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Friday, May 9, 2003
FIU can't get bats going
in loss to No. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette
 rooke
Mitchell struck out a career-best sixteen batters Friday in throwing
a one-hit shutout, leading top-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette to
a 6-0 victory over No. 2 seed Florida International in the winner's
bracket of the Sun Belt Conference Softball Tournament at WKU
Softball Field.
The Ragin' Cajuns (42-8), who have never lost in four years
at the event, advance to Saturday's 1:30 p.m. (CDT) championship
game. FIU (36-24) will play again at 6:30 p.m. tonight against
the winner of the contest between No. 3 seed Middle Tennessee
and fourth-seeded Western Kentucky.
"The key in tournament play is to stay in the winner's
bracket," Cajun head coach Stefni Lotief said. "Teams
are here fighting for places in regionals and conference championships,
and seasons are on the line. Our kids felt the moment today,
responding to the challenge, especially Brooke."
Mitchell (21-6) allowed just a fourth-inning single to Jennifer
Owens. FIU loaded the bases in the fifth with a walk to Marleah
Stapf, and a pair of Cajun errors with Lindsay Tippings and Amber
Gill at the plate. But, Mitchell fanned both Meagan Dontrich
and Stephanie Wolter to get out of the jam.
"Brooke Mitchell pitched a great game, striking out 16
- seven looking - and allowing just one hit," said Golden
Panther head coach Kim Gwydir. "We didn't play well defensively,
we didn't pitch well and we weren't ready to swing. But she came
out ready and deserves credit for that."
Lauren Castle reached on a one-out single and scored one better
later when Summar Lapeyrouse doubled to the wall in center field
as the Ragin' Cajuns took a 1-0 lead. Crystal George followed
with a single up the middle, but Nicole Dubovik threw out Lapeyrouse
at the plate to prevent another ULL run and end the inning.
The Ragin' Cajuns added to their advantage in the third, as
Becky McMurtry singled with one out and scored three batters
later when Brittany Bryant singled for ULL's third baserunner
of the inning. Joy Webre homered to lead off the bottom half
of the fifth inning to push the ULL advantage to 3-0, and the
Ragin' Cajuns added three sixth-inning runs on a hit, two walks
and a
Golden Panther error.
Lapeyrouse and George each collected a pair of hits, while
Bryant accounted for two of ULL's four RBI.
Kendra Laminack (11-11) took the loss, allowing five runs
(two earned) on six hits and six walks in 4.2 innings. She struck
out eight. |