UL Softball Falls To UT-Arlington, 3-1

The 5th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajun softball team fell on the road in Sun Belt Conference action on Sunday afternoon, falling to the UT-Arlington Mavericks, 3-1, in Arlington, Texas.

With the win, UT-Arlington salvaged the final game of the three-game series, after Louisiana swept a doubleheader on Saturday, winning both games in 5-inning, mercy rule fashion, by scores of 13-0 and 16-0.

The loss was the first in conference play for the Cajuns this season, and put an end to their 16-game win streak.

UT-Arlington got on the scoreboard first, scoring a run in the bottom half of the first inning, when Sandra Mendoza singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and later scored on a sacrifice-fly off the bat of Britnea Barilli, giving them a 1-0 lead.

Louisiana tied it in the top half of the third inning, when Kara Gremillion walked, stole second, advanced to third on a Kassidy Zeringue infield single, and later scored on a fielders choice grounder off the bat of Shellie Landry, making it 1-1.

The Mavericks regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame, when Kacey Everett launched a two-out-, two-run home run, giving them a 3-1 advantage.

The Cajuns put the potential tying in scoring position in the top of the 7th inning, but failed to score, as UTA hung on for the 2-run win.

Everett led the way for UT-Arlington, collecting 2 hits, include the 2-run homer, while Mendoza went 3-for-3.

In a losing cause for Louisiana, Zeringue went 2-for-3.

Samantha Clakley (12-2) recorded the win in the circle for the Mavericks, allowing 6 hits, one run, and one walk, while striking out 7.

Kylee Jo Trahan (9-2) took the loss for UL, allowing 3 runs, including 2 earned, over 4 innings of work.

View the game box score.

With the victory, UT-Arlington improved to 22-4, overall, and 1-2 in Sun Belt Conference play, while Louisiana fell to 22-2, and 4-1, respectively.

The Cajuns return to the diamond on Friday, when they travel to Troy, Alabama to face the Troy Trojans in a Sun Belt Conference doubleheader, representing the first two game of a three-game league series.