PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University softball team shut down the Texas A&M-Victoria offense for 13 of the 14 innings of Friday's doubleheader, helping the Wildcats earn a split with the Jaguars, winning 6-1 before falling 5-1, at Wildcat Park.
 
Game 1 – Louisiana Christian 6, Texas A&M-Victoria 1
 
Louisiana Christian (22-19, 12-11 RRAC) struck first in the day's opener by scoring two runs in the second inning to jump in front of Texas A&M-Victoria (23-15, 14-9 RRAC). Cecilia Bookman drew a walk to lead off the inning and Hannah Harrison took her place on base. Lexi Broussard just wanted to move Harrison into scoring position but an error allowed her to reach safely as well.
 
Myah Talbert then sacrificed both runners into scoring position, setting up Madelyn Bourgoyne who gave the Wildcats the lead as her fly ball to center was deep enough to score Harrison from third. Naya Soto followed with a base hit into left which allowed Broussard to score as well for a 2-0 LCU lead after two.
 
The Wildcats took full control of game one in the fifth inning by scoring three runs, all during a big, two-out rally. With two away, Bourgoyne got things started with a hit up the middle. Soto then belted a double to left, scoring Bourgoyne for a 3-0 lead.
 
Kate Daigle dropped a base hit in right field, giving LCU runners on the corners. She then took off for second, drawing a throw which allowed Soto to break for home, successfully stealing the plate and adding another run. Mariel Medrano made that move pay off more by slapping a double past the third baseman, scoring Daigle for a 5-0 Wildcat lead.
 
A&M-Victoria got one of those back in the top of the sixth, but the Wildcats got it right back in the bottom half of the frame. Daigle led off the inning by beating out an infield base hit. She went to second as Medrano drew a walk and was pushed to third on Maci Baldwin's sacrifice bunt. She came home on Isabella Battaglia's sacrifice fly to center, scoring the game's final run.
 
The Wildcats got a lot of help from the bottom of the line-up as the final three batters in the order all had two hits in the day's opener. Bourgoyne went 2-for-2 with a RBI and a run scored. Soto went 2-for-3 with a double, stole a base, got two RBI, and a run scored. And Daigle went 2-for-3 with a stolen base two runs scored.
 
Medrano went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, and a RBI.
 
Broussard went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
 
Olivia Falcon (10-6) threw all seven innings in the circle to pick up the complete game victory. She allowed four hits and one run, which was unearned, with four walks and three strikeouts.
 
Game 2 – Texas A&M-Victoria 5, Louisiana Christian 1
 
The Wildcats also jumped out first in the nightcap. Again it was Bookman who started it with a leadoff walk to kick off the second inning and had Harrison run for her. Broussard sacrificed her over to second and, now with two outs, Bourgoyne came through with a double to right to score Harrison and give LCU a 1-0 lead.
 
But from there, the Wildcat offense went cold, though the defense kept the Jaguars in check. TAMUV finally broke through in the top of the sixth, tying the game with a run in the frame. But then things came apart for LCU in the seventh as A&M-Victoria plated four runs in the frame to steal away the win.
 
Bourgoyne led the offense in game two, going 1-for-3 with a double and a RBI.
 
Bookman was 1-for-3 with her pinch runner, Harrison, scoring a run.
 
Medrano was also 1-for-3.
 
Christina Curtis got a pinch hit base hit in the seventh, making her 1-for-1 in the contest.
 
Daigle was also 1-for-3 in game two.
 
Katelyn Carpenter (2-4) threw 1.1 innings in relief and allowed six hits and four runs, three earned, with no walks or strikeouts to pick up the decision.
 
Carly Carpenter got the start and threw five innings, giving up six hits and a run, which was earned, with a walk and two strikeouts.
 
Samantha Hill got the final two outs as she didn't allow a hit or a run but walked one and struck out one.
 
The Wildcats and Jaguars play the rubber game of the series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at Wildcat Park. It'll also be senior day at Wildcat Park with the senior presentation set for thirty minutes prior to first pitch.