The No. 19 Ragin’ Cajuns came back for revenge and annihilated the No. 7 Tigers. University of Louisiana at Lafayette defeated LSU 9-4 on Tuesday at Yvette Girouard field.

A week ago, the Ragin’ Cajuns crossed the Atchafalaya to lose to LSU 4-2 in Tiger Park. On its home turf, supported by a sea of red, UL-Lafayette evened the bayou battle. 

LSU used all three starting pitchers, but couldn’t hold off the Cajuns. 

“It shows we’re right up there with them because they always count us out,” UL-Lafayette center fielder Mihyia Davis said. 

READ MORE: Personalities behind the pitching: How LSU softball’s three starters vary in approach

These two teams now have a 2024 season record of 1-1 against one another, and will likely see each other again in the NCAA regional. Only time will tell which of these Louisiana teams reign superior. 

Here are key moments from the midweek battle in UL-Lafayette. 

First inning: LSU starts on top

LSU usually takes a round through the lineup before it starts to barrel up balls, but that wasn’t the case on Tuesday.

After a quick two outs from UL-Lafayette pitcher Sam Landry, LSU’s Taylor Pleasants promptly changed the narrative. Following her single to center field, Raeleen Gutierrez doubled to left center, scoring Pleasants.

UL-Lafayette third baseman Brooke Ellestad attempted to fake a throw to Gutierrez, but instead she released the ball too early, allowing Gutierrez to advance to third. She scored on a wild pitch to end the Tigers’ first-inning-rally.

Landry was pulled as sophomore Chloe Riassetto came in for relief.

First inning: Cajuns respond

After LSU scored two runs in the top of the first, UL-Lafayette’s momentum was only elevated.  

Davis was on third when left fielder Maddie Hayden singled. Karli Petty tried to get the out at home, but was not fast enough to beat Davis. UL-Lafayette scored. 

Then, the Cajuns really started to tune in on the Tigers’ torture.

Ellestad singled to left field and brought Hayden home. The bases were then loaded, and pitcher Raelin Chaffin walked Vasquez. UL-Lafayette extended its lead to 2-0. 

Kelley Lynch came into the circle, but gave up another four runs off two walks and a single. 

The Cajuns were up 6-2, and LSU couldn’t score anymore runs. 

Fourth inning: Back-to-back home runs

After two scoreless innings from both teams, UL-Lafayette ended the drought with back-to-back home runs.

With two outs on the board, Alexa Langeliers drove a fastball to centerfield, scoring the first run of the inning.

Brooke Ellestad’s at-bat curated the same power, as she homered to left-center on a 2-2 count, giving the Cajuns a 8-2 lead.

“It was huge to get the lead,” UL-Lafayette head coach Gerry Glasco said. “That made it to where at the end, we were just throwing strikes and challenging at-bats.”

After another walk and a single up the middle, LSU was forced to pull its second pitcher of the game, Kelley Lynch, and put in ace Sydney Berzon.

Berzon closed the inning with a ground ball to third.

Fifth inning: UL-Lafayette is still on fire 

Fatlernman singled and then advanced to second on a next-play ground out. Hayden hit a single, which drove in Falterman and the Cajuns were up 9-2. 

Sixth inning: Karli Petty home run

When the Tigers seemed to have no fight left, Karli Petty paved the way for a comeback story. 

With two outs and a runner on first, Petty hit a two-run home run to increase the Tigers’ runs to four. Still down by five, the rally ended with Petty. 

The Tigers’ will round out SEC play with a home series against Arkansas, starting on April 26.