Lafayette, La. – The No. 8 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (46-4, 24-0) overcame a two-run deficit to rally past the Coastal Carolina softball team (33-18, 11-13 Sun Belt) to pick up a 3-2 home win in Sunday's series finale at Lamson Park.
With two outs in the top of the first, junior
Kassidy Smith took Louisiana senior starter Alison Deville's seventh pitch of the at-bat over the left field fence for her 14th home run of the season to give Coastal their first lead of the weekend at 1-0.
Coastal freshman
Adrienne Visintine started a second-inning rally as she beat out an infield single to the Louisiana first baseman Kourtney Gremillion. The Chanticleers would go on to extend their lead to 2-0 two batters later as Visintine would score on a sacrifice bunt by senior
Chelsea D'Avilar.
In the bottom of the second, Cajun center fielder Raina O'Neal picked up an RBI with her eighth double of the season as it brought Alissa Dalton in to make it a 2-1 game in favor of the Chants.
Two batters later, Louisiana tied it as Gremillion singled down the left field line to score O'Neal from third for her 30th run batted in of the season.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Cajuns' O'Neal came through with her second hit of the game with an infield single to Chanticleer second baseman
Abbey Montoya. Montoya was able to knock it down but the freshman fumbled the ball past senior
Alexis Alvino at second base as it allowed Alissa Dalton to come around to score from second base to give Louisiana a 3-2 lead.
Junior Summer Ellyson didn't start the game for the Ragin' Cajuns on senior day but did come into the game to pitch the final 5.2 innings. Ellyson pitched perfect softball with five strikeouts and improved her record to 33-4.
Beasley-Polko took the loss as she went the distance and dropped to 21-12 on the season. The Leonardtown, Md., native allowed three runs, two earned on seven hits on the day.
O'Neal led Louisiana with two hits on the day as she picked up a double, single and an RBI.
Coastal Carolina will wrap up the regular season next weekend as the Chants will host Appalachian State. The series will begin on Thursday, May 2, with first pitch is set for 4 p.m. ET.
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSB(twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
