Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns collected hits and had plenty of baserunners in the first five innings and that led to a 10-1 victory over Nicholls State Sunday evening at Ray Didier Field in Thibodaux.

With the win, Louisiana (3-0) completed the three-game sweep of the season-opening series with the Colonels (0-3). It's the first 3-0 start since the 2007 season.

UL broke free from the Colonels in the fifth inning after a four-spot increased their advantage to 8-1.

It all started when Greg Fonenot and Brian Bowman executed a double steal and Cody Dufrene's throw sailed high over Tristan Rogers at third base allowing Fontenot to score the fifth run.

Matt Goulas and Jordan Poirrier walked to load the bases then Chad Keefer took a first pitch offering from Josh Labiche and doubled down the left field line to score Bowman and Goulas and up the lead to 7-1.

Daniel Nichols' second sacrifice fly of the evening finished off the scoring and that's all the support Cajuns pitching would need.

The Ragin' Cajuns return home next weekend hosting Miami University at "The Tigue" Friday-Sunday, Feb. 26-28. Game times are 6 p.m., 2 p.m., and 11 a.m.

T.J. Geith picked up the win in his Division I debut for Louisiana. He worked five innings scattering four hits and striking out six.

Bowman was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and reached base all five plate appearances. Keefer led the way with three RBI and Nichols and Kyle Olasin each added two RBI.

Brent Bonvillian, a freshman making his collegiate debut, was saddled with the loss for the Colonels. He was charged with four runs and was hurt by a pair of walks and three hit by pitches in 3 2/3 innings.

The Cajuns took advantage of a fielding error by Nicholls right fielder Mike Barba in the first inning to claim a quick 2-0 lead.

Geith worked around a one-out single in his first Division I inning. He used only 14 pitches and faced the minimum thanks to Keefer catching Keith Kulbeth on a steal attempt.

Back-to-back, one-out hits from Kyle Bostick and Fontenot then a walk to Bowman loaded the bases in the Cajuns' half of the second. Bonvillian hit Goulas to force home the third run.

Louisiana chased Bonvillian from the game in the fourth inning. He tossed 90 pitches.

The Colonels scored the first earned run of the season off Cajuns pitching when Chase Jaramillo stole home in the bottom half of the fourth, cutting the Cajuns lead to 4-1.

Prior to Jaramillo's run the Cajuns pitching staff had worked 21 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

SATURDAY
Paced by the arm of Justin Robichaux and fueled by the bats of Chad Keefer and Jordan Poirrier Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns moved to 2-0 on the season with a 6-2 victory over Nicholls State at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field Saturday afternoon.

Robichaux, who ended last season with a 0.71 ERA in his six starts, picked up where he left off from last season on the mound. The senior hurler threw seven innings of four-hit ball while striking out six. He threw only 88 pitches.

Keefer and Poirrier, hitting fourth and fifth in the lineup, combined to go 5-of-7 at the plate with 5 RBI.

The Ragin' Cajuns would have had the shutout if not for a two-out error in the ninth inning that led to two unearned runs for the Colonels (0-2).

The two teams wrap up their season-opening series on Sunday at Ray Didier Field in Thibodaux. Game time is set for 6 p.m. UL's T.J. Geith makes his collegiate debut on the mound and will face a starter to be named for Nicholls.

Louisiana got on the board in their half of the first inning. Keefer delivered a two-out double into the left center gap to score Matt Goulas who began the rally with a walk.

The Cajuns gave Robichaux all the breathing room he would need with a three-spot in the third inning.

Brian Bowman led off with a double to left center then Alex Fuselier was hit by an offering from Nicholls starter Clint Dempster. Two at bats later, Poirrier cashed in with a two-RBI single that scored Bowman and Fuselier for a 3-0 lead.

Keefer later doubled home Poirrier to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Robichaux gave up no more than one hit per inning the rest of his outing and the Cajuns defense turned double plays in the fourth and fifth innings.

Randall Bulliard relieved Robichaux and worked a perfect eighth and had a perfect ninth inning going until a two-out error by Poirrier allowed Chase Jaramillo to reach base and keep the Colonels at bat alive. Back-to-back base hits occurred spoiling the Cajuns chance at the shutout.

The Ragin' Cajuns posted their 12th consecutive victory over the Colonels at "The Tigue" and have now won 12 of the past 15 meetings in the all-time series.

