Diamond Notes: Cajuns Host Nicholls State Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

SEASON QUICK FACTS...
Overall record: 28-4
Sun Belt Record: 0-0
Record Last 10 Games: 8-2
Home Record: 10-1
Away Record: 6-1
Neutral Record: 12-2
Record vs. Midwest Region: 12-2
Record vs. Ranked Teams: 1-1
Current Streak: Lost 1 (March 20-present)
Current Rankings: No. 10 (NFCA); No. 8 (ESPN/USA Softball)

For updated team stats visit: http://www.ragincajuns.com/softball/Stats/2004/teamcume.htm

For schedule/results visit: http://www.ragincajuns.com/softball/Schedules/schedule.htm

To view the team roster visit: http://www.ragincajuns.com/softball/Team/2004/roster.htm

For updated Nicholls State stats visit:
http://www.colonelsports.com/2004%20Softball%20Stats/teamcume.htm

To view updated Sun Belt standings visit: http://softball.sunbeltsports.org/x/W/standings

To view this week's Sun Belt Softball News Release visit: http://softball.sunbeltsports.org/x/article/2813

NOW BATTING...

The 10th-ranked Ragin' Cajuns (28-4) return home this week for a 5 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday, March 24 against in-state foe Nicholls State (14-13) at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park…The twinbill marks the only two games of the week for the Cajuns, as the team has the weekend off…Louisiana-Lafayette will be looking to get back on the winning track at home after having its 33-game win streak snapped last week in a 1-0 loss to Texas State-San Marcos…The Cajuns and Colonels will be meeting for the third and fourth times this season – Louisiana-Lafayette swept a doubleheader on Feb. 18 in Thibodaux (3-1, 3-0)…UL Lafayette will be seeking to snap a two-game losing streak against Midwest Region teams – lost to McNeese State and Texas State in last two MW Region meetings…The games will also be the final two home games of the month and until Saturday, April 17 when FIU visits for a Sun Belt series.

THE SERIES – CAJUNS LEAD 70-19

Louisiana-Lafayette has won the last 21 meetings between the two teams including a perfect 12-0 record under head coach Stefni Lotief…Since 1994, Louisiana-Lafayette has dominated the series winning 36 of the 37 meetings…Nicholls' last win in the series came on March 4, 1998, in a 5-3 decision at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park…The Cajuns are 33-3 at Ragin' Cajuns Park vs. Nicholls State.

CATCH'EM WHILE THEY'RE IN TOWN…

Wednesday's doubleheader with Nicholls State marks the Cajuns only two home games for the next three weeks…Following the twinbill with the Colonels, Louisiana-Lafayette embarks on an eight-game road trip visiting Northwestern State (March 31), New Mexico State (April 10 & 11) and Louisiana Tech (April 14) all in doubleheaders.

ON DECK...

No. 10 Louisiana-Lafayette will take the weekend off and return to action next Wednesday (March 31) when they travel to Natchitoches for a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Northwestern State (14-17 entering this week). The twinbill will mark the beginning of an eight-game road trip.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK...

The Ragin' Cajuns returned home for the first time in three weeks for a single game with Texas State-San Marcos before venturing out west to the site of last season's NCAA Regional championship in Fullerton, Calif., for the prestigious KIA Klassic…Louisiana-Lafayette ended the week with a 3-2 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the KIA Klassic championship bracket – the best finish in the tournament since 1999 when then-USL advanced to the championship bracket semifinals.

Tuesday, March 16 vs. Texas State-San Marcos - The Cajuns saw their 33-game home win streak snapped at the hands of TSU-San Marcos in a 1-0 loss in a pitcher's duel between two potential All-Americans in Brooke Mitchell and TSU's Nicole Neuerburg…TSU's Katie Ann Trahan provided the lone run of the game with a two-out, solo home run in the top of the fourth.

Thursday, March 18 vs. DePaul – The high-powered Cajuns offense returned to form in the 10-3 win over the Blue Demons, in pool play at the KIA Klassic, belting out four home runs…A five spot in the third inning helped the Cajuns break open a 1-0 game.

