5 Things You May Have Missed in College Softball Saturday
Ragin Offense
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns offense was steaming on Saturday. The Cajuns produced double-digit totals in runs and hits in both games of Saturday’s Sun Belt Conference doubleheader with Georgia Southern at Eagle Field. The Cajuns opened the day with a 15-0 (5 inn.) win, followed by a 10-2 (6 inn.) securing the series in game two. Louisiana (25-5, 8-0 Sun Belt) piled up 13 hits in reaching 15 runs in the opener. In game two of the day, the Ragin’ Cajuns added 10 more runs and 11 hits to the day’s ledger. Saturday’s sweep moved the Ragin’ Cajuns to 5-0 on their current road trip which ends on Sunday with the series finale against the Eagles at 12 pm CT.
‘Oh my’ Illini
The Illinois softball team earned a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Gophers in a dramatic comeback on Saturday afternoon snapping their 15 game losing streak. The Gophers (29-3, 4-1) got out to another quick start with a two-run home run from Kendyl Lindaman in the top of the first inning, before making it 3-0 with a RBI single to left field in the top of the fifth. The Illini answered back in the bottom of the frame and tacked on two more runs following multiple Gopher defensive errors. In the bottom of the seventh, it was Illini junior Annie Fleming who drove in the game-winning run with a RBI double to left field to secure the walk-off win. The rubber match will take place on Sunday at 12 pm CT.
Kentucky and Ole Miss
After a Breanne Ray two-out RBI single up the middle in the top of the sixth inning, and a complete-game shutout from pitcher Meagan Prince, the Kentucky softball team evened the series with a 1-0 win at Ole Miss on Saturday. The complete game was Prince’s seventh of the season and her fourth complete-game shutout of the season. With Saturday’s result, Kentucky improves to 24-7 overall and moves back to two games above .500 in the Southeastern Conference with a 5-3 league record. Ole Miss drops to 23-11 overall and 1-7 in SEC play. The rubber match of the three-game series will take place on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET and shown live on the SEC Network, ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
Record Day for JMU
The James Madison’s offense tied the program’s single-game record for home runs on Saturday in the series opener against College of Charleston. Slugging five home runs, the Dukes (29-5, 3-2 CAA) run-ruled Charleston 16-6 through five innings to open the series. Junior pitcher Megan Good led JMU at the plate going 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs over Saturday’s slate. Good also earned the victory over the Cougars in the circle, improving to 20-1 on the season. The right-hander tossed four innings allowing three runs off four hits and a walk while striking out three. The Cougars (20-14, 3-2 CAA) answered back in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader holding the Dukes to four hits in a 6-1 victory to even the series. The series will be decided on Sunday, April 2nd with the first pitch slated for 1 pm.
Florida Gators
The University of Florida softball team clinched the series over Arkansas with an 8-0 victory in five innings during game two Saturday, April 1. The Gators plated eight runs on seven hits while the team only left one runner stranded on the day. The offense was led by Kayli Kvistad, a 2016 second team NFCA All-American, finished the day going 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBIs. Jaime Hoover’s production continued to rise as she drove in her 35th RBI of the season. Gator pitcher Delanie Gourley (12-2) continued her dominance in the circle. The senior struck out six Arkansas batter and issued no free passes on just 56 total pitches, 41 of which went for strikes.
