frame with a single and moved to second on a bunt single by Katie Smith. After both runners moved up a base on a sac bunt by Nerissa Myers, Christi Orgeron lined an RBI single to right to bring home Fernandez. With the bases loaded after a walk to Gabriele Bridges, Sarah Draheim drew another walk to plate Smith. Paige Cormier followed with a sacrifice fly to center to bring home pinch-runner Errika Murphy and increase the lead to 3-0. Fox was replaced in the circle by Blaire Luna, who struck out pinch-hitter Jennifer Martin to get out of the inning.
The Ragin' Cajuns added a pair of runs in the fourth. Fernandez again led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt by Smith. After Myers drew a walk and Fernandez advanced to third on a wild pitch, Orgeron laced an RBI single to center to score Fernandez. Bridges followed with an RBI single to left that brought home Myers and increased the lead to 5-0.
Texas mounted a serious comeback attempt in its final at-bat. Karina Scott reached safely after being hit by a pitch. Torie Schmidt, pinch-running for Scott, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then came home on a Lexy Bennett RBI single. After Raygan Feight struck out, Taylor Hoagland followed with a two-run homer over the wall in left to pull the Horns within 5-3. Taylor Thom lined a two-out single to center and advanced to third on a single by Amy Hooks, but Brignac retired Courtney Craig on a soft liner to second to close out the game.