Thursday, March 18 vs. Cal State Fullerton – Freshman Lacey Bertucci sent the host-Titans walking in the bottom of the seventh when she laced a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh in a 3-1 win…The victory clinched the 175th win in the coaching career of head coach Stefni Lotief and assured the Cajuns of a winning record in pool play at the KIA Klassic for the first time since 2001…Brooke Mitchell struck out 15 and gave up just four hits.

Friday, March 19 vs. U.S. Olympic Team – Although just an exhibition game, the Cajuns made the most of it with a stellar defensive effort…Brooke Mitchell struck out six and surrendered just three runs (all off of solo home runs) and seven hits to the mighty Olympian lineup…Team USA's three runs marked only the third time in 23 games that the Olympians were held under four runs in a game…The game was pitted Brooke Mitchell against Cat Osterman in a pitching rematch of last season's College World Series opener…

Friday, March 19 vs. Princeton – In the first game of bracket play, the Cajuns advanced to the quarterfinals of the KIA Klassic with a 7-0 win over the out-manned Tigers…Brooke Mitchell struck out 14 batters and did not allow a single hit in six innings of work…The combined no-hit bid was broken up in the seventh as the Tigers got two hits off of reliever Heather Bobbitt…In the game, Mitchell broke the single-season record for strikeouts with her 280th of the season and tied Kim Eisnaugle for fifth place on the all-time victories list with her 68th career win…

Saturday, March 20 vs. #1 Arizona – The Cajuns first trip into the KIA Klassic championship bracket under head coach Stefni Lotief and since the 1999 season came to an abrupt end at the hand of Arizona's Alicia Hollowell…Hollowell struck out 18 of the 22 Cajun batters she faced and surrendered just one hit – a leadoff single to Hillary Guidry in the top of the seventh…Brooke Mitchell struck out four against the Wildcats powerful lineup and gave up just three hits in the 2-0 loss…UA scored on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single in the fourth.

HOME, SWEET HOME...

There's no doubt that the Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park has been the perfect home for Louisiana-Lafayette softball.

Now in its 20th season of service to the nationally recognized program, UL Lafayette has posted a 420-70 (.857) record all-time at the park.

Under head coach Stefni Lotief, the Ragin' Cajuns have posted an 84-9 mark (.903) in the friendly confines.

Dating back to 1999, Louisiana-Lafayette has gone 136-13 for a .913 winning percentage.

UL Lafayette's 26 home wins last season marked the fifth straight season that the Cajuns posted 20 or more home wins. The Cajuns already have 10 home wins so far this season and have 12 more games plus the Sun Belt Tournament to make it six straight seasons of 20-plus home victories.

UL Lafayette has never had a losing season at home in 19 seasons.

MITCHELL SNAGS HER FIFTH SUN BELT WEEKLY HONOR...

LAFAYETTE – Another week in the pitching circle equaled another honor for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball ace pitcher Brooke Mitchell. For the fifth time this season (out of six weeks) the Pasadena, Texas, native was named the Sun Belt Conference's Pitcher of the Week, released by the league office Monday afternoon.

The award ends a one-week hiatus for Mitchell whose string of four straight league honors was snapped after the Cajuns had the week off March 8-14. Every week that she's been nominated for the award she has won.

The Cajuns have now won 30 weekly honors in three-plus seasons under former Ragin' Cajuns All-American and current head coach Stefni Lotief. Louisiana-Lafayette has picked up seven weekly awards this season including five of the six pitcher awards handed out.

Mitchell (22-3) started every game for the 10th-ranked Ragin' Cajuns (28-4) last week, pitching 33 innings and recording 50 strikeouts. She collected wins over DePaul, Cal State Fullerton and Princeton at the prestigious KIA Klassic in Fullerton, Calif.

She now has 294 strikeouts on the year and is only six strikeouts away from becoming the first pitcher in school history to record 300 whiffs in a single season.

