OKLAHOMA CITY — Louisiana-Lafayette might be a bit off the beaten path in the college sports landscape, but after leading the Ragin’ Cajuns to a big-time upset in her Women’s College World Series debut, Ashley Brignac has the Sun Belt university back on the map.
Brignac (31-6) struck out a career-high 15 batters and Holly Tankersley hit a solo home run to center field off NCAA wins leader Stacey Nelson (45-4) in the eighth inning as the Ragin’ Cajuns upset top-seeded Florida 3-2 on Thursday.
“Nobody else probably expected us to win this game, but we knew we had the best chance to win it,” Brignac said. “If we stay together, we fight and we believe, we’re going to go out and get our job done.”
Lafayette was the only school from outside the power conferences to make it through super regional play — joining three Pac-10 teams, two SEC schools and representatives from the Big 12 and ACC in the field.
With Brignac’s pitching and Tankersley’s long ball, the Cajuns proved they belong.
Tankersley, who hit her 22nd home run of the season, became the first player to hit a ball into the new 34-foot tall outfield bleachers at Hall of Fame Stadium.
“It was the pitch that I had grounded out to second the past two at-bats. I just took my chances, closed my eyes and swung, if you want to know honestly,” said Tankersley, who’s third in the nation in home runs.
The Ragin’ Cajuns advance to face fifth-seeded Texas A&M (55-7), which beat Virginia Tech 1-0.
