‍LAFAYETTE, La. — On a cloudy Friday night at Lamson Park, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team delivered a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Southern Miss, securing the Sun Belt Conference series and bolstering their postseason outlook in the process.

With the win, Louisiana improves to 27-24 overall and 13-10 in Sun Belt play, solidifying their position in the top half of the conference standings as the regular season nears its end. Southern Miss drops to 23-27 and 10-12 in conference action.

Freshman pitcher Sam Ryan was once again the story, following up her recent no-hitter with another clutch performance in the circle. Ryan threw six scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out four without issuing a walk. She earned her sixth win of the season before handing things off to Tyra Clary, who worked out of a tense sixth-inning jam and recorded the final three outs for the save.

The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the sixth, when Erin Ardoin scored on a groundout RBI from Laney Credeur. Ardoin was pinch-running for Emily Smith, who led off the inning with a single. Veteran outfielder Kayla Falterman added pressure with a single and a stolen base, setting the table for Credeur's decisive contact.

Offensively, Maddie Hayden led the way with a 2-for-2 night at the plate and a walk, continuing her consistent production from the leadoff spot. Falterman also notched a hit, drew a walk, and swiped her second base of the game, showcasing her signature speed and versatility.

Defensively, the Cajuns were flawless, committing no errors and turning a crucial double play in the first inning to snuff out early Southern Miss momentum.

The victory gives Louisiana a crucial edge in the tightly contested Sun Belt race and showcases the team’s ability to win close, pressure-filled games behind timely hitting and elite pitching.

The Cajuns will look to complete the sweep on Saturday in their final home game of the regular season.

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