UL Softball Smashes Texas, 10-1, Advance To Super Regionals

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun softball team defeated the Texas Longhorns, 10-1, in the championship game of the Lafayette, La. NCAA Softball Regional on Sunday afternoon at Lamson Park, sending them to their third-consecutive Super Regional appearance.

The victory, which gave Louisiana their 39th win in their last 42 games, also sends UL to their fourth Super Regional in the last five years, as well as their fifth in the last seven seasons.

The Cajuns jumped on top in the top half of the second inning, when Gabby Felps, pinch-hitting for slapper Natalie Fernandez, delivered a clutch two-out single, just off the glove of Texas second baseman Stephanie Ceo, scoring pinch runner Kassidy Zeringue and Shelbi Refearn, giving them a 2-0 lead.

Louisiana extended their lead in the top half of the third, when Redfearn blasted a two-run home run, scoring Shellie Landry in front of her, to make the score 4-0.

Gabby Smith got the Longhorns on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the fourth, courtesy of a solo home run, to trim the Louisiana lead to 4-1.

That was as close as Texas would get, however, as UL catcher Lexie Elkins crushed a solo home run in fifth inning, to make it 5-1, before nailing another solo homer in the top half of the seventh inning, her 20th of the year, to extend the lead to 6-1.

The Cajuns still weren't done, however, as Redfearn doubled down the left-field line, driving home her third run of the game, before Kelsey Vincent hammered a three-run homer to wrap-up the scoring.

Redfearn led the way for Louisiana, offensively, going 3-for-3, with a double, a home run, three runs scored, and three runs batted in, while Elkins had two hits, including two homers, and Landry and Vincent collected two hits apiece, as the Cajuns outhit the Longhorns, 12-4.

Christina Hamilton was the winning pitcher for Louisiana, tossing a complete game four-hitter, allowing only one run, while walking five and striking out five.

Hamilton, who picked up her 24th win in her last 25 decisions, improved to 27-2 on the season.

Tiarra Davis, who lasted only 2.1 innings as the starter for Texas, fell to 19-14 with the loss.

With the win, the Cajuns improved to 47-8-1 on the year, while the Longhorns end their season with a record of 35-23.

View the game box score.

View more information from the Lafayette, La. NCAA Softball Regional here.

View the complete NCAA Softball Tournament bracket here.

Louisiana will now host a Super Regional, for the for time in program history, as they entertain the Arizona Wildcats in a best-of-three game series that will begin on Friday at 8 pm. The second game is slated for Saturday at 2 pm.