On Saturday against Princeton, Mitchell broke the school's single-season strikeout record that she set just last season with her 280th strikeout of the season in the second inning.

She stands just 84 strikeouts away from breaking Kyla Hall's school career record of 820 set from 1991-94. The junior right-hander has 737 career strikeouts entering this week's action.

In a matchup with the U.S. Olympic Team Friday afternoon at the KIA Klassic, Mitchell fanned six Olympians and held the nation's best to just three runs and seven hits. Team USA's three runs marked only the third time in 23 games that the Olympians were held to under four runs in a game.

20004 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE SOFTBALL WEEKLY HONORS

Hitter of the Week
Feb. 17 - Holly Tankersley
March 2 - Holly Tankersley

Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 17 - Brooke Mitchell
Feb. 24 - Brooke Mitchell
March 2 - Brooke Mitchell
March 9 - Brooke Mitchell
March 22 - Brooke Mitchell

CAJUNS IN THE POLLS...

Louisiana-Lafayette is ranked No. 10 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll and has stayed put in that spot the past two weeks. The Cajuns dropped out of the Top 10 after a loss to McNeese State, but moved back in with their 1-0 win over then-No. 6 Florida State.

In the ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 the Cajuns are currently ranked No. 8 – the team's highest ranking in the poll this season.

Both Top 25 polls are slated for release Tuesday afternoon.

THE LAST TIME OUT…March 20, 2004 vs. Arizona in KIA Klassic quarterfinals

FULLERTON, Calif.-Arizona starting pitcher Alicia Hollowell proved to be too much for the Ragin' Cajuns, as the top-ranked Wildcats defeated 10th-raked Louisiana-Lafayette 2-0 Saturday evening here at the Kia Klassic in a battle of two of the nation's top 10 teams.

The loss eliminated the Cajuns (28-4) from the Championship Bracket and ended the squad's best run in the tournament under head coach Stefni Lotief. Hollowell (19-0) struck out 18 batters, while Mitchell (22-3) struck out four. Mitchell is six strikeouts away from becoming the first Louisiana-Lafayette pitcher in school history to eclipse 300 strikeouts in a single season. Arizona centerfielder Caitlin Lowe hit a slow, dribbling single to Mitchell for the first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lowe later stole second. Autumn Champion then hit a bloop single over Tiffany Hebert, advancing Lowe to third. Lowe later scored on a Wendy Allen sacrifice fly to left field. Mitchell struck out Mackenzie Vandergeest for the second out, but walked Shelly Schultz on the ensuing at bat. Jackie Coburn hit a hard liner past Hebert, scoring Champion. Guidry ended Hollowell's bid for a perfect game, singled past the shortstop for the first Cajuns hit of the game. Tankersley, Gomez and Webre struck out in order to end the game.

DOUBLEHEADER DELIGHT...

Dating back a doubleheader spilt at UL Monroe on April 24, 2002, the Cajuns have swept 25 of their last 28 doubleheaders. UL Lafayette has swept 44 of 52 doubleheaders under Stefni Lotief since 2001. So far this season, the Cajuns have swept both doubleheaders that they've been involved in sweeping Nicholls State (Feb. 18) and UL Monroe (Feb. 25). Wednesday's games with Nicholls State marks the first of 14 straight twinbills to close out the 2004 regular season.

MIDWEEK DOUBLE-DIPS HELP A LITTLE...

The Cajuns should enjoy playing midweek doubleheaders. The opposition on the other hand should be frightened. Louisiana-Lafayette is batting .310 as a team in doubleheaders as opposed to .255 in all other games. Opponents are hitting a paltry .026 (2-for-78) in twinbills. Pitching-wise, the Cajuns have allowed just one earned run through 26 innings in midweek doubleheaders.

Offensively, the Cajuns have outscored the opposition 33-1 in midweek games and pounded out 31 hits. The last time the Cajuns had a mid-week doubleheader the club saw its team batting average climb 22 points from .245 to .267.

ABOUT NICHOLLS STATE...