FRIDAY
Jordan Poirrier's game-winning double in the eighth inning ignited a five-run outburst for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns in a 6-2 victory over Nicholls State in the 2010 season opener Friday evening at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field in front of a crowd of 2,605.

Poirrier's hit drove home two runs and gave Louisiana a 3-2 lead making a winner out of Dayton Marze who pitched three innings of three-hit relief.

In the eighth inning the Ragin' Cajuns (1-0) forced the Colonels (0-1) to use three relief pitchers.

Louisiana and Nicholls State continue their season-opening series on Saturday at "The Tigue". First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. Justin Robichaux takes the mound for the Ragin' Cajuns while the Colonels send out junior college transfer Clint Dempster.

In what was a pitcher's duel through six complete, Nicholls had regained the lead in their half of the seventh taking advantage of a Cajuns error on a sacrifice bunt attempt.

Tristan Rogers laid down another sacrifice and Marze attempted to get Kasey Culverson out at third but his slide beat the throw. Marze forced a double play and ground out to escape major damage, but Culverson scored on the double play for a 2-1 edge.

Alex Fuselier drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the eighth and Matt Goulas laid down a bunt for an infield single to set the stage for Poirrier's heroics.

Zach Osborne threw six innings for Louisiana, scattering four hits and striking out four. Jarret Dunnam lasted five innings for Nicholls, also scattering four hits.

UL collected its 11th consecutive win over Nicholls at "The Tigue" and improved to 13-3 in season openers under head coach Tony Robichaux.

Friday's game marked the first meeting between the two schools since Feb. 13, 2007 - the 2007 season opener.

The Colonels pushed across an unearned run in the second inning. Sam Konnoff reached base with two outs on a Poirrier throwing error. Two pitches later Brady Bourque singled to right center to bring home the game's first run.

Nicholls put runners on the corners with two outs in the fifth inning. Osborne induced a fly ball out off the bat of Adam Miley to keep the Colonels lead at 1-0.

Brian Bowman - who reached with a single to shallow right field - became the first of four straight Cajuns to reach base with two outs in the bottom half of the fifth. The fourth to reach was Fuselier who drew a bases loaded walk from Dunnam to tie the score at 1-all.

RAGIN CAJUN SOFTBALL
HOUSTON, Texas  - A six-run fifth inning lifted Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team from a 1-4 deficit en route to a 7-6 win over Purdue on the final day of the Marriott Houston Invitational.

Erikka Murphy single-handedly kept the Boilmakers from scoring in the first inning. Purdue's Liane Horiuchi sent a deep ball to left field, but Murphy was able to make the catch over the fence to save the run.

But Purdue would score in the second inning on three hits and two errors by the Cajuns for a 3-0 lead.

Christi Orgeron would put the Cajuns on the board in the fourth inning with a one-out, solo home run to left field. It was the sophomore's fifth on the season and snapped a hitless streak that spanned 19 at bats.

Purdue would answer in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run of its own.

But the Cajuns wouldn't quit. Nerissa Myers and Vallie Gaspard would both draw a walk. With two outs, Melissa Verde would single through the right side, plating Myers. Britni Soria would follow with a double to shallow left center, scoring Gaspard and pinch runner Courtney Trahan to tie the contest at 4-4. Orgeron would give the Cajuns the go-ahead run after a double down the left line drove in Soria. Lana Bowers would clear the bases with a two-run shot over the left field wall, widening UL's margin to 7-4.  The Cajuns scored all six runs with two outs on the board.

Purdue would make things interesting in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring two runs on one hit to cut the Cajuns' lead to 7-6.

In the seventh, the Boilermakers would threaten again after advancing a runner to second base after a single and a steal with one out. After a strikeout, Purdue would put the ball in play and Bowers would make an unassisted out at first, diving to the bag to beat out the runner.

Brittany Cuevas picked up the complete game win, improving to 5-0 on the year. She struck out seven while walking just two. She forced Purdue in to 10 ground outs on the day.

Orgeron would finish 2-for-4 and Bowers went 1-for-4 from the plate. Both finished with two RBI.

The Cajuns will return to action this coming Friday at NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. On the first day, UL will face Radford at 11:30 a.m. CT and No. 4 Michigan.

SATURDAY
HOUSTON, Texas - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team was able to comeback from a 1-0 deficit to beat UTSA, 3-1, on Saturday, splitting a pair of games on the second day of the Marriott Invitational. Earlier in the day, the Cajuns fell to No. 20 Texas, 1-7.

With the split, UL sits at 7-2 on the season.

