PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana College softball team got a first inning grand slam from Samantha Cetta, which is all the offense the Wildcats would need to claim a series-opening win over Ozarks, defeating the Eagles 6-1 Saturday evening at Wildcat Park.

After stranding two Eagle runners in scoring position in the top of the first inning, the Wildcats took no time in getting a lead in the bottom half of the frame. Briley Johnston, who started the game just three stolen bases away from breaking the Louisiana College career stolen base record, led off with a base hit left. She then pulled closer to the record by stealing second base and then took third on a wild pitch. Kayla Dauthier did the job by hitting a fly ball to right that was deep enough to score Johnston from third.

Desiree Squires kept things rolling right after the Dauthier sacrifice fly as she beat out a ground ball to short. Shaye Tredinich and Miah Broussard were both hit by pitches to load the bases for Samantha Cetta, and Cetta delivered in a big way with the big blast over the left field wall for the grand slam and a 5-0 LC lead.

Having already worked out of one jam, the Wildcats found themselves in another pickle in the second as the Eagles were able to load the bases with one out. A base hit through the left side scored one, but the LC defense held Ozarks to just that one to minimize the damage.

Following a scoreless third and fourth innings, LC got the run it gave up back in the fifth. Desiree Squires dropped a base hit just inside the right field foul line to lead off, which was followed by Shaye Tredinich pulling the ball just inside the third base bag and buried it in the left field corner. That allowed Squires to come all the way around from first for the game's final run.

Desiree Squires went two-for-three at the plate and was the only Wildcat batter with multiple hits in the contest. Samantha Cetta was one-for-three but that one was a big one, her first home run of the season which represented her four RBI and run scored. Shaye Tredinich went one-for-two with a double and was hit by a pitch, knocked in a run and scored once.

Olivia Coaker (5-3) went the distance to pick up the complete game win. She threw all seven innings and allowed seven hits and one unearned run along with one walk and one strikeout.

The Wildcats (11-21, 5-14 ASC) look to keep their postseason hopes alive with a doubleheader sweep of Ozarks on Sunday. First pitch of game one against the Eagles (3-24, 1-20 ASC) is set for 12:00 P.M. at Wildcat Park.