Bourgeois, Soto power Cajuns’ win

• By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 17, 2008 - Page: 7C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Donna Bourgeois is sometimes overshadowed by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s other talented freshman pitcher, Ashley Brignac.

Bourgeois, the former Teurlings Catholic standout showed East Carolina why she is a valuable part of the Cajuns’ “Killer Bs” pitching combination Friday at the NCAA’s Baton Rouge Regional.

Bourgeois tossed a one-hitter and kept the Pirates off balance as ULL defeated ECU 2-1 to open the three-day tourney at Tiger Park.

Former LSU player Vanessa Soto had two RBI singles that scored leadoff hitter Vallie Gaspard as the Cajuns (47-12) won to set up today’s showdown with the tournament’s top seed, host LSU (43-16), at 1 p.m. East Carolina (36-29) meets Mississippi Valley State (28-27) at 4 p.m.

“It’s like a chess match when you have a pitcher like her (Bourgeois) in there,” East Carolina coach Tracey Kee said. “I was little disappointed with our effort offensively. I thought we could have got some better swings in. Give her (Bourgeois) credit.”

Bourgeois (15-4) struck out only three and walked none. She threw 87 pitches, 55 of which were strikes. Soto, who played three seasons at LSU, was 2-for-3 and the only player with more than one hit. The ULL second baseman had RBI hits in the first and fifth innings.

Stacey Andrews’ RBI-single in the top of the first was the only hit for ECU.

“She (Bourgeois) goes out with that bulldog mentality,” ULL coach Stefni Lotief said. “She’s a fighter … she’s tenacious.”

When asked about her effort, Bourgeois credited her teammates, “My defense definitely had my back. We got the win and that’s all that matters.”

East Carolina scored in the top of the first inning. Centerfielder Christina Merrida struck out, but reached on a wild pitch by Bourgeois with one out.

Merrida moved to second on a ground-out and then scored on a single to left by leftfielder Andrews.

It didn’t take the Cajuns long to even the score. Gaspard reached on a bunt single. The ULL designated player was sacrificed to second by center-fielder Karli Hubbard.

That’s when Soto cashed in, singling to center, scoring Gaspard. The Cajuns had baserunners reach on ECU starter Brooke Swann, but were unable to push another run across until the bottom of the fifth.