Box Score Game Highlights
Postgame Press Conference
LAFAYETTE, La. – No. 12 Louisiana-Lafayette softball's Shelbi Redfearn delivered a three-run homer in the top of the sixth to give the Ragin' Cajuns a 4-1 win in the championship game of the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Saturday at Lamson Park in Lafayette, La., disallowing University of South Alabama its third-consecutive tournament crown.
The teams traded a run apiece in the first frame, and USA (40-12) starter Farish Beard retired 11 straight ULL (44-8-1) batters until the sixth, but the Ragin' Cajuns reeled off back-to-back singles to set Redfearn up, and the left fielder went over left center to give the tournament hosts a lead they would not relinquish.
Second-seed USA defeated Louisiana-Lafayette, 4-2, in eight innings just a day before to earn a spot in the championship game. The one-loss, top-seeded Ragin' Cajuns were forced to defeat one-loss and six-seeded Louisiana-Monroe for a berth to the final.
The Jaguars now await their NCAA postseason fate, which will be revealed on Sunday at 9 p.m. CST on ESPNU. The USA softball team will host a viewing party at the Heroes off Old Shell Road in Mobile on Sunday from 8-10 p.m. Fans, friends and family are encouraged to attend.
Louisiana-Lafayette outhit the Jaguars, 7-6, on Saturday. Both teams committed an error apiece and left six runners stranded.
ULL, the designated visitor in Saturday's contest, went up, 1-0, in the top of the first inning on Hayley Hayden's solo shot to center, but the Jaguars quickly answered in the bottom half on back-to-back, two-out singles. Blair Johnson, Friday's hero, supplied the first and then scored on Chloe Rathburn's, which immediately followed.
Kaitlyn Griffith appeared to scratch a run across in the bottom of the sixth on Amanda Minahan's fly out to right field, but the umpires concluded that Griffith left third before the catch was made and a double play ended the Jaguar scoring chance.
Beard fell to 21-6 with the loss after giving up four runs (all earned) on six hits, while striking out five to two walks. Hannah Campbell threw two shutout relief innings, striking out one and giving up a single hit.
SBC Pitcher of the Year Christina Hamilton improved to 24-2 with the win after giving up one run (earned) on six hits and striking out one to one walk.
Campbell, Emily Messer and Amanda Minahan were named to the 2014 SBC All-Tournament Team.
Campbell was 1-0 with the win over ULL. She gave up only two runs (one earned) on 13 hits, while striking out four to one walk. Messer was 6-for-9 with two RBI and three runs scored. She recorded .667 slugging and on-base percentages. Minahan was 4-for-7 with two RBI and two runs scored, including a two-run bomb that briefly put USA ahead versus ULL on Friday. The freshman slugged over one-thousand and recorded a .625 on-base percentage.
2014 Sun Belt Conference Softball All-Tournament TeamMost Outstanding Player – Lexie Elkins, UL Lafayette
Christina Hamilton, UL Lafayette
Shelbi Redfearn, UL Lafayette
Samantha Walsh, UL Lafayette
Samantha Hamby, UL Monroe
Miyuki Navarrette, UL Monroe
Hannah Campbell, South Alabama
Emily Messer, South Alabama
Amanda Minahan, South AlabamaOlivia Watkins, WKU
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic ents can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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