The Colonels enter Wednesday's doubleheader with a 14-13 overall record (5-7 Southland Conference).

NSU has won nine of its last 11 games and is coming off of a semifinals appearance last weekend at the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic.

Nicholls picked up wins against Georgia Tech and North Carolina while at the Buzz Classic and had a six-game win streak snapped with a 4-3 loss to Minnesota in the semifinals.

The Colonels are led in the pitching circle by senior Dione Meier. Meier has a 10-6 record and sports a 0.89 ERA. She has 201 strikeouts in 121 1/3 innings and has walked just 25 batters.

The offense is hitting just .207, but the pitching staff which also includes Nichole Wagner (4-7, 2.89 ERA, 45K) and Christina Hanson (0-0, 0.93 ERA) has held opponents to a .179 average.

The Colonels top hitter for average is Sara Eads at .267.

As a team, Nicholls has just 30 extra base hits (13 doubles, 3 triples, 13 home runs) and has 24 sacrifice hits.

THE FLAME THROWER...

Junior pitcher Brooke Mitchell has fanned opposing batters at an alarming rate this season and is showing no ill-effects from her bicep injury suffered at the end of the Cajuns postseason run last season.

Mitchell has 294 strikeouts this season in 26 appearances - that's an average of over 12 strikeouts per game and is within six strikeouts of becoming the first pitcher in program history to amass 300 whiffs in a season.

She has tallied at least five (5) strikeouts in 53 of her last 67 appearances and has 27 double-digit strikeout performances, all dating back to last season.

The Pasadena, Texas, native had a stretch earlier this season from Feb. 8 through Feb. 21 where she had double-digit strikeouts in eight straight appearances.

Mitchell tossed two no-hitters, six victories and had 74 strikeouts in 42 innings of work and the honor of being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Mardi Gras Classic hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette Feb. 20-22.

The right-handed hurler has posted double-digit strikeouts in 16 of her 24 starts this season. Five (5) times she has struck out 15 and twice struck out 16.

She set the school record for strikeouts in a game when she fanned 22 batters in a nine-inning, no-hitter of Nevada Saturday, Feb. 28 at the McNeese Cowgirl Classic.

Just last week at the KIA Klassic, she broke the single-season strikeout record she set last season with her 280th strikeout in the Princeton game.

Last season, she broke the previous single-season record of 256 strikeouts, set by Cheryl Longeway in 1995, with 279 strikeouts and averaged 8.84 strikeouts per game – another school record.

BROOKE MITCHELL'S DOUBLE-DIGIT STRIKEOUT PERFORMANCES
2/7/04 vs. Kentucky 12K
2/8/04 at UL Monroe 12K
2/14/04 vs. McNeese 11K
2/15/04 vs. Northwestern St. 16K
2/18/04 at Nicholls State 12K
2/18/04 at Nicholls State 12K
2/20/04 vs. Texas Tech 15K
2/21/04 vs. SE Louisiana 15K (six innings in relief)
2/21/04 vs. Missouri 12K (no-hitter)
2/25/04 vs. UL Monroe 15K
2/27/04 vs. Nevada 16K
2/28/04 vs. Nevada 22K (nine innings, no-hitter)
3/6/04 vs. Florida State 15K (10 innings, three-hitter)
3/7/04 vs. St. John's 13K
3/16/04 vs. Texas State 10K
3/18/04 vs. CS-Fullerton 15K
3/19/04 vs. Princeton 14K

CLIMBING THE CAREER CHARTS TOWARD NO. 1...

Brooke Mitchell recently moved into second place on the school's all-time career strikeout list with her 613th career strikeout on Friday, Feb. 27 with her second strikeout against McNeese State.

With 737 strikeouts recorded in two-plus seasons and 94 appearances, Mitchell is within striking distance of first place.

The Pasadena, Texas, native is 83 strikeouts shy from tying Kyla Hall (1991-94) for first place with 820 career strikeouts.

It took Hall 132 appearances to reach 820 strikeouts and did so in her senior season. Mitchell is on pace to reach Hall's mark in her 101st appearance.

