University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Diamond Notes: Cajuns Begin Defense of Conference Titles This Weekend at New Mexico State
4/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
SEASON
QUICK FACTS...
Overall record:
32-4
Sun Belt Record: 0-0
Record Last 10 Games: 8-2
Current Streak: Won 4 (March 24-present)
Home Record: 12-1
Away Record: 8-1
Neutral Record: 12-2
Record vs. Midwest Region: 16-2
Record vs. Ranked Teams: 1-1
Current Rankings: No. 8 (NFCA); No. 7 (ESPN/USA
Softball)
SERIES INFORMATION...
Dates: Saturday, April 10 – 2 p.m. (DH)
Sunday, April 11 – 2 p.m. (DH)
Location: Las Cruces, N.M.
Venue: Presley Aksew Softball Complex (1,050)
The Teams: No. 8 Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns (32-4,
0-0 Sun Belt), New Mexico State Aggies (9-30, 0-0 Sun
Belt)
The Coaches: Louisiana-Lafayette - Stefni Lotief
(180-38, fourth season at UL Lafayette and overall); New
Mexico State – Kathy Rodolph (9-30, 1st season at NMSU;
202-125, 6th season overall)
The Series: Cajuns lead 13-0 (8-0 in Lafayette,
5-0 in Las Cruces) The Last Series: April 12-13, 2003 in
Lafayette, La. – Cajuns swept NMSU 17-0, 14-0, 9-0, 18-3
The Last Time in Las Cruces: April 20-21, 2002 –
Cajuns swept NMSU 17-7, 11-3, 9-5, 6-0
Cajuns Most Recently: Swept with Northwestern
State 2-0, 8-0 – Wednesday, March 31
Aggies Most Recently: Swept by Texas Tech 1-2,
0-3 – Wednesday, March 31
Cajuns Streak: Won 4
Aggies Steak: Lost 2
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 New Mexico State stats visit:
http://nmstatesports.ocsn.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/nmst-w-softbl-CumulativeStats.html
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/2860
For Sun Belt Softball Tournament Information visit: http://www.ragincajuns.com/softball/Stories/2004/SBCTournament.htm
NOW BATTING...
The 8th-ranked Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team (32-4) will open defense of its three straight Sun Belt Conference regular season championships this weekend as the squad ventures out west to Las Cruces, N.M., for a four-game series with New Mexico State (9-30) to open the Sun Belt slate for both squads.
The Ragin' Cajuns, the only champion that the Sun Belt has ever known since forming the league in 2001, will face the Aggies on Saturday, April 10 in a 2 p.m. (CT) twinbill to open the four-game set and then conclude the series Sunday, April 11 with a 2 p.m. (CT) doubleheader.
The weekend set marks the Cajuns last trip to Las Cruces with NMSU as a member of the Sun Belt Conference (NMSU visits Lafayette in 2005 and the Aggies leave for the Western Athletic Conference in 2006).
The series is a continuation of the Cajuns current 8-game road trip which runs through Wednesday, April 14. UL Lafayette is currently 2-0 on the road swing after sweeping Northwestern State last Wednesday.
UL Lafayette enters the series riding a four-game win streak having posted shutouts in three of the four victories. The Cajuns come in as the highest ranked team in the NCAA Midwest Region (7th in ESPN poll, 8th in NFCA poll).
NMSU is coming off a doubleheader loss at the hands of Texas Tech last Wednesday. The Aggies will be opening an eight-game, Sun Belt homestand as Western Kentucky comes to town next weekend.
Louisiana-Lafayette has never lost to NMSU and owns a 13-0 lead in the all-time series which began in 2001 when the Aggies joined the Sun Belt. Last season, the Cajuns outscored NMSU 58-3 in a four-game sweep in Lafayette and has outscored the Aggies 101-18 in the last eight meetings.
The Ragin' Cajuns are opening their Sun Belt slate on the road for the first time and are 3-0 all-time in SBC openers.
ON DECK...
No. 8 Louisiana-Lafayette will wrap up its current eight-game road trip by visiting in-state foe Louisiana Tech on Wednesday, April 14 for a 4 p.m. doubleheader in Ruston.
