Sunday, April 28, 2002

ouisiana-Lafayette defeats FIU, 8-0 and 2-1 to sweep the four-game series in Lafayette, LA.

In game two, with two outs in the top of the seventh, UL Lafayette leading 2-1 and Florida International threatening with runners on the corners, Lady Cajuns pitcher Melissa Coronado got Jennifer Owens to ground out to shortstop for the final out.

Coronado picked up the save in relief of starter Brooke Mitchell as Louisiana-Lafayette (44-11, 15-1 Sun Belt) won game two 2-1, completing the four-game series sweep of the Golden Panthers (35-30, 6-6).

Mitchell (17-5), who picked up three wins this weekend against the Golden Panthers, ran into trouble in the seventh. Kelly Nicosia reached on an infield single with two outs. Lesley Gillen then followed with a single through the right side of the infield to advance Nicosia to third.

Kristen Perry brought home Nicosia with a single to left field and advanced to second on the throw to the plate, placing the go-ahead-run in scoring position. That’s when Lady Cajuns head coach Stefni Lotief
brought in Coronado.

Mitchell earned the win for the Lady Cajuns while Leah Barnes took the loss for the Golden Panthers.

In game one, Coronado got a win on senior day behind an offensive attack that pounded out 12 hits en route to the 8-0, mercy-rule win in six innings.

Both McMurtry and Jill Robertson drove in three runs as the Lady Cajuns notched their second shutout win this weekend.

Louisiana-Lafayette broke the game open in the third with three runs on three hits.

The Lady Cajuns would tack on four more over the next three innings, including McMurtry’s game-ending single to right center that scored Crystal George to provide the eight-run margin for the mercy rule.

The Golden Panthers will next play Florida Atlantic on Wednesday at Boca Raton, FL.