University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Diamond Notes: Cajuns Open Eight-Game Road Trip at Northwestern State
3/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Monday, March 29, 2004
SEASON
QUICK FACTS...
Overall record:
30-4
Sun Belt Record: 0-0
Record Last 10 Games: 8-2
Current Streak: Won 2 (March 24-present)
Home Record: 12-1
Away Record: 6-1
Neutral Record: 12-2
Record vs. Midwest Region: 14-2
Record vs. Ranked Teams: 1-1
Current Rankings: No. 10 (NFCA); No. 9 (ESPN/USA
Softball)
GAMEDAY INFORMATION...
Date: Thursday,
April 24, 2003 - 5 p.m. vs. Northwestern State
Location: Natchitoches, La.
Venue: Demon Softball Complex (500)
The Teams: No. 10 Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns
(30-4, 0-0 Sun Belt), Northwestern State Demons (18-18,
5-7 Southland)
The Coaches: Louisiana-Lafayette - Stefni Lotief
(178-38, fourth season at UL Lafayette and overall);
Northwestern State - Eileen Schmidt (45-51, 2nd season
at NSU and overall)
The Series: Cajuns lead 59-13
Last Meeting: Feb. 15, 2004 in Lafayette, La. -
Cajuns won 5-2 (18th Annual Louisiana Classics)
Cajuns Most Recently: Swept with Nicholls State
2-0, 6-2 – Wednesday, March 29
Demons Most Recently: Won 2-of-3 versus
Louisiana-Monroe 4-2, 1-5, 7-0 -
Saturday-Saturday, March 27-28
Cajuns Streak: Won 2
Demons Steak: Won 1
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 Northwestern State stats visit: http://www.nsudemons.com/sports/softball/stats/TEAMSTAT.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/2839
NOW BATTING...
The 10th-ranked Ragin' Cajuns (30-4) open an eight-game road trip with a 5 p.m. doubleheader against Northwestern State in Natchitoches on Wednesday, March 31…The two games will be the Cajuns lone action for the week as the team has the weekend off for the second straight week…The Cajuns and Demons will be meeting for the second and third times this season – Louisiana-Lafayette posted a 5-2 win on Sunday, Feb. 15 in the 18th Annual Louisiana Classics…The Cajuns enter the twinbill on a two-game win streak after sweeping a pair of games from Nicholls State last week in the final home games until Saturday, April 17…Wednesday's double-dip will be the fourth twinbill of the season with the Cajuns having swept their previous three…UL Lafayette will enjoy a nine-day break following Wednesday's games before venturing out west to Las Cruces, N.M.., for its Sun Belt opening weekend.
THE SERIES – CAJUNS LEAD 59-13
The Cajuns and Demons series began in 1982 with a doubleheader in Lafayette. The two teams met four times that season with each team winning twice on their own home field.
Louisiana-Lafayette has owned the series since then - winning 57 of the last 68 contests. At one point in the series the Cajuns won 21 straight meetings before falling 5-1 on April 14, 1998 in Natchitoches.
Wednesday's doubleheader will mark the 73rd and 74th meetings all-time between the two schools. Louisiana-Lafayette holds an all-time lead of 59-13.
UL Lafayette leads the series 28-6 in Natchitoches and is 5-2 in its last seven appearances at the Demon Softball Complex.
UL Lafayette holds a 30-5 advantage in Lafayette while NSU leads the series 2-1 on a neutral field.
UL Lafayette has won 11 of the last 13 meetings and six-of-eight under head coach Stefni Lotief.
The two teams met earlier this season in the 18th Annual Louisiana Classics at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park with UL Lafayette prevailing 5-2 on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Louisiana-Lafayette swept a doubleheader last season in Natchitoches posting a 1-0, 6-3 sweep on April 24, 2004. Brooke Mitchell got the win in both ends of the double-dip.