The Cajuns will then return home to face their main competition in the Sun Belt Conference race – Florida International. FIU comes to town next weekend for a four-game series April 17-18 at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park. The series will be the Sun Belt home opener for Louisiana-Lafayette.
THE SERIES – CAJUNS LEAD 13-0
The Cajuns and Aggies began competing against one another when New Mexico State joined the Sun Belt Conference in 2001. Since then, the two teams have played 13 times over the past three seasons.
UL Lafayette leads the all-time series 13-0 (8-0 in Lafayette, 5-0 in Las Cruces).
This weekend will mark meetings No. 14-17 between the two schools and the Cajuns last trip to Las Cruces with NMSU as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
Louisiana-Lafayette is making its second trip to Las Cruces for a regular season series, having last visited in April 2002.
UL Lafayette swept NMSU by the count of 43-15 April 20-21, 2002 as the Cajuns clubbed 12 home runs over four games and hit four in a game twice. In the final game of the series on April 21 (game 2), the Cajuns' second home run of the game broke the school record for home runs in a single-season - a homer by Alana Addison which was the team's 62nd of the year.
UL Lafayette has scored eight or more runs against NMSU nine (9) times in 13 meetings and has posted a shutout eight (8) times.
Last season, the two teams met in Lafayette April 12-13, 2003. The Cajuns crushed the outmanned Aggies 58-3 over the four-game set picking up 17-0, 14-0, 9-0, and 18-3 run-rule routs. UL Lafayette hit a robust .526 (51-for-97) and belted 13 home runs and nine doubles.
The Cajuns scored 18 runs in the series finale last season, marking the most runs scored under head coach Stefni Lotief.
The two teams have met just once in the Sun Belt Tournament, meeting in the second round of the 2001 event in Las Cruces, with UL Lafayette posting an 8-4 win en route to its second straight tournament championship.
THE CAJUNS-AGGIES SERIES
GAME-BY-GAME
April 27, 2001 -
@Cajuns 1, Aggies 0
April 28, 2001 - @Cajuns 8, Aggies 0
April 28, 2001 - @Cajuns 1, Aggies 0
April 29, 2001 - @Cajuns 3, Aggies 0
#May 12, 2001 - Cajuns 8, @Aggies 4
April 20, 2002 - Cajuns 17, @Aggies 7
April 20, 2002 - Cajuns 11, @Aggies 3
April 21, 2002 - Cajuns 9, @Aggies 5
April 21, 2002 - Cajuns 6, @Aggies 0
April 12, 2003 – @Cajuns 17, Aggies 0
April 12, 2003 - @Cajuns 14, Aggies 0
April 13, 2003 - @Cajuns 9, Aggies 0
April 13, 2003 - @Cajuns 18, Aggies 3
# Sun Belt Tournament - Las Cruces, N.M.
COACHES VS. THE OPPOSITION
Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Stefni Lotief is 13-0 in her career versus New Mexico State. Lotief is 5-0 vs. the Aggies at Presley Askew Softball Complex.
New Mexico State head coach Kathy Rodolph is meeting the Ragin' Cajuns for the first time in her career. Rodolph is in her first season at NMSU after taking over for Lea Ann Jarvis who resigned after last season's 8-55 finish.
CAJUNS IN SUN BELT OPENERS
Louisiana-Lafayette is 3-0 all-time in Sun Belt Conference openers collecting wins over Middle Tennessee (2001), Western Kentucky (2002) and Middle Tennessee (2003) – all of which came at home in the friendly confines of the Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park.
The Cajuns have won six straight games in Sun Belt-opening series and sport an 11-1 record with the lone loss coming to Western Kentucky in the 2002 series opener.
For the first time in four years, the Cajuns will be opening their Sun Belt slate on the road.
THE SUN BELT'S DYNASTY
Like the Chicago Bulls of the early and late 1990s or Tennessee and Connecticut in women's basketball, Louisiana-Lafayette is quickly becoming the dynasty of the Sun Belt Conference's softball league.
Since the league began play in 2001, the Ragin' Cajuns have won the regular season and tournament titles each year – the only champion that the league has ever known.
Louisiana-Lafayette is 47-5 (.904) all-time in Sun Belt play and has posted a 13-0 record in the league's postseason tournament.