She is just the second pitcher in program history (joining Hall) to record 700-plus strikeouts in a career.

CAREER STRIKEOUTS TOP 5
1. Kyla Hall (1991-94) 820K
2. Brooke Mitchell (2002-pres.) 737K
3. Kim Eisnaugle (1983-86) 612K
4. Stefni Whitton (1987-90) 576K
5. Jennifer Clendenin (1993-97) 554K

ADDING ANOTHER GEM…

Brooke Mitchell added another record to her name this past weekend at the KIA Klassic – single-season strikeouts.

Mitchell notched her 280th strikeout of the season with her third victim in the second inning against Princeton Saturday afternoon.

With that strikeout she surpassed the previous record of 279 which she set just last season.

Earlier in the season, the Pasadena, Texas, native set the school record for strikeouts in a single game when she fanned 22 batters in a nine-inning no-hitter against Nevada on Saturday, Feb. 28.

MOVING UP THE CAREER VICTORIES LIST…

With her victory against Princeton at the KIA Klassic, Brooke Mitchell climbed into to a tie for fifth place with Kim Eisnaugle on the school's career victories list.

She now has 68 wins in two-plus seasons and sports a career record of 68-18 (.791).

Mitchell needs just eight more wins this season to tie head coach Stefni Lotief for third place.

Career Victories
1. 104 Kyla Hall (1991-94)
2. 84 Melissa Coronado (1999-02)
3. 78 Stefni Whitton (1987-90)
4. 76 Jennifer Clendenin (1993-97)
5. 68 Kim Eisnaugle (1983-86)
5. 68 Brooke Mitchell (2002-present)

SINGLE-SEASON WIN RECORD IN SIGHT…

Given the fact that she has started 75 percent of the Cajuns games this season and already has 22 wins, Brooke Mitchell is on pace (and probably will) to set a new program record for single-season victories.

Former pitcher Melissa Coronado (1999-2002) holds the single-season record with 35 wins in 2001.

Mitchell is four wins away from tying her personal career best of 26 wins set last season when she went 26-9.

Single-Season Victories Top 5
1. 35 Melissa Coronado (2001)
2. 34 Cheryl Longeway (1996)
3. 31 Kyla Hall (1994)
4. 29 Kyla Hall (1993)
4. 29 Jennifer Clendenin (1997)

MITCHELL IN SEARCH OF 300…

Brooke Mitchell enters Wednesday's doubleheader with Nicholls State needing just six strikeouts to become the first pitcher in program history to reach 300 strikeouts in a single season.

Mitchell enters Wednesday's games with 294 strikeouts this season.

POWERFUL LINEUP AWAITS YOU...

Opposing pitchers will not have it easy this season when facing the Ragin' Cajuns lineup - all the way from top to bottom.

The Cajuns have already hit 50 home runs through 32 games with 13 different players contributing including each player in the starting lineup.

Holly Tankersley leads the way with nine dingers. Danyele Gomez, last season's leader with 20 homers, has six and is joined by Brittany Bryant and Joy Webre with the same amount.

Last season the Cajuns had every one of its starting nine with at least one home run. That team went on to hit a school-record 79 dingers.

At the current pace of nearly 1.6 home runs per game, the Cajuns are on pace to hit 95 home runs through the end of the regular season (not counting the Sun Belt Tournament and NCAA Regionals, etc.).

Louisiana-Lafayette has clubbed 21 home runs at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park (in 11 games). Tankersley has hit the most home runs in the friendly confines with four.

GOOD EYES...

Cajun hitters have drawn 152 walks through 32 games so far this season - an average of around five per game.

Against Gardner-Webb on Feb. 7, the Cajuns were issued a season-high 13 free passes.

Tiffany Hebert leads the way with 24 walks. Holly Tankersley is a close second with 22 walks and a .472 on-base percentage.

Brittany Bryant (21), Danyele Gomez (14), Crystal George (13) and Lacey Bertucci (11) and Ashley Evans (10) have double-digit walks as well giving the Cajuns seven batters who have drawn 10-plus walks through 32 games.