CAJUNS-DEMONS LAST 10 MEETINGS
(Cajuns lead 8-2)
%Feb. 15, 2004 - @Cajuns
5, Demons 2
April 24, 2003 – Cajuns 6, @Demons 3
April 24, 2003 – Cajuns 1, @Demons 0
$March 1, 2003 - @Cajuns 3, Demons 2
#Feb. 23, 2002 - @Cajuns 8, Demons 0
Feb. 16, 2002 - !Demons 5, Cajuns 3
April 4, 2001 - Demons 5, @Cajuns 4
April 4, 2001 - @Cajuns 7, Demons 1
April 15, 2000 - @Cajuns 4, Demons 3
April 15, 2000 - @Cajuns 6, Demons 0
%18th Annual Louisiana Classics (Lafayette)
$ 17th Annual Louisiana Classics (Lafayette)
# 16th Annual Louisiana Classics (Lafayette)
! Oklahoma/Nike Classic (Norman, Okla.)
ON DECK...
No. 10 Louisiana-Lafayette will take the weekend off, a second straight occurrence, and return to action next Saturday (April 10) when they travel to Las Cruces, N.M., for a 2 p.m. (CT) doubleheader at New Mexico State (9-28 entering this week)…The doubleheader will mark the beginning of the Cajuns defense of its three straight Sun Belt Conference regular season championships…The Cajuns will also play the Aggies on Easter Sunday to wrap up the four-game series.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK...
The Ragin' Cajuns snapped a two-game losing streak against NCAA Midwest Region opponents with a 2-0, 6-2 doubleheader sweep of Nicholls State on Wednesday, March 24…Brooke Mitchell became the first pitcher in program history to notch 300 strikeouts in a single season with her sixth in the first game of the doubleheader…Mitchell fanned 25 batters over 14 innings in the twinbill picking up both wins for her 23rd and 24th wins of the season…Mitchell struck out double digits in both ends of the double-dip for her 18th and 19th double-digit strikeout performances of the season…Holly Tankersley ripped her 10th home run of the season in the first game, a solo shot in the sixth inning that added insurance for the Cajuns in a 2-0 win…Danyele Gomez went 2-for-5 in the sweep (.400 average), to raise her batting average six points up to .282…Mitchell collected her 70th win of her career in the second game as she moved into sole possession of fifth place on the program's all-time career victories list.
LIFE ON THE ROAD...
After enjoying the comforts of home for 10 of the season's first 16 games, the Cajuns have spent 15 of the last 18 outings away from the friendly confines of Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park, a span of five weeks, and will do so the next eight.
Louisiana-Lafayette enters Wednesday's doubleheader with Northwestern State beginning an eight-game road trip that keeps them away from Lafayette for the next three-plus weeks – the next game at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park is slated for Saturday, April 17 against Florida International.
UL Lafayette is 6-1 on the opponent's home field this season and 12-2 on a neutral field for an 18-3 record away from home.
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 three 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. 9, dropping one spot from the previous two weeks' ranking.
Both Top 25 polls are slated for release Tuesday afternoon.
THE LAST TIME OUT…March 24, 2004 vs. Nicholls State
LAFAYETTE – Six runs in the game's first two innings propelled the 10th-ranked Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team to a 6-2 victory and the doubleheader sweep of Nicholls State Wednesday evening at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park.
Earlier in the day, the Cajuns collected a 2-0 win behind a 14-strikeout performance from junior ace hurler Brooke Mitchell in the twinbill opener. Holly Tankersely and Danyele Gomez each had two hits to pace the eight-hit performance by the Cajuns' offense in the nightcap.
The win was the Cajuns 23rd straight over Nicholls State dating back to the 1998 season and was the 30th of the season.
Mitchell fanned 11 Colonel hitters for her second double-digit strikeout game of the doubleheader and 19th of the season. Combined with the 14 strikeouts from game one, Mitchell ended the day with 25 strikeouts in 14 innings of action.
Mitchell notched her eighth straight double-digit strikeout game against the Colonels and has now fanned 101 NSU batters in nine career appearances and 59 1/3 innings.
The victory was Mitchell's 70th of her career and improved her to 24-3 on the season making her two wins shy of tying her personal single-season best of 26 set last season.
