LAFAYETTE — Gerry Glasco was a little gassed.

With a little urging from the public address announcer, and his team, the first-year Louisiana-Lafayette head softball coach took a victory trot around the base paths at Lamson Park.

“That’s the most I have run in several years,” Glasco said. “I am a little winded. I am glad they didn’t have to bring a trainer out there or have to give me CPR or anything like that.

Glasco didn’t require any special medical attention afterwards, unless pats on the back and handshakes count as treatment. That’s because Louisiana-Lafayette easily defeated visiting Samford 7-1 in the team’s season opener Thursday evening, which was also the first game of the annual Mardi Gras Classic.

Samford (0-1) got on the board first in the opening frame of the game.

Leadoff hitter Ryan Brzozoski got on base with a single, and then advance all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt and a pass ball. Brzozoski would score on a single by Madison Couch.

Freshman starting pitcher Casey Dixon though wouldn’t give up another run as she picked up the win after giving up only one run on two hits with six strikeouts in four innings of work.

“I was a little nervous at first,” Dixon said. “But once I got a few outs I started to calm down. I wish I didn’t give up that first run though.”

After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, Louisiana-Lafayette (1-0) tied the game in the bottom of the second as Kara Gremillion, who got on base with a fielder’s choice, scored on a sacrifice fly by Brittany Holland.

The Cajuns’ bats really came alive in the bottom of the third as the team scored four runs on five hits, and ran Samford’s starting pitcher out of the game.

Casidy Chaumont would spark the scoring with one swing of the bat.

The freshman right fielder led off the frame by blasting a pitch by Samford’s Annalyn Yantis into the fourth row of bleachers behind the center field wall. 

Kelli Martinez followed with a bunt single and then scored two batters later on a single by Alissa Dalton.

After Beth Ashley laced a single down the first base line, Gremillion brought home Dalton with a deep sacrifice fly. Then Ashley would cross home on a single by Holland.

“That’s not what I was planning on happening,” said Chaumont, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. “But to have your first at-bat be a home run is amazing.”

The Cajuns added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth and that proved to be enough for the season-opening win.

Even though Glasco may have needed a minute or two to catch his breath afterwards, he was glad to give the Cajun faithful something to cheer for.

“When I heard him saying it on the P.A. I was like ‘really,’” said Glasco whose team plays Eastern Illinois and Evansville today at 4:30 and 7 p.m., respectively. “The fans here are important so if the fans want me to run around the field then I am going to run around the field. I am just thankful they didn’t say crawl around the field.”