LAFAYETTE, La. – No. 10 UL Lafayette broke open a pitcher's duel with a five-run fifth inning on the way to a 7-1 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in non-conference softball action Wednesday evening at Lamson Park.
 
The Lady Lions (22-16) were limited to five hits by the Ragin' Cajun pitching duo of Carrie Boswell (8-0) and Alison Deville. UL Lafayette (34-4) extended its winning streak to 11 games with Wednesday's win.
 
Jaquelyn Ramon led SLU with two hits and her Division I-leading 53^rd stolen base of the season. Ella Manzer singled home Ramon for the Lady Lions' lone run, while Caroline Manzer and Rebecca Skains also had hits for Southeastern.
 
Alley McDonald (8-5) was excellent in the circle for Southeastern through the first four innings, but the Ragin' Cajuns got hot with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. McDonald, Karlee Kraft and Sophie Hannabas combined to hold UL Lafayette – which came in to the game ranked seventh nationally with a .343 batting average – to six hits.
 
McDonald and Boswell matched zeroes until the bottom of the third inning. Alyssa Dalton ripped a single off of McDonald then scored when Julie Rawls ripped a double to centerfield to give the Cajuns a 1-0 lead.
 
After McDonald retired the first two batters of the bottom of the fifth inning before the Ragin' Cajuns broke the game open. Dalton started the rally with a triple off the right field fence, then stole home for the frame's first run. Sarah Hudek doubled in a run, then Kourtney Gremillion staked UL Lafayette to a 6-0 lead with a three-run double.
 
SLU got on the board in the sixth inning. Ramon beat out an infield single, moved to second on a Mima Doucet groundout, stole third and scored when Ella Manzer hit a sharp single through the left side. Manzer's single chased Boswell from the game, but Deville was able to retire Kraft and Ali McCoy on consecutive deep fly outs to right field to keep the lead at 6-1.
 
UL Lafayette got the run back in the bottom of the sixth inning without the benefit of a hit. Keeli Milligan walked, stole second and third, then beat the throw home when Dalton reached on a fielder's choice. Devillle sat SLU down in order in the seventh to maintain the final 7-1 margin.
 
The series between the Lady Lions and visiting Cardinals will now open with a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Friday and concludes with a noon contest on Saturday.
 
Live video (LionVision subscription required) and stats for the series will be accessible at www.LionSports.net. Saturday's contest opens Super Lion Saturday. Saturday is Local Heroes Appreciation at North Oak Park, as all first responders, service members and military personnel will receive a discounted ticket with a valid ID.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @SLUlionsoftball on Twitter and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events (softball, baseball, football and basketball), effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.