The Cajuns (30-4) pushed across three runs in the first inning on three hits – all with two outs.
Gomez and Joy Webre each drew two-out walks from NSU starter Nichole Wagner. Wagner then gave up an RBI single to Brittany Bryant.
The Cajuns got an extra run out of the play when left fielder Kristi Blanchard passed up the ball allowing it to roll to the warning track. The mishap allowed Gomez to round third for a 2-0 lead and Bryant wound up on third base.
On the very next at bat, Lacey Bertucci scooted a ball up the middle of the infield for an RBI single that scored Bryant for a 3-0 advantage.
Louisiana-Lafayette chased Wagner out of the game in the second inning with three more runs. Tankersley drove in the fourth run of the game when she plated Tiffany Hebert on an RBI single up the middle.
After an illegal pitch brought home pinch runner Michelle Bergeaux for a 5-0 lead, Gomez ripped a towering double that landed at the base of the center field wall to score Tankersley.
Junior ace hurler Brooke Mitchell struck out 14 and scattered six hits to make the lead stand as the Cajuns collected their 22nd straight victory over the Colonels.
Lacey Bertucci lifted a sacrifice fly into left field in the second inning to score Brittany Bryant with the winning run and freshman Holly Tankersley hit her 10th home run of the season in the sixth for an insurance run.
Sarah Eads (2-for-4) led the Colonels six-hit attack which came up empty against Mitchell who continued her dominance of NSU. In eight appearances versus Nicholls, Mitchell has now struck out 90 batters in 52 1/3 innings and surrendered just two earned runs.
The game featured yet another Mitchell milestone as she notched her 300th strikeout of the season with her sixth whiff of the game. The Pasadena, Texas, native became the first pitcher in program history to amass 300 strikeouts in a single season.
The 14 strikeouts marked her 18th double-digit strikeout performance of the season and moved her to 308 for the season.
Louisiana-Lafayette pushed across the winning run in the bottom half of the second. Brittany Bryant led off the inning with a walk, one of three issued by Meier in the game. Bryant then moved to second base on a passed ball.
Crystal George then checked her swing, but the ball landed fair. Bryant moved over to third on the grounder.
Bertucci brought Bryant home on the next at bat when she lifted a fly out into left field for the sacrifice RBI.
The Cajuns added an insurance run in the sixth when Tankersley drilled a pitch over the center field wall.
Nicholls' best shot to score came in the fourth when the Colonels picked up two hits, but would leave runners on first and second when designated player Nichole Wagner struck out looking to end the at bat.
DOUBLEHEADER DELIGHT...
Dating back to a doubleheader spilt at UL Monroe on April 24, 2002, the Cajuns have swept 26 of their last 29 doubleheaders.
UL Lafayette has swept 45 of 53 doubleheaders under Stefni Lotief, since 2001.
So far this season, the Cajuns have swept all three doubleheaders that they've been involved in sweeping Nicholls State (Feb. 18 & March 24) and UL Monroe (Feb. 25).
The Cajuns have 13 twinbills remaining this regular season.
HOW THE CAJUNS STACK UP WITH THE NATION'S BEST...
Louisiana-Lafayette faced the U.S. Olympic Team while at the KIA Klassic, hanging tough with the nation's best in a 3-0 loss.
Brooke Mitchell fanned six batters and surrendered just seven hits to the Olympians. The only three runs the U.S. scored came off of three solo home runs. Team USA's three runs marked only the third time in 23 games that the Olympians were held under four runs in a game.
This past Sunday, the Olympic Team faced No. 2 UCLA and crushed the Bruins with an 11-0 run-rule rout. UCAL ace Keira Goerl struggled against the Olympians allowing 11 runs off of 11 hits.
On Friday, Arizona dealt with Olympians and were handed a 6-1 loss. UA ace Alicia Hollowell gave up six runs (all earned) and six hits while fanning five.
COACHES VS. THE OPPOSITION...
Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Stefni Lotief is 6-2 in her career versus Northwestern State. This will be Lotief's second trip to the Demon Softball Complex.
Northwestern State head coach Eileen Schmidt is 0-4 in her career versus Louisiana-Lafayette.
Schmidt is in her second season as head coach at Northwestern State taking over for current Missouri head coach Ty Singleton after he left following the 2002 season. Prior to her NSU stint, Schmidt was an assistant at Arkansas for three seasons.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE...Feb. 15, 2004 at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park
LAFAYETTE – Brooke Mitchell tied the school record for strikeouts and Holly Tankersley hit two home runs and drove in three runs as No. 9 Louisiana-Lafayette defeated Northwestern State 5-2 Sunday morning in game three of the 18th Annual Louisiana Classics.
Mitchell struck out 16 Demon batters, tying the school record set by Kim Eisnaugle and tied by her last season against Florida International in the Sun Belt Tournament semifinals.
Tankersley ended the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Both Lacey Bertucci and Leslie Pierce also had two hits for the Cajuns.
Louisiana-Lafayette (5-1) pushed across the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. It marked the first time in six games that the Cajuns scored in the opening frame.
Hillary Guidry got a one-out single into right field. Danyele Gomez then followed with a single into the right center field gap that brought Guidry to third base.
Joy Webre would bring home the Cajuns first run of the game when she lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Guidry from third.
Lacey Bertucci dumped a single into shallow left field to give UL Lafayette runners on the corners, but NSU starting pitcher Crista Miller struck out Brittany Bryant to end the threat.
The Cajuns added one more in the second inning when freshman Holly Tankersley homered over the left center field wall for a 2-0 lead.
The Cajuns added two more runs in the top of the third off Tankersley's second home run of the game. Tankerlsey's homer gave the Cajuns a 4-0 lead.
The Demons would strand two runners in the fourth. Lindsay Danzy led off with a walk. With one out, Kiana Scott singled through the left side to give NSU two base runners.
Mitchell would strand the two runners, striking out Hunt and Glenn. UL Lafayette added another run in the sixth inning when Leslie Pierce picked up her first career home run.
The Demons (2-5) broke the shutout in the bottom half of the sixth win two runs off of four hits to trim the deficit to 5-2.
Mitchell closed the door in the bottom of the seventh striking out the first two batters and fielding a bunt from Nicole Martin.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Demons, who opened the season 9-5 with a championship at the UNLV Mini Tournament, have lost 13 of their last 22 contests and sit at the .500 mark entering Wednesday's doubleheader (18-18).
NSU took 2-of-3 from Louisiana-Monroe this past weekend to improve its Southland Conference record to 5-7.
The Demons are opening a 13-game homestand when the Cajuns come calling on Wednesday and are 5-2 on their home turf.
NSU's leading hitter is Lindsay Leftwich who is batting .344. Kiana Scott applies the power in the lineup with a team-best seven home runs and 23 RBI. As a team the Demons are hitting .262 with 73 extra base hits (44 doubles, 11 triples, 18 home runs). Shay Hunt leads the team with four triples.
In the pitching circle, freshman Amie Ford has been the Demons' most consistent performer. Ford has a 1.00 ERA and a 10-4 record. She has 143 strikeouts in 112 innings and has given up just 16 earned runs.
Splitting time with Ford this season has been senior Crista Miller. Miller has struggled at times and is 4-12 with a 2.70 ERA. She has struck out 66 batters over 88 innings, but has issued a measly seven free passes.
NSU has struggled in the field, committing 46 errors through 36 games.
Northwestern State owns wins over Arkansas and Cal State Fullerton and played Texas to one run. NSU has lost five games by one run and five games by two runs.
CAJUNS VS. LOUISIANA TEAMS…
Wednesday's twinbill will be the Cajuns 14th and 15th games against in-state foes this season.
UL Lafayette is 12-1 versus teams from Louisiana this season.
The Cajuns are scheduled to play two more games in the regular season against in-state competition with a doubleheader at Louisiana Tech on Wednesday, April 14 being the only other games against Louisiana schools.
