LAFAYETTE, La. – In a pitchers' duel, Louisiana manufactured an unearned run in the fifth inning, as the University of South Alabama softball team dropped game one of the Sun Belt series, 1-0 to the Ragin' Cajuns Friday night at Lamson Park.

UP NEXT
- South Alabama (16-9, 6-1 SBC) will return to action for game two of the Sun Belt series with Louisiana on Saturday with first pitch set for 2 p.m.

SOUTH ALABAMA vs. NO. 16 LOUISIANA
Date: 3/26
Place: Lamson Park (Lafayette, La.)

Final Score: Louisiana 1, South Alabama 0
Records: Louisiana (17-6, 3-1 SBC)
Pitchers of Record: WP – Summer Ellyson (6-4)  LP – Olivia Lackie (11-4)

GAME FACTS
- Caroline Nichols led the game off with an infield single, and she moved into scoring position with her seventh stolen base of the spring. After trailing 0-2 in the count, Kennedy Cronan battled back to work the count full and on the 10th pitch of the at-bat walked to put two runners on, but Ellyson was able to get a ground out to third to end the inning and leave the Jag runners stranded.
- Kamdyn Kvistad ended a streak of 10-straight batters retired by Ellyson as the senior catcher reached on a Louisiana error to start the fifth, but the Ragin' Cajuns turned a double play to end the inning.
- Louisiana went out in front with an unearned run in the fifth. After a leadoff walk was issued to Kaitlyn Alderink, the Cajun third baseman stole second and moved up to third on an errant throw. UL then took a 1-0 lead as Melissa Mayeux laid down a squeeze bunt that Alderink was able to beat the throw home.
- Meredith Keel led off the top of the sixth with a single back up the middle and then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, but Ellyson struck out the next two Jaguar batters to leave her stranded.
- Ciara Bryan extended her hit streak to 16 games with a leadoff single to start the bottom of the sixth for Louisiana. Bryan stole second to move into scoring position, and she was sacrificed to third with one out in the inning.
- South was able to get the tying run aboard in the top of the seventh as Shelby Sloan was hit by a pitch with one out, but Ellyson retired the next two batters to clinch the win for UL.

NOTES
- Friday's game marked the 46th in the all-time series and the 21st on the Ragin' Cajuns' home field.
- Thee Jaguars saw their hit streaks come to an end on Friday evening: Abby Krzywiecki (11), Belle Wolfenden (4) and Sloan (4).
- Sloan did extend her reached base safely streak to five games as she was hit by a pitch in the seventh.
- With her sixth-inning single, Meredith Keel extended her four-game hit streak.
- The three strikeouts posted by Lackie were the fewest in a start since the season opener at Georgia when she had one.
- The complete game was the eighth of the season for the freshman.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
- On the difference in the one-run game:
"The difference tonight was who made the most of their opportunity. We had our chances but weren't able to push anything across. You have to dig in and get it done when it counts in all phases and that will be the adjustment tomorrow."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear.  All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub.

—USA—