Hebert has 24 free passes to 19 strikeouts and sports a .411 on-base percentage. Crystal George joins Hebert as the two toughest to strikeout on the team with 13 walks to just seven strikeouts (62 at bats).

NOTHING IS FREE...

When it comes to facing Brooke Mitchell - the ball is either put in play or the opposing batter goes down swinging.

The junior hurler has issued just 31 walks through 26 appearances and 163 2/3 innings.

Her strikes:walks ratio is an astounding 9.5K/BB. Opponents are hitting just .120 against her.

In home games, Mitchell has been tougher than normal. She has given just five (5) free passes and fanned 105 batters – a strikeout ratio of 21K/BB.

As a team, the Cajuns pitching staff has surrendered just 40 walks in 217.0 innings and sports a 8.6K:BB ratio.

FAST AND FURIOUS…

Opposing teams have often times found themselves behind the Cajuns on the scoreboard this season – early.

Louisiana-Lafayette has outscored its opponents 101-18 in the first three innings with 45 of those runs coming in the first inning.

UL Lafayette is 24-1 when it scores first and has scored at least one run in the first inning of a game 13 times this season.

Last season the Cajuns outscored their opponents 187-37 in the first three innings.

Under head coach Stefni Lotief, the Cajuns are 150-9 (.943) when lighting up the scoreboard before the opponent does so.

PULLING AWAY...

While the Cajuns have been proficient in jumping out to an early lead, they have also had several games this season in which they have poured on the runs in the latter innings.

In the final three innings of games this season, the Cajuns are outscoring the opposition 78-10 which includes an 8-0 bulge in extra innings.

Louisiana-Lafayette is 20-0 this season when holding the lead in a game after five complete (includes six mercy-rule wins).

ATTACKING FROM ALL ANGLES...

The Cajuns have 11 players who have at least two multiple-hit games and nine different players with at least three multiple-RBI games.

Danyele Gomez leads the way with eight multi-hit games followed closely by Lacey Bertucci, Ashley Evans, Brittany Bryant and Hillary Guidry who each have six multi-hit games.

Gomez and Bertucci lead the way with seven multi-RBI outings.

Opposing teams will have a hard time trying to single out which player to pitch around.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THEIR OPPORTUNITIES...

As a team, the Cajuns are hitting .297 with runners in scoring position (80-for-269).

The Cajuns have come through this season with 49, 2-out RBI. Joy Webre leads the way with nine (9) two-out RBI.

Gomez has team-high 16 hits with runners in scoring position. Gomez is 16-for-40 (.400) with four two-out RBI.

NO SOUP FOR YOU...

Junior pitcher Brooke Mitchell has tossed five no-hitters so far this season.

At the McNeese Cowgirl Classic she turned the trick twice on Nevada including a 22-strikeout performance in a nine-inning, no-hitter Saturday, Feb. 28.

The right-handed hurler is chasing the school's single-season record for no-no's which is eight set by Kyla Hall in 1994.

Career No-Hitters
1. 18 Kyla Hall (1991-94)
2. 9 Brooke Mitchell (2002-present)
3. 6 Cheryl Longeway (1995-96)
3. 6 Stefni Whitton (1987-90)
5. 5 Jennifer Clendenin (1993-97)
5. 5 Kim Eisnaugle (1983-86)

COUNTDOWN TO 200...

Head coach Stefni Lotief needs just 24 more wins to reach 200 in her coaching career.

Lotief enters this week's play with an overall coaching record of 176-38 (.822) in three-plus seasons at the helm of the program which she helped pitch to prominence from 1987-1990.

SOFTBALL DID YOU KNOW?

Then-Southwestern Louisiana pitchers Cathy McAllister and Stefni Whitton (now current head coach Stefni Lotief) pitched back-to-back perfect games Tuesday, March 28, 1989, against Southeastern Louisiana. McAllister struck out 10 in a 5-0 gem while Whitton fanned 14 in a 7-0 win. For Whitton, it was the third perfect game of the season. The feat is believed to be an NCAA record.

