LAFAYETTE, La. | Louisiana (23-22, 9-9 SBC) broke a scoreless tie with a three-run fifth and held on for a 3-0 victory Saturday afternoon to complete the series sweep over South Alabama at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.

South Alabama (17-27, 6-11 SBC) had its opportunities in the contest, leaving eight runners on base, and brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh.

How It Happened
•     The Jaguars had a couple opportunities to jump out in front early on. South had first three reach to start the game – two walks and a hit by pitch, but the Jags left a pair on after a caught stealing and a pair of pop outs on the infield.
•     Caitlyn Gavin worked the count full and drew a two-out walk in the top of the second – the third issued by UL pitching. Gavin then moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Mallory Wheeler recorded a strikeout to end the threat.
•     Maddie Hayden lined a single back up the middle – the first hit by either squad – to begin the UL fourth. Hayden then advanced into scoring position on a ground out to third, but Olivia Cato (4-4) was able to hold the Cajuns off the scoreboard with a pop out to short and then a ground out to second.
•     The Jaguars had their third scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth. Ansleigh Smith drew a leadoff walk after a nine-pitch at-bat, and then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Gavin. Sophia Mendoza then put runners at the corners with a pinch-hit single through the left side of the infield – the first hit of the afternoon for South Alabama. Brooklynn Bockhaus, who re-entered for Mendoza moved up a base on a fly out and Stagner was then intentionally walked to load the bases, but after a pitching change, UL second baseman Gabbie Stuttes made a diving stop on a hard-hit liner to rob Branstetter and end the inning.
•     Kayla Falterman singled back up the middle to start the bottom half of the inning and Erin Ardoin reached on a bunt single to put a pair on. Two batters later with runners at second and third and one away in the inning, Louisiana broke the scoreless tie with a pair of runs as Falterman scored on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt and Ardoin then scored when she came home on an attempt to get the runner at second (UL, 2-0). The Ragin' Cajuns then added another run on a pinch-hit, RBI double to left center by Laney Creduer (UL, 3-0).
•     Smith reached for the second time with a single back up the middle to begin the Jaguar seventh. With two outs in the inning, Lively drew her second walk of the game to bring up the tying run, but Tyra Clary (5-4) was able to get a fly out to right to end the game.

Postgame Notes
•    South Alabama left eight runners on base as they were 1-for-9 with runners on and 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position
•    Lively has had a hit or a walk in seven of her last eight and 27 of her last 32 outings, and reached base safely in 36 of her 44 games this spring
•    With the leadoff walk to begin the game, Lively has reached base in her first plate appearance 19 times this spring, and extended her career-best reached base safely streak to 12 games
•    Stagner has now reached base in 27 of her last 32 and all but five of her 41 games this season
•    Branstetter was hit for the 19th time in her career in the top of the first, moving the sophomore into a tie for sixth place all-time in the category at South with Britany Campbell (2010-13) and Haley Hopkins (2009-12)
•    Branstetter has reached base safely in each of her last seven and 19 of her last 21 games
•    With her walk, Gavin has reached base safely in 11 of her last 14 games

Up Next
•    South Alabama will return home to host Auburn at Jaguar Field on Wednesday at 6 p.m. 

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