MONROE (Press Release) – Another dazzling performance by Summer Ellyson was the highlight of the series-opening contest between No. 8 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball and ULM on Thursday.
One game removed from tossing perfect softball in a relief appearance vs. Coastal Carolina, Ellyson fashioned a one-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts as Louisiana (47-4, 25-0 Sun Belt) defeated ULM 3-0.
The offense produced a season-high five doubles, with the extra bagger serving as the catalyst for the run production. Keeli Milligan’s double led to the game’s first run in the third inning, Lexie Comeaux and Kara Gremillion doubled back-to-back for a two-out tally in the fourth inning and Alissa Dalton provided an insurance run with her double in the seventh.
The lone threat from the Warhawks (11-40, 7-17 Sun Belt) came in a bases-loaded situation in the sixth inning. Ellyson recorded a strikeout to preserve the shutout, and in the process picked up her 300th strikeout of the season reaching the mark for the first time in her career.
Louisiana extended its win streak to 24 games, kept its Sun Belt mark unblemished and collected its 18th consecutive road win.
LEADING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
Gremillion and Julie Rawls each tallied two hits in leading Louisiana to nine in the contest.
Jolie Readeaux drew a leadoff walk in the third inning to set the stage for the tiebreaking run after Milligan’s double.
The two-out doubles from Comeaux and Gremillion in the fourth inning were part of a 6-for-12 effort by the Ragin’ Cajuns in two-out situations.
The lone hit surrendered by Ellyson (34-4, 0.98 ERA) was an infield single in the sixth inning. She tallied multiple strikeouts in all but one inning, and struck out the side in three of the final four frames.
