UL Softball Downs Ole Miss, Advance To Regional Finals

Once again, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are heading to Championship Sunday in an NCAA Regional.

7th-ranked Louisiana defeated the top-seeded, and host school, Ole Miss Rebels, 2-0, in the winners bracket finals of the Oxford Regional on Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi.

The win advanced UL into the Regional finals for the 12th-consecutive year, as they remain the lone unbeaten team in the event.

The Cajuns, who defeated Southeast Missouri, 3-2, on Friday, have now outscored the opposition, 5-2, in the Regional.

Louisiana, who is now just win win shy of capturing their 12-Regional title, improved to 78-59, all-time, in NCAA Tournament play, including a 66-36 record in Regionals.

UL, who is now 32-9 in Regional play since 2008, needs a victory on Sunday to capture their 8th-Regional title in that same time frame.

The Cajuns would have to be knocked off twice on Sunday to be denied a trip to their 8th Super Regional appearance.

With the triumph, Louisiana also set a new school record, with their 29th-straight win, surpassing the 28-game win streak set by the 2012 team.

UL is making their 21th-consecutive NCAA Regional appearance, including their 29th in the last 30 years.

Louisiana got on the scoreboard first, plating two runs in the top half of the 3rd inning, when Casidy Chaumont doubled, before Keeli Milligan reached. Both then scored on a throwing error by Ole Miss catcher Autumn Gillespie, giving them a 2-0 lead.

That turned out to be the only runs of the game, as UL held on for the two-run victory, and the Regional win.

Louisiana, who evened Ole Miss in the column, 3-3, was led at the plate by Alissa Dalton, Raina O'Neal, and Chaumont, who each collected a hit.

Summer Ellyson (39-4) recorded the win inside the circle for the Cajuns, tossing  a complete-game, three-hit shutout, while striking out 7 batters.

For Ellyson, it was her second win in the regional, and her 39th win of the season.

Molly Jacobsen (13-7) suffered the loss for the Rebels, allowing only two runs, including one which was unearned, on 3 hits, over 7.0 innings.

View the game box score.

With the victory, the Cajuns improved to 52-4, overall, while Ole Miss fell to 38-18.

Louisiana will play the surviving team for the Regional crown on Sunday at 2 o'clock.

If UL wins, they would win the Regional.

If the Cajuns lose, there would be an 'if necessary game' to follow.