Troy, Ala. – In a classic Sun Belt Conference tournament thriller, Louisiana delivered a dramatic walk-off comeback to defeat Appalachian State 2-1 on Thursday morning, keeping their championship hopes alive. The win was fueled by late-game clutch performances, particularly a two-out, two-run double by Sam Roe, who emerged as the undeniable hero of the game.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh after a solo home run by App State’s Leah Gore put the Mountaineers ahead, the Cajuns refused to let their postseason run end quietly. With two outs and the pressure mounting, Maddie Hayden sparked the rally with her third hit of the day—an infield single. Dayzja Williams followed with a clutch double to left, advancing Hayden to third and electrifying the Louisiana dugout.

After Emily Smith drew a walk to load the bases, Sam Roe stepped to the plate and delivered a rocket into the right-center gap, bringing home Hayden and Williams for the game-winning runs and sending the Cajuns into a frenzied celebration.

"I was just looking for a pitch I could drive," Roe said postgame. "It’s all about trusting your training and coming through for your teammates."

Louisiana’s offense collected 10 hits in total, with Hayden (3-for-4) and Roe (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) leading the way. Williams also added two hits, including that crucial seventh-inning double.

In the circle, Mallory Wheeler was outstanding once again. The right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out six. Her poise and control kept App State scoreless for six innings before the late homer briefly threatened to steal the game.

With the win, Louisiana (now 30-24) advances in the Sun Belt tournament and will face Coastal Carolina in the next round on Friday. The Cajuns will be riding high on momentum, aiming to continue their push toward another Sun Belt title.

"This team showed a ton of heart today," said head coach Alyson Habetz, who is in her first season leading the Cajuns after longtime coach Gerry Glasco stepped away. "We’ve talked all year about resilience, and they showed it on the biggest stage."

First pitch against Coastal Carolina is scheduled for tomorrow morning at the Troy Softball Complex. With the bats heating up and their ace in form, the Cajuns will look to keep their postseason journey alive.