LAFAYETTE, La. – The University of South Alabama softball team had the go-ahead run aboard with no outs in each of the last two innings, but was unable to push the run across, and Ciara Bryan's walk-off double in the seventh inning gave Louisiana the 1-0 victory at Lamson Park and clinched the series for the Ragin' Cajuns.

UP NEXT
- South Alabama (16-10, 6-2 SBC) will close out the series with the Ragin' Cajuns on Sunday with first pitch set for 12 p.m. at Lamson Park.

SOUTH ALABAMA at NO. 16 LOUISIANA
Date: 3/27
Place: Lamson Park (Lafayette, La.)

Final Score: Louisiana 1, South Alabama 0
Records: Louisiana (18-6, 4-1 SBC), South Alabama (16-10, 6-2 SBC)
Pitchers of Record: WP – Kandra Lamb (8-2)  LP – Allie Hughen (3-4)

GAME FACTS
- Both teams had scoring opportunities in the opening frame and both starting pitchers were able to pitch around and leave the other scoreless.
- For the second time in the series, Caroline Nichols led off the game with a single, this one to shallow center after fouling off four two-strike pitches. Nichols then moved into scoring position with her eighth stolen base of the spring. Kennedy Cronan then drew a two-out walk, but Lamb was able to get a strike out to end the inning.
- Ciara Bryan walked on four-straight to start the bottom half of the first and two batters later Julie Rawls reached on a fielder's choice to put runners at the corners with one out. Pinch runner Frankie Izard moved into scoring position with a stolen base and Jade Gortarez walked to load the bases. Hughen was able to get the out at home on a ball off the end of the bat back up the middle and then escape the base-loaded jam with a fly out to left.
- Cronan recorded the second hit of the afternoon with a one-out, infield single in the top of the fourth. Amanda Flynn, who was pinch running for Cronan, advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Lamb ended the inning and left the runner stranded after recording her 10th strikeout of the contest.
- Bailey Curry walked on four-straight out of the zone with one out the next half inning, and pinch runner Jenna Kean stole second. Two batters later, Kean swiped her second base of the inning, but she was left there, as Hughen was able to get Karly Talley to ground out into an inning-ending 1-4-3 put out and keep the game scoreless.
- Nichols led off the top of the sixth with her second hit of the day as she line a single to center on the first pitch that she saw from Lamb. Mackenzie Brasher reached safely on a Cajun error while attempting to sacrifice. With two Jag runners aboard, Abby Krzywiecki worked the count full and drew a walk to load the bases. Lamb though was able to retire the next three Jaguar batters – Strikeout, pop out on the infield and strikeout – to keep the game scoreless.
- Alissa Dalton singled to begin the bottom half of the inning and moved over to second two batters later on a ground out to third. Jenna King then reached on a bunt single and then stole second to put runners at second and third, but Cronan was able to snag a liner to short to end the inning.
- Belle Wolfenden drew a leadoff walk in the seventh. Kassidy Wilcox then singled off Cajun reliever Summer Ellyson, and Wolfenden advanced to third when UL's Mayeux dropped the ball – the first error by either club. Ellyson and Lamb – who re-entered the game – were able to retire the next three batters and leave the go-ahead run at third.
- Kendall Talley led off the Louisiana seventh with a single to left and was sacrifice to second. Hughen was able to strike out pinch hitter Carrie Boswell. With two outs, Bryan – who had been hitless – greeted Jag reliever with a double to left, scoring Talley and giving UL the 1-0 victory.

NOTES
- The 1-0 decision marked the 12th game in the series decided by one run, and both games this weekend have been decided by that same score.
- With her leadoff single, Nichols has now had at least one hit in each of her last three outings. The two-out walk in the top of the first also extended Cronan's reached-base-safely streak to five games.
- Nichols also now has four multi-hit games this season after two-hit performance.
- Hughen scattered four hits and four walks in her six-and-two-thirds innings of work.
- The 12 strikeouts by UL's Lamb was a new career high for the sophomore. Of her first 12 outs, 10 came via the strikeout.
- South had the tying run at third with no outs in both the sixth and seventh innings and was unable to push the run across.
- The walk-off hit by UL's Bryan extended her hit streak to 17 games.
- The two teams left a combined 15 runners on base – South Alabama (8) and Louisiana (7).
- The Jags were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, while the Cajuns were 2-for-9 in those situations.

THEY SAID IT...
Head coach Becky Clark
- On what to take from the game:
"My hope is we will learn a lot about ourselves from this game and use this to push us forward. I feel like we are on the brink of breaking through as a team and look forward to getting back on the field 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—