The No. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette softball team lost to California on Sunday after a series of events including rain, the game going eight innings and multiple ejections.
Danggggggg Cal/Louisiana softball game went OFF THE RAILS. ?
— Blake Munroe (@BlakeMunroeOTF) February 11, 2024
Up to that point, Cal had played five games, including kicking off the season at McNeese State before playing the 38th annual "Louisiana Classics" series. After McNeese State, they played Chattanooga twice and New Mexico, and also played this same Louisiana-Lafayette team on Feb. 9, losing 8-0.
Before Sunday's game, Cal had three wins and just one loss, to Louisiana-Lafayette.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Cal held a 1-0 lead.
Then, in the bottom of the seventh, the Ragin' Cajuns got a runner on second with one out when it started raining.
Cal requested a weather delay, but the game continued since it was the bottom of the seventh inning.
The rain played a factor as Cal pitcher Randi Roelling threw an errant pitch that allowed the runner on second to reach third.
Once again, Cal requested a delay but didn't get one.
What happened next — oh boy.
Roelling threw another errant pitch as the rain made it difficult to grasp the ball, and Louisiana-Lafayette scored, tying the game at 1-1.
That was it. A Cal assistant coach went ballistic, storming onto the field and yelling at the umpire and opponents. She was restrained and ultimately ejected. Cal catcher Lagi Quiroga also had some choice words and was thrown out.
Then, a third ejection occurred after sophomore Ryann Orange charged toward the Louisiana-Lafayette dugout.
With the tie following regulation, the game headed into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Cal's Mika Lee scored as the result of a squeeze bunt by Acacia Anders.
Then, Elon Butler hit a single toward the right side of the field; and due to a fielding error (likely from the rain), she advanced to third and Anders scored.
The Ragin' Cajuns had no answer in the bottom half of the inning and fell to Cal 3-1.