The Ragin' Cajuns have participated in 13 Sun Belt series since joining the league and have never lost one. The only time UL Lafayette failed to win a series was when the Cajuns split a four-game set at FIU last season.
LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE
YEAR-BY-YEAR SUN BELT RECORDS
2001 19-1
2002 15-1
2003 13-3
Overall 47-5
CAJUNS ON THE ROAD IN SUN BELT PLAY
Since the league was formed in 2001, the Cajuns are 24-4 on the road in Sun Belt Conference play. Last season the Cajuns went 5-3 in Sun Belt action away from Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park.
UL Lafayette will play 12 games in Sun Belt play on the road this season.
Following the NMSU series the Cajuns will visit North Texas (April 24-25) and Middle Tennessee (May 8-9) for the remaining eight road Sun Belt contests.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK...
The Ragin' Cajuns extended their current winning streak to four games with a 2-0, 8-0 doubleheader sweep of Northwestern State Wednesday, March 31…The double-dip opened the Cajuns current eight-game road trip…Brooke Mitchell struck out 14 and 12 in both ends of the doubleheader respectively for her 20th and 21st double-digit strikeout games of the season…Holly Tankersley went 5-for-5 at the plate and reached base in all seven of her at bats to raise her batting average 35 points from .330 to .365…Mitchell collected both wins in the twinbill to increase her season total to 26 as she tied her personal single-season best for victories…The Cajuns had seven extra base hits against the Demons picking up five doubles and two home runs…Joy Webre (2 home runs) and Brittany Bryant (three doubles) were the top performers in terms of extra baggers…Mitchell held NSU to no hits through 4 2/3 innings in game two before being relieved by Heather Bobbitt with two outs in the fifth inning…The wins improved the Cajuns to 16-2 versus NCAA Midwest Region teams and 14-1 against teams from Louisiana.
LIFE ON THE ROAD...
After enjoying the comforts of home for 10 of the season's first 16 games, the Cajuns have spent 17 of the last 20 outings away from the friendly confines of Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park, a span of six-plus weeks, and will do so the next six games.
Louisiana-Lafayette enters this weekend's series with New Mexico State continuing an eight-game road trip that keeps them away from Lafayette for the next week – the next game at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park is slated for Saturday, April 17 against Florida International.
UL Lafayette is 8-1 on the opponent's home field this season and 12-2 on a neutral field for an 20-3 record away from home.
CAJUNS IN THE POLLS...
Louisiana-Lafayette ended the month of March with the program's highest ranking under head coach Stefni Lotief.
In the ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 the Cajuns are currently ranked No. 7 which makes them the highest ranked team in the NCAA Midwest Region. The Cajuns were ranked ahead of Washington, Stanford, Michigan, Alabama and Tennessee.
In the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll, Louisiana-Lafayette is back where it began the season – ranked No. 8. The Cajuns jumped two spots from the previous poll.
The ESPN.com/USA Softball poll is released weekly on Tuesday afternoons while the NFCA poll is slated for release on Wednesday mornings.
DOUBLEHEADER DELIGHT...
Dating back to a doubleheader spilt at UL Monroe on April 24, 2002, the Cajuns have swept 27 of their last 30 doubleheaders.
UL Lafayette has swept 46 of 54 doubleheaders under Stefni Lotief, since 2001. In Sun Belt play, the Cajuns have swept 20 of the 24 doubleheaders they have been involved in.
So far this season, the Cajuns have swept all four doubleheaders that they've been involved in sweeping Nicholls State (Feb. 18 & March 24), UL Monroe (Feb. 25) and Northwestern State (March 31).
The Cajuns have 12 twinbills remaining this regular season (10 in Sun Belt play).
CAJUNS VS. MIDWEST REGION TEAMS…
UL Lafayette will enter this weekend's series with New Mexico State sporting a record of 16-2 versus teams competing within the NCAA Midwest Region. All four games with the Aggies will count toward the MW Region record.
Of the Cajuns remaining 24 regular season contests, 20 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.
Games against teams from the MW Region will go a long way in determining the Cajuns status for the NCAA Regionals, considering the fact that the Sun Belt has no automatic bid.
CAJUNS DUO SWEEPS WEEKLY HONORS FOR THIRD TIME
LAFAYETTE – For the third time this season the eighth-ranked Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball swept the Sun Belt Conference's Hitter and Pitcher of the Week honors.