THE YOUNG WILL LEAD...

With the loss of senior Jill Robertson and the continuing ailments of fellow senior Tiffany Grayson who was been limited to just 13 at bats, the Cajuns have had to use a lineup that most times features four freshmen and just three upperclassmen.

Not many teams who lose two starters to injury and then the #2 pitcher quits the first week of the season would be 28-4 and the winners of 5 in-season tournaments - but the Cajuns have overcome the circumstances.

Lacey Bertucci, Hillary Guidry and Holly Tankersley, all of whom are freshmen, have each started 30-plus games this season. All three have been a starter in each game that they've played.

MAKING THE SWITCH

Last season it was Jill Robertson switching from second base to shortstop. Robertson was moved to short, replacing departed All-American Alana Addison.

This season it's Danyele Gomez moving from right field to third base. Gomez was moved to third, replacing three-time All-American Becky McMurtry.

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES...

Several Cajuns are getting used to being in new positions this season.

Only three position starters from last season's team are currently playing in the same spot.

Brittany Bryant (second base), Crystal George (left field) and Joy Webre (catcher) are the only mainstays from 2003.

Here's a rundown of who is making a position debut this season: Lacey Bertucci (first base), Ashley Evans (right field), Danyele Gomez (third base), Hillary Guidry (center field), and Tiffany Hebert (shortstop).

GRAND BEGINNING...

Danyele Gomez and Brittany Bryant did it last season.

This season it was Lacey Bertucci's turn.

The true freshman and Folsom, La., native began her career with a solo home run in her first-ever collegiate at bat in the season opener against Kentucky at the ULM Mardi Gras Classic in the top of the second inning.

ON THE SHELF...

The Cajuns lost the services of senior Jill Robertson before the season even started.

Robertson suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first day of spring practice.

The Lafayette native was slated to move to an outfield position before the injury cut her season short.

MISTAKES WILL COST YOU...

Louisiana-Lafayette learned that lesson the hard way last Sunday against Georgia Tech at the ULM Mardi Gras Classic.

The Cajuns committed two crucial errors in the second inning allowing the Yellow Jackets to scratch for four unearned runs.

With the bases loaded and one out, catcher Joy Webre picked off a GT runner at second base seemingly getting the Cajuns out of the jam.

However, a grounder to third a couple of pitches later rolled between the legs of third baseman Danyele Gomez and into left field for the first of four unearned runs.

UL Lafayette suffered a 4-1 loss as Tech's Jessica Sallinger cooled off the red-hot bats allowing just three hits - only two after Holly Tankersley's home run in the top of the second.

CAJUNS SELECTED AS SUN BELT FAVORITE ONCE MORE...

Three seasons; three championships; only two starters gone from last season's Women's College World Series appearance.

More than enough evidence to support the selection of Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team as a unanimous choice to win the 2004 Sun Belt Conference championship, according to a preseason coaches poll announced on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The Cajuns, preseason No. 9 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25, received all six first-place votes from the league's six head coaches and 36 total points.

Louisiana-Lafayette, coming off a 47-11 season last year and a No. 8 ranking in the final national polls, claimed their third straight Sun Belt regular season title and fourth straight Sun Belt Tournament crown last season. In the postseason, the Ragin' Cajuns became the first Sun Belt school to advance to the WCWS.

Florida International, coming off its first NCAA Regional appearance last year, finished second in the poll with 28 votes.

Western Kentucky was selected third, while Middle Tennessee was picked fourth. North Texas, which is putting a softball team on the field for the first time since 1988, was picked fifth. New Mexico State was picked sixth.

2004 SUN BELT PRESEASON POLL
Preseason poll according to the Sun Belt school head coaches. First place votes in parentheses

1. Louisiana-Lafayette (6) 36
2. Florida International 28
3. Western Kentucky 21
4. Middle Tennessee 17
5. North Texas 14
6. New Mexico State 10

CAJUNS DEBUT AT NO. 9 IN NFCA TOP 25...

