Ragin’ Cajuns Softball wins against Oklahoma, breaks 71-game streak

The 2024 Louisiana Softball season is truly starting off to an excellent start. The team recently went to a tournament in Oklahoma, facing off against five teams, and breaking Oklahoma’s 71-game winning streak.

In the tournament opener, the Cajuns experienced the thrill of a comeback in the fifth inning only to have the lead taken away from them a half-inning later in a 12–10 loss to Miami University on March 1. 

Sophie Pisko’s grand slam in the fifth vaulter Louisiana (8–10) into a 9–8 lead, completing the storm back from an 8–1 deficit. The Ragin’ Cajuns received a solo home run from Victoria Valdez trimming the deficit to 12–10 with two-outs in the seventh. 

Denali Loecker drew an eight-pitch walk to give Pisko’s another chance to stun the Redhawks, however a ground ball was induced, and shortstop Reagan Bartholomew fielded it to halt the two-out rally.  

Pisko placed Louisiana with five RBI, highlighted by the grand slam. Loecker had the other multiple-RBI effort: her scoring double in the fourth inning sparking a three-run frame and hit-by-pitch RBI in the fifth setting up Pisko’s grand slam.  

The Redhawks posted four home runs in the contest with each one coming during the sprint out to the 8–1 lead. Louisiana was dealt its first loss against a non-power 5 team this season. UL entered the game with an 8–1 mark when scoring three runs or more.  

As the tournament continued, the Cajuns went against Oklahoma in their first game on March 2. The three-time defending national champion Sooners (17–0) parlayed three doubles in. the first inning into a quick 3–0 lead. An inning later, a leadoff home run and RBI double ignited a four-spot that stretched the Oklahoma lead to 7–0.  

Louisiana (8–11) threatened in the third inning when Maddie Hayden, Mihyia Davis, and Laney Credeur all singled in succession to load the bases with no outs. However, a diving catch in the right field and a double play got the Sooners out of the jam.  

After a scoreless third the Sooners manufactured a run with their sixth double of the game, wild pitch and an RBI ground out.  

The Cajuns continued to get traffic, placing at least one runner on base path in the fourth and fifth inning. The Sooners, though, would get the putout needed each time to keep UL off the board. The Cajuns lost 0–8 this game but met up with Oklahoma again at the end of the tournament.  

The same day, Louisiana went up against Liberty University. A Maddie Hayden double and a wild pitch in the sixth inning set up the winning tally as Louisiana captured a 1–0 win. 

With Hayden on third base after the double and wild pitch sequence, Sam Roe lifted a sacrifice fly into right field that broke a scoreless stalemate between the Cajuns (9–11) and Flames (8–10).  

Sam Landry, who pitched seven innings of two-hit shutout softball, finished her masterpiece by retiring Liberty in the seventh. Landry struck out five and kept the Flames from advancing a runner past second base the entire contest.  

The Cajuns defense came up with its biggest play in the fifth inning after Liberty had a runner in scoring position with one out. Mihyia Davis snagged a sinking fly ball to center field and doubled off the runner to the end of the frame.  

The Flames never rediscovered momentum and the last six batters were retired, and Hayden delivered the one key kit Louisiana had been looking for.  

On the last day of the tournament, they went up against Liberty University but unfortunately lost 1–7.  

To end the tournament, Louisiana snapped Oklahoma’s NCAA record 71-game winning streak with a 7–5 (8inn.) win on March 3. 

Louisiana never trailed in defeating the Sooners after scoring the game’s first run on a Jourdyn Campbel solo home run in the second inning.  

An RBI single from Cecilia Vasquez and bases loaded walked by Mihyia Davis increased the edge to 3–0 in the fourth inning, keeping UL ahead even though Oklahoma struck in the bottom half with a two-run homer from Kinzie Hansen. 

Louisiana recorded its first win over the nation’s No.1 team since topping Florida at the 2008 Women’s College World Series. With the win, the Cajuns regained the all-time series lead over Oklahoma at 16–15.