Game Two vs. UTSA

The Roadrunners grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning on one hit and one throwing error by the Cajuns.

Through four innings UL struggled at the plate, garnering only two hits and leaving five runners on base.

But the offense came alive in the fifth inning. With two outs, Britni Soria hit a double to left center field. In the next at bat, Lana Bowers hit a shallow fly to right field and Soria would score the tying run. Bowers would advance to second on the throw at the plate. But UL would ground out to end the inning.

Gabriele Bridges would give UL the go-ahead run with a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nerissa Myers would then single and advance to second after a UTSA error. Erikka Murphy would move her to third on a ground out. In the next at bat, a fielding error allowed Vallie Gaspard to reach first and Myers would score for the 3-1 win.

Brittany Cuevas would strike out the side on 10 pitches to clinch the 3-1 win. Through seven innings, she struck out 11 innings, allowed two hits and walked none. The one run allowed was unearned.

Britni Soria finished the game going 2-for-3 with one run scored. Bridges was one of four Cajuns who recorded a hit. She also drew a walk and was hit by a pitch.

Game One vs. Texas

In the first game of the day, early errors by the No. 16 Cajuns allowed the No. 20 Longhorns (9-0) to grab an early lead and never looked back.

It was the first back-to-back loss for UL in 32 games. The last time the Cajuns dropped two in a row was against South Alabama last season.

With runners on the corners, Texas was able to pull off a double steal after a close play at second base. Then a throwing error by the Cajuns during the next at bat allowed the Texas to score again. Shelby Savony then gave Texas a 4-0 edge after hitting a two-run home run to left field. Another error on UL would plate another run for Texas. The inning would end with Texas holding a 5-0 advantage on four hits with two errors by the Cajuns.

Back-to-back, two-out singles by Soria and Myers in the top of the fourth inning would put the Cajuns in position to cut into Texas' lead. But a pop-foul ball in left field would end the Cajuns' threat.

UL would load the bases with no outs in the fifth inning thanks to back-to-back errors on the Longhorns and a single by Melissa Verde. But the Cajuns were unable to convert, stranding all three base runners.

Texas would take on another run in the bottom of the fifth on two hits.

Soria would light up the scoreboard for the Cajuns in the sixth inning with her first career home run.

But Texas would respond in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run of its own.

Bourgeois would pick up the loss after being rattled for 11 hits and five earned runs. She struck out three and walked one.

The Cajuns will wrap up the tournament tomorrow against Purdue. First pitch is schedule for 9 a.m. CT.

FRIDAY
HOUSTON, Texas - For the second time on the day, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team went to extra innings at the Marriott Invitational. But the outcome was different as the Cajuns fell to Houston, 1-2, in eight innings.

It was the first loss for UL this season, dropping them to 6-1.

The Cajuns struck early in the first inning for a 1-0 lead. Melissa Verde led things off with a walk. She would move to third base on a fielder's choice by Christi Orgeron and throwing error on the Cougars. Verde would cross home on single by Lana Bowers through the left side. But the next three Cajuns would go down swinging, stranding two on base.

Houston would tie the game, 1-1, later in the fourth inning. The Cougars' Melissa Gregson was able to get on base with fielder's choice and would eventually advance to third. She would score when Holly Anderson reached first on a contested play after a dropped third strike.

The Cajuns had a chance to score later in the top of the fifth. Britni Soria would single up the middle with Katie Smith on second and Verde on first. Smith was able to round third but was caught at the plate for the inning's final out.

UL would dodge a bullet in the bottom of the sixth inning. Houston was able to draw two walks with two outs. But shortstop Nerissa Myers was able to scoop up a ground ball in the hole to make the play at first for the final out.

In the seventh inning with one out, Verde drew a walk. Jensen Tydelski would come in to pinch run at first base.

Cajuns would hold Houston scoreless in the seventh to head into extra innings.

With the international rule in play, UL started the eighth inning with Bowers on second base. With two outs, Houston intentionally walked Gabriele Bridges. But Erikka Murphy would pop out to short stop to end the inning.

Houston would drop a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third. Another sacrifice bunt would plate the Cougars' winning run.

Bourgeois would strike out 10 and allow only one hit in the loss. Both runs by Houston were unearned.

 Lana Bowers was 2-for-4 from the plate with UL's lone RBI.

The Cajuns will play two games tomorrow morning at the Marriott Invitational. First up will be No. 20 Texas at 9 a.m. CT. UL will then face UTSA at 11 a.m. CT.