Historically, the Cajuns have dominated their in-state competition. UL Lafayette owns a winning record against each team in the state except for I-10 rival Louisiana State University.
Louisiana-Lafayette is 415-121 (.774) all-time against Louisiana schools that sponsor softball.
UL Lafayette is 54-9 (.857) against Louisiana teams under head coach Stefni Lotief.
The Cajuns had won 27 straight regular season outings against their in-state brethren before a 1-0 loss to McNeese State on Sunday, Feb. 29.
CAJUNS VS. MIDWEST REGION TEAMS…
UL Lafayette will enter Wednesday's twinbill with Northwestern State sporting a record of 14-2 versus teams competing within the NCAA Midwest Region.
Of the Cajuns remaining 26 regular season contests, 22 will be against teams that comprise the Midwest Region.
The Midwest Region includes teams from the Big 12, Missouri Valley, Southland and Sun Belt Conferences.
MITCHELL REACHES 300 STRIKEOUTS…
With her sixth strikeout in the first game of a twinbill against Nicholls State last Wednesday, junior pitcher Brooke Mitchell clinched her 300th whiff of the season.
Mitchell becomes the first pitcher in program history to amass 300 strikeouts in a single season.
Nicholls' Jodi Robin was the victim for the historic milestone.
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 319 strikeouts this season in 28 appearances - that's an average of over 12 strikeouts per game.
She has tallied at least five (5) strikeouts in 55 of her last 69 appearances and has 29 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 18 of her 26 starts this season and notched 15 strikeouts in six innings of relief against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, Feb. 21.
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 (no-hitter)
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 (one-hitter)
2/27/04 vs. Nevada 16K (no-hitter)
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 (six innings, no hits allowed)
3/24/04 vs. Nicholls State 14K
3/24/04 vs. Nicholls State 11K
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 762 strikeouts recorded in two-plus seasons and 96 appearances, Mitchell is within striking distance of first place.
The Pasadena, Texas, native is 58 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.) 762K
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 in game one of the Cajuns doubleheader against Nicholls State last Wednesday, Brooke Mitchell jumped past Kim Eisnaugle into sole possession of fifth place on the school's all-time career victories list with her 69th triumph.
Then in the second game, Mitchell collected her 70th win making her one of just five pitchers in program history to reach 70 wins.
Mitchell needs just eight more wins to tie head coach Stefni Lotief for third place and 14 to tie former teammate Melissa Coronado for second.
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. 70 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 24 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 two (2) wins away from tying her personal career best of 26 wins set last season when she went 26-9 and needs 11 more victories to tie Coronado.
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)
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 51 home runs through 34 games with 13 different players contributing including each player in the starting lineup.
Holly Tankersley leads the way with 10 dingers. Danyele Gomez, last season's leader with 20 homers, has seven and is closely followed by Lacey Bertucci, Brittany Bryant and Joy Webre with six.
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 1.5 home runs per game, the Cajuns are on pace to hit 90 home runs through the end of the regular season (not counting the Sun Belt Tournament and NCAA Regionals, etc.) which would establish a new record for the third straight season.
Louisiana-Lafayette has clubbed 22 home runs at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park (in 12 games). Tankersley has hit the most home runs in the friendly confines with five.
GOOD EYES...
Cajun hitters have drawn 159 walks through 34 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 25 walks. Holly Tankersley is a close second with 22 walks and a .470 on-base percentage.
Brittany Bryant (23), Danyele Gomez (15), Crystal George (13) and Lacey Bertucci (12), Ashley Evans (10) and Joy Webre have double-digit walks as well giving the Cajuns eight batters who have drawn 10-plus walks through.
Hebert has 25 free passes to 21 strikeouts and sports a .404 on-base percentage. Crystal George joins Hebert as the two toughest to strikeout on the team with 13 walks to just seven strikeouts (66 at bats).
OFF AND RUNNING...
The Cajuns 30-4 record through 34 games is the program's best start under head coach Stefni Lotief and the best since the 1993 and 1994 teams got off to a 32-2 start.