On Monday, the Sun Belt Conference named freshman Holly Tankersley the Hitter of the Week and junior Brooke Mitchell the Pitcher of the Week for their performances in the Cajuns 2-0, 8-0 sweep of Northwestern State last Wednesday.
It's the third time this season that Tankersley and Mitchell combined to sweep the league awards. The two swept honors on Feb. 17 and March 2. Mitchell, the Sun Belt leader in earned run average (0.59), wins (26) and strikeouts (345), picked up her league-high sixth honor. Tankersley collected her third award of the season and first since the week of March 1st.
The Cajuns have now won 32 weekly honors in three-plus seasons under former Ragin' Cajuns All-American and current head coach Stefni Lotief. Louisiana-Lafayette has picked up nine weekly awards this season including six of the eight pitcher awards handed out.
Mitchell collected both of the Cajuns wins in a twinbill sweep of Northwestern State to increase her season win total to 26. She struck out 26 batters over 11 2/3 innings and surrendered just three hits to the Demons while holding NSU to a .083 batting average.
She struck out 14 batters in the first game and had 12 in the nightcap and held NSU hitless in the second game through 4 2/3 innings before being relieved by Heather Bobbitt.
The double-digit strikeout totals increased her season total of games with 10 or more strikeouts to 21. She has now struck out double figures in the last four games.
Tankersley had a perfect night at the plate in the Cajuns doubleheader sweep of Northwestern State, going 5-for-5. She reached base on all seven at bats, drew two walks had zero strikeouts, scored two runs and drove in two as well.
The Kirbyville, Texas, was 4-for-4 with two RBI in the second game including bringing home Hillary Guidry with the winning run in the top of the first inning.
Her performance at the plate raised her batting average 35 points from .330 to .365.
20004 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE
SOFTBALL WEEKLY HONORS
Hitter of the Week
Feb. 17 - Holly Tankersley
March 2 - Holly Tankersley
April 5 – Holly Tankersley
Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 17 - Brooke Mitchell
Feb. 24 - Brooke Mitchell
March 2 - Brooke Mitchell
March 9 - Brooke Mitchell
March 16 - Brooke Mitchell
April 5 – Brooke Mitchell
THE LAST TIME OUT…March 31, 2004 vs. Northwestern State
NATCHITOCHES – The top of the lineup provided the spark for No. 8 Louisiana-Lafayette in the nightcap as the Ragin' Cajuns recorded an 8-0 run-rule win over Northwestern State in the second game of a doubleheader here Wednesday evening at Demon Diamond in six innings.
Hillary Guidry and Holly Tankersley, the leadoff and two-hole hitter, combined for seven hits and three runs as the Cajuns (32-4) completed the doubleheader sweep and ran its win streak to four games.
Guidry went 3-for-3 and Tankersley was 4-for-4 at the plate with Tankersley driving home two runs and Guidry scoring two.
Junior ace hurler Brooke Mitchell (26-3) picked up where she left off from game one (three hits allowed, 14 strikeouts), cruising up-and-down the Demons batting order with 12 strikeouts and no hits allowed. It was her 21st double-digit strikeout game of the season and fourth straight.
With the win, Mitchell tied her personal single-season best for victories at 26.
The Cajuns jumped on NSU starter Crista Miller from the first pitch. The Cajuns sent three batters to the plate and picked up three quick hits.
Guidry led off the game with a double over Demons right fielder Margaret Patterson that landed at the base of the fence. Tankersley followed with a single into the left center field gap that scored Guidry for a 1-0 lead.
UL Lafayette plated two more runs in the third inning. The recipe for the production was a repeat performance of the first inning – three batters and three straight hits.
Guidry led off the inning with an infield single. Tankersley followed with a single into right field and moved over to second on the throw from Patterson that sailed over the cutoff man.
Danyele Gomez took advantage of the opportunity with her 18th base hit with runners in scoring position, ripping a double over a drawn in outfield bringing home Guidry and Tankersley for her team-leading 31st and 32nd RBI that put the Cajuns up 3-0 after three innings.
An RBI single in the fourth from Tankersley and then a two-run home run from Joy Webre in the fifth to finish off the scoring.
