By: Malcolm Shields / Staff Writer
The Golden Panthers were unable to win two games in a row against Louisiana-Lafayette on the road as FIU lost the final game in their three-game series to the Ragin’ Cajuns on April 7 by a score of 2-1. Junior Ashley McClain recorded her seventh home run on the season in the loss.
Nerissa Myers led off the bottom of the first inning for the Ragin’ Cajuns by collecting a walk off of Golden Panthers starting pitcher McClain. On the first pitch to Gabriele Bridges, she knocked a double to left center field to give No. 19 Louisiana-Lafayette a 1-0 lead.
The Golden Panthers had an opportunity to counter in the top of the second inning when Brie Rojas led off the inning with her first triple of the season down the right field line. Ragin’ Cajun starting pitcher Ashley Brignac was able to lock in and recorded three consecutive outs by FIU’s five, six, and seven hitters to leave Rojas stranded at third base.
The Golden Panthers (22-18, 8-4 SBC) struggled most of the game at the plate trying to string together consecutive hits against Louisiana-Lafayette. Between the third through fifth innings, the Golden Panthers were only able to secure two base runners.
In the fourth inning, FIU went down in order as McClain, Rojas and Kayla Burri swung at the first pitch delivered to them to register a three pitch inning for Brignac.
McClain matched Brignac pitch-for-pitch through the middle innings as well. McClain faced four batters in the second and third innings and retired the Ragin’ Cajuns in order in the fourth on ten pitches.
The Ragin’ Cajuns (29-6, 7-2 SBC) were able to scratch out a run in the bottom of the fifth inning by a combination of hits and Golden Panther miscues. A bunt single by Katie Smith began the inning and was followed by a fielding error by Burri and a single by Myers loaded the bases for Louisiana-Lafayette with no outs.
McClain was replaced by Mariah Dawson in the pitching circle and moved to right field.
On a 3-2 pitch, Bridges, who went 1-for-1 in the contest, drew her second walk of the game to force in the second run of the game from third base to give the Ragin’ Cajuns a 2-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, Dawson struck out three consecutive hitters to get the Golden Panthers out of a jam while only surrendering one run.
In the sixth inning, the Golden Panthers recorded two quick outs by Jessy Alfonso and Beth Peller. On the first pitch, McClain, who went 1-for-3, hit a home run over the right center field wall to cut the Golden Panther deficit to 2-1.
In the top of the seventh, Dawson retired the Ragin’ Cajuns in order.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Golden Panthers were unable to start a rally as Brignac retired FIU in order to end the game. Brignac recorded her sixteenth win on the season for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
McClain’s record dropped to 5-4 on the season for the Golden Panthers.
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