Just one day after being tabbed the Sun Belt Conference's favorite in the 2004 race, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team received one more preseason honor Wednesday, Jan. 28.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released its first poll of the 2004 season Wednesday and Louisiana-Lafayette once again found itself among the nation's top 10.

The Cajuns debuted at No. 9, the same identical ranking as the ESPN/USA Softball preseason poll which was released two weeks prior to the NFCA announcement.

Louisiana-Lafayette received 425 votes from the panel of 27 Division I head coaches.

Like the ESPN/USA Softball poll, the Cajuns were the lone ranked Sun Belt school and were ranked ahead of in-state rival No. 14 LSU.

GOMEZ DONNED THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE...

Two years ago, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball program sent the first Louisiana native to the USA Softball Team Camp trials. Now, the program has sent two Louisiana products and a representative for the third straight year.

USA Softball invited 46 athletes to participate in the 2003 Olympic Trials, Sept. 2-7, 2003 at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

On the list were current Louisiana-Lafayette sophomore and Metairie native Danyele Gomez and former All-American third baseman Becky McMurtry.

"Our players' being invited to the Olympic trials is the highest compliment to our program and our team and our community,” said head coach Stefni Lotief. “These girls are considered to be among the best in the nation."

In the past three years, UL Lafayette has been the lone softball program in the Sun Belt Conference to send representatives to a USA Softball camp. This year, the program will was the only one from Louisiana represented.

CAJUNS RECOGNIZED FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESSES...

It's been a longstanding tradition that excellence on the field and in the classroom goes hand-in-hand for Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball program.

The 2003 season proved to be no different.

A trip to the Women's College World Series highlighted the accolades on the playing field while a total of six players being named scholar-athletes by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association along with a team grade point average that ranked 21st in Division I were the highlights in classroom performance.

The NFCA bestows the distinguished honor to those athletes who conclude the academic year with a 3.5 GPA or better. The Cajuns total of six meant that 1/3 of the entire 2003 squad sported a 3.5 GPA or better.

“I am continued to be amazed at the resolve that this team shows for excellence on and off the field,” said UL Lafayette head coach Stefni Lotief. “These are our future community leaders and I know that they will continue the pursuit of excellence.

“I am proud to be on the same team with them,” Lotief added. “This university, our community and their families can be proud of their academic accomplishments.”

The recipients of the scholar-athlete award were: Tiffany Hebert (exercise science), Summar Lapeyrouse (exercise science), Becky McMurtry (general studies), Rachel Reese (pre-med), Jill Robertson (mechanical engineering) and Joy Webre (chemistry).

Both Reese and McMurtry were named the Outstanding Graduates for their respective colleges. Reese is currently enrolled at the University of Texas Medical School while McMurtry is in Phoenix pursuing her goal of playing professional softball.

DID YOU KNOW???

The Ragin' Cajuns softball team has appeared in the NCAA Regionals in 13 of the last 14 seasons and the last five straight (1999-present)…UL Lafayette appeared in the 1993, 1995, 1996 and 2003 Women's College World Series…Last season's appearance in the WCWS marked fourth in program history and first under head coach Stefni Lotief.

DID YOU KNOW???

The Louisiana-Lafayette softball program has produced 32 All-Americans and 13 Academic All-Americans since the 1989 season…Current head coach Stefni Lotief was the first All-American in Cajuns softball history and was the first first-team member as well…Last season, senior Becky McMurtry and freshman Danyele Gomez were both named All-Americans marking the fifth straight season that the Cajuns have had at least one All-American and 14th in the last 15 seasons.

A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY...

When it comes to the NCAA Division I Women's Softball Championships, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball program has been a fixture over the past decade.

In 2003, the Cajuns made their fifth straight NCAA Regionals appearance and 13th in the last 14 years. Since 1990, UL Lafayette has missed the “Field of 64” only once (1998).

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Diamond Notes: Cajuns Host Nicholls State Wednesday at 5 p.m.

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