Mitchell tossed 4 2/3 innings before being relieved by Heather Bobbitt after striking out the first two NSU hitters in the bottom half of the fifth.
Bobbitt worked out of a bases loaded, no outs jam in the bottom of the sixth to end the game before regulation.
In game one, Louisiana-Lafayette's Brooke Mitchell and Northwestern State's Amie Ford battled in a pitcher's duel for the game's first four innings.
UL Lafayette catcher Joy Webre changed things with one swing of her bat in the top of the fifth inning.
The junior lifted a solo shot over the left center field wall to leadoff the inning, giving the eighth-ranked Ragin' Cajuns a lead they would not surrender.
Mitchell remained in cruise control the rest of the way and ended the game with a three-hit complete game shutout of the hosts as Louisiana-Lafayette (31-4) picked up a 2-0 victory in the opening game of an eight-game road swing.
Mitchell fanned a total of 14 Demon hitters for her 20th double-digit strikeout performance of the season and in the process collected her 25th win.
Brittany Bryant, who hit two doubles, brought home Holly Tankersley in the sixth, with her second double of the game, for an insurance run that gave the Cajuns a 2-0 lead.
Tankersley was 1-for-1 at the plate with two walks and a run scored.
Ford was handed her fifth loss of the season in her first-ever start against the Cajuns for the Demons (18-20). She struck out 11 and surrendered six hits while walking three.
The win was the Cajuns third straight over a NCAA Midwest Region opponent and moved them to 15-2 against teams that comprise the region.
Mitchell picked up her third straight double-digit strikeout game and increased her season total and school single-season record to 333.
LAST TIME VS. NEW MEXICO STATE…April 13, 2003 at Ragin' Cajuns Softball Park
LAFAYETTE – The 21st-ranked Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team had the offense in high gear for the second straight day as the Cajuns racked up yet another doubleheader sweep in taking a 9-0, 18-3 pair of mercy-rule wins over an outmanned New Mexico State squad here on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Ragin' Cajuns Park on Senior Day.
UL Lafayette (28-5, 8-0 Sun Belt) pounded out 27 runs, 27 hits and eight home runs en route to a Sun Belt Conference softball four-game sweep of NMSU (7-44, 0-8 Sun Belt).
The Cajuns scored in every inning of each game including a 10-run bulge in the fourth inning of game two.
Combined with Saturday's barrage, the Cajuns ended the weekend scoring 58 runs and tallying 51 hits over the four games while hitting 13 home runs.
Though Senior Day was celebrated before the day's first game, it was a freshman who stole the spotlight.
Metairie native and Cabrini High School product Danyele Gomez ended the doubleheader 6-for-7 with three home runs, seven RBI and four runs scored. She hit two home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning of game two and was 4-for-4 with six RBI in that second game – her second six-RBI game of the season.
It was Gomez's first home run of that fourth inning which allowed her to make school history. With that home run, she set the school's freshman record for home runs in a season with her 13th. She eclipsed the previous freshman record of 12 home runs set by former All-American shortstop Alana Addison in 1999.
Freshman Afton Thoms and senior Rachel Reese combined for a no-hitter in game one with Reese collecting her first decision at UL Lafayette.
In game two Michael Parrott went the distance surrendering three runs and four hits as the Aggies scored at Ragin' Cajuns Park for the first time in eight games and 44 innings.
In game one, the Louisiana-Lafayette wasted no time in jumping on the Aggies.
Jill Robertson and McMurtry hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the first inning and give the Cajuns a quick 2-0 lead.
Brittany Bryant, who reached on a fielder's choice, would score later that inning as she stole home while Lauren Castle was being chased back to first on a steal attempt.
UL Lafayette added four more runs in the second receiving an RBI single from McMurtry and a three-run home run to left field by Joy Webre.
The Cajuns increased their advantage to 9-0 with one-run innings in the third and fourth innings.
In game two, Gomez hit her first of two doubles in the game to bring home Robertson and McMurtry for an early 2-0 lead.
That lead grew to 4-0 in the second inning when Robertson hit her second home run of the day and ninth of the season, a two-run shot that scored Summar Lapeyrouse who led off the inning with a walk.
Louisiana-Lafayette's flood gates