Vander Lugt shuts down Jags

MOBILE, Ala. - Lindsey Vander Lugt pitched 8.1 innings of no-hit softball to lead the Blue Raiders to their first conference victory of the 2010 season as the Blue Raiders top the South Alabama Jaguars 2-0 in the first game of the Saturday doubleheader.

Vander Lugt threw 10.0 total scoreless innings striking out 11 dropping her ERA to 1.89 for the season. The Jaguars broke up Vander Lugt's no-hitter in the ninth on a lazy fly ball to leftfield. Eleven strikeouts ties a career high. The Olympia, Wash. native is currently riding a six game winning streak and has not allowed a run in 25.0 straight frames. She also set a new Middle Tennessee record for innings pitched with 795 for her career passing Jennifer Martinez who held the mark at 787.

In the 10th, the Blue Raider bats finally gave Vander Lugt the needed run support to get the victory. Jessica Ives scored the winning run as Brittney Banania dropped a bunt to execute a textbook squeeze play. Banania has eight RBIs for the season. Kaycee Popham would add an insurance run driven in by Kelsey Dortch. Popham had two hits on the game.

In the first Caitlin McLure stole second. This was McLure's 15th steal of the season and tied her with Allison Cheatham for second most steals in a Blue Raider career with 60.

The Blue Raiders will play the second half of the doubleheader before concluding the series set Sunday at 1 p.m. Livestats and full coverage will be available for all games on GoBlueRaiders.com.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.