In both of those seasons, the Cajuns went on to win a program-record 57 games.
MORE IS BETTER…
Through 34 games, UL Lafayette has 97 extra base hits. The Cajuns have hit 43 doubles, three triples and 51 home runs.
Holly Tankersley leads the way with 16 extra-baggers (6 doubles, 10 home runs).
MILESTONES WATCH…
Joy Webre needs seven (7) more hits to reach 100 in her career. She is also 25 RBI away from 100.
Brooke Mitchell needs two wins to tie her personal single-season best. She is also 38 strikeouts away from 800 in her career.
Brittany Bryant is five runs from setting a new personal single-season best. She has 22 runs this season (scored 26 as a freshman in 2003).
Danyele Gomez needs eight RBI to reach 100 in her career. She enters the Northwestern State twinbill with 92 career RBI. She needs just six hits to reach 100 for her career.
Crystal George needs two (2) hits for 100 in her career.
THE GUNSLINGER…
Junior catcher Joy Webre has show just how strong and accurate her arm can be.
The third-year starter has thrown out 16 baserunners attempting to steal. Opposing teams are just 15-of-31 in the stolen base department.
Her freshman season she threw out 20 baserunners and last season had seven. She enters this weekend's play having thrown out 43 runners attempting to steal in her career.
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 34 walks through 28 appearances and 177 2/3 innings.
Her strikes:walks ratio is an astounding 9.4K/BB. Opponents are hitting just .120 against her.
As a team, the Cajuns pitching staff has surrendered just 43 walks in 231.0 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 108-18 in the first three innings with 48 of those runs coming in the first inning. The Cajuns have outscored opponents 48-2 in the first inning through 34 games.
UL Lafayette is 26-1 when it scores first and has scored at least one run in the first inning of a game 14 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 152-9 (.945) 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 (plus extras) of games this season, the Cajuns are outscoring the opposition 79-11 which includes an 8-0 bulge in extra innings.
Louisiana-Lafayette is 22-0 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 nine multi-hit games followed closely by Lacey Bertucci, Ashley Evans, Brittany Bryant, Holly Tankersley 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 .300 with runners in scoring position (84-for-280).
The Cajuns have come through this season with 51, 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 and the career record of 18 also set by Hall from 1991-94.
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 22 more wins to reach 200 in her coaching career.
Lotief enters this week's play with an overall coaching record of 178-38 (.824) 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.
MITCHELL NAMED TO EXLCUSIVE WATCH LIST...
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball pitcher Brooke Mitchell was one of 40 players named to the third annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year watch list, as announced by the Amateur Softball Association.
Mitchell, the 2003 Sun Belt Conference and Louisiana Pitcher of the Year, was the only player from the Sun Belt named to the initial watch list.
The junior from Pasadena, Texas, was selected the Sun Belt Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 2003, as well as being named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-South Region First Team.
Last season she won a career-best 26 games and struck out a school-record 279. She threw four no-hitters and pitched three shutouts at the NCAA Fullerton Regional en route to being named the Regional MVP.
The All-American candidate has picked up right where she left off last season. Last weekend at the ULM Mardi Gras Classic she posted a 2-1 record with a 0.78 earned run average and struck out 33 batters in 18 innings of work.
The Player of the Year Award, considered the Heisman Trophy of women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country.
Former Cajuns All-Americans Alana Addison and Becky McMurtry were both one named to the list in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
The list will be reduced to 25 players on April 6, then to 10 players on April 28. Three finalists will be named on May 11.
The winner of the 2004 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced at the Women's College World series Oklahoma City, Okla. and recognized during the ASA National Council Meeting in Mobile, Ala., in November.
A replica of the award is on permanent display in the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, along with photos of the winner. An additional replica of the award will be presented to the player's academic institution.
The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of amateur softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. As the National Governing Body, the ASA is responsible for identifying, selecting and training male and female athletes to compete in World, Pan American and Olympic competitions.
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 --
