LAFAYETTE, La. – No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette used a pair of big innings to get past Southeastern Louisiana, 13-5, in non-conference softball action Tuesday evening at Lamson Park.
 
Tuesday's contest marked the first meeting between the Lady Lions (19-20) and the host Ragin' Cajuns (30-5) since the 2004 season. UL Lafayette, which came into the game leading Division I in runs scored and home runs, touched up five Southeastern pitchers for nine hits on the way to the run-rule victory.
 
Sophomore shortstop Jaquelyn Ramon led Southeastern at the plate going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Junior outfielder Kalyn Watts, junior outfielder Kinsey Nichols, junior infielder Mahalia Gibson and junior outfielder Maddie Edmonston each had one hits apiece for the Lady Lions.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. The nation's home run leader, DJ Sanders staked UL Lafayette to a lead with a grand slam, then two more runs came in on a SLU throwing error to put the Lady Lions in a 6-0 hole.
 
The Lady Lions took advantage of a pair of errors by Sanders to get on the board in the top of the second inning. Freshman infielder Ali McCoy reached on a missed throw by Sanders, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored when Sanders booted a ground ball by junior infielder Alli Daigle to cut the Ragin' Cajun lead to 6-1.
 
The Ragin' Cajuns padded their lead in the bottom of the third inning. UL Lafayette sent 11 to the plate in a seven-run frame to take a commanding 13-1 advantage.
 
SLU got a run back in the top of the fourth inning. Gibson singled and later scored on a throwing error by Kara Gremillion to cut the lead to 13-2.
 
Southeastern threatened to extend the game in the top of the fifth inning with a three-run frame. A two-run double by Ramon plated the inning's first two runs, then UL Lafayette reliever Summer Ellyson hit freshman designated player Mattie Ort with the bases loaded to cut the final margin to 13-5. Ellyson ensured the game would go no further, retiring McCoy and Daigle to close out the victory.
 
Southeastern will return home to host Northwestern State for a three-game Southland Conference series at North Oak Park. The series opens with a 5 p.m. contest on Friday and continues on Saturday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
 
LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream (no audio) at www.LionSports.net/watch.