LAFAYETTE, La. – Taking on their second ranked opponent this week, the UT Arlington softball team (18-19, 6-7 SBC) fell to No. 10 Louisiana 4-1 on Friday night at Lamson Park.
 
The two pitchers became locked in a duel for much of the game.  Randi Phillips picked up the start, and through four innings, had allowed just five hits. However, a fifth and sixth inning spark by the Ragin' Cajuns forced a pitching change. Allie Gardiner finished the game, pitching the final two outs of the game, striking out one batter.
 
Hits were hard to come by for the Mavericks, finishing with just three.  Whitney Walton, Laura Curry and Aileen Garcia each came away with one hit, while Walton scored the lone run of the day.  UTA did, however, add four more base runners off walks.
 
The Cajuns got on the board first, using a two-out single to right field to score a runner that was positioned at second.
 
The defenses and pitchers were stout for the next two innings, allowing just two combined baserunners between the two teams.  However, a solo home run by Louisiana pushed their lead to two runs.
 
The Mavs cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning.  A leadoff single by Walton gave the Mavs a baserunner, before she advanced to third on a single by Curry.  The next pitch would be a wild one, allowing Walton to cross home plate, bringing the score to 2-1.
 
Three singles to start the bottom frame gave the Cajuns bases loaded with no outs.  Louisiana used a ground out and a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 4-1. The score stayed there as the Mavs were unable to score any in the top of the seventh.
 
UP NEXT
UTA and Louisiana will end their series tomorrow (April 6) with a double header at Lamson Park beginning at 2 p.m.