LAFAYETTE, La. – Gabby Felps hit a pinch-hit go-ahead double in the top of the seventh inning to give the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns a 6-5 lead, but Purdue scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to force a 7-7 tie on the final day of the Louisiana Classic on Sunday at Lamson Park.
The tie, the first in Ragin’ Cajuns softball history, was forced by a predetermined stoppage time due to Purdue’s travel arrangements.
Felps’ pinch hit, with two outs and two runners on base, helped Louisiana (2-2-1) overcome a 5-4 deficit as she drove in pinch-runners Linzey Cifreo and Meagan Thomas. Felps would score on the following pitch with an RBI single by Corin Voinché, giving the Cajuns a 7-5 lead.
The Boilermakers (1-2-1) took advantage of being the home team, plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh before Cajuns’ relief pitcher Alex Stewart came in with a runner on second and closed the door, sending the game to extra innings.
Stewart held the Boilermakers off the board in the eighth as well, matching the efforts of Purdue’s Lilly Fecho, forcing the game to end in a tie.
The Cajuns took a 2-0 lead in the third inning with an RBI single by Lexie Elkins and a sacrifice fly by Sara Corbello.
The Boilermakers tied it up in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run by Mary Gooding and an RBI single by Danielle Fletcher before Elkins would break the 2-2 tie for the Cajuns in the fourth leading with an RBI single and her ninth RBI of the weekend.
Two innings later, Purdue struck again to take a 4-3 lead. Amanda Burkhardt came up to bat with two runners on and sent the ball over Haley Hayden’s head in left field and off the fence. The hit drove in the first two runs and Burkhardt came around to score on an errant throw home.
That brought the Cajuns up with their backs against the wall in the top of the seventh. With two outs and one runner on base, Corbello drew a walk leading to a Kelsey Vincent RBI single to cut the deficit to one, and put two on for Felps.
Christina Hamilton started the game for the Cajuns, tossing the first 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits before being relieved by freshman Macey Smith in the third.
Elkins, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, earned tournament MVP honors after batting .474 (9-for-19), with three home runs and nine RBI.
The Cajuns will return to the field on Wednesday when they take on Louisiana Tech in Ruston for a single game at 6 p.m. The Cajuns will return to Lamson Park beginning Friday for the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational. Louisiana will open the six-team field against Valparaiso on Friday at 3 p.m.
The Cajuns will also take on Michigan for a pair of games in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Super Regional. The first game is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, and the second on Saturday at 1.
All-Tournament Team
Position Players
Kristen Brown – North Carolina
Ashley Burkhardt – Purdue
Lexie Elkins – Louisiana
Natalie Fernandez – Louisiana
Julia Hunter – Northern Iowa
Maia Monchek – Purdue
Chelsea Ross – Northern Iowa
Erin Shireman – Texas
Taylor Thom – Texas
Top Pitcher
Jamie Fisher – Northern Iowa
Most Valuable Player
Lexie Elkins – Louisiana
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