PINEVILLE, La. – It was a look into the future for the Louisiana College softball team as they got to take on a future conference rial in LSU Alexandria, and the Wildcats liked what they saw as they took the game from the Generals 2-1 Tuesday night at Wildcat Park.
Even with the Wildcats playing the role of the visitor in their own home park thanks to weather and field conditions forcing the game from Alexandria to Pineville, LC got the home cooking to jump out to an early lead.
Briley Johnston led off the game with a base hit to center to get things started. As Johnston is apt to do, she then stole second before
Olivia Coaker moved her to third on a single to right.
Shaye Tredinich then got Johnston home as her ground ball to second did the job and the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead.
That lead held until the third inning where Johnston and her speed again caused issues for the Generals. Her ground ball to second was booted, allowing her to reach to lead off the inning. Once again, Johnston took off for second and safely snagged the bag for her second stolen base of the game. Coaker's fly ball to right allowed Johnston to tag up and take third.
Bella Houck then did what she was asked to do as her fly ball into the right field foul ground was caught, which allowed Johnston to tag up and score again for a 2-0 LC lead.
The 2-0 score held all the way into the sixth inning, which is where the Generals plated their lone run on a sacrifice fly. LSUA would get the tying run on base later in the sixth inning, but that would be their final base runner as the Wildcats closed out the victory.
"The kids hung in there against a very well coached team that hits very well," said Louisiana College head coach
Barry Roberts. "Miah [Broussard] did really well for five innings, just allowing five hits. She started to wear down a little and we were able to go to CeCe [Pace] to finish it out. Offensively, we didn't string together hits as well as we would've liked, but that's probably a credit to their pitchers."
Samantha Cetta led the Wildcats by going two-for-three at the plate.
Olivia Coaker went two-for-four with a double.
Briley Johnston went one-for-four with two stolen bases and two runs scored.
Bella Houck and
Shaye Tredinich each picked up a RBI without the benefit of a base hit.
Miah Broussard (1-2) threw five-plus solid innings for the Wildcats to pick up her first win of the season. She allowed five hits and one run, which was earned, walked two and struck out two.
CeCe Pace came on in the sixth and allowed only one hit as she retired six of the seven batters she faced to collect her first save of the season.
The Wildcats (6-9, 1-2 ASC) now get back into conference play as Sul Ross State comes to town for a three-game set. First pitch of Friday's doubleheader against the Lobos (5-0, 5-0 ASC) is set for 4:00 P.M. at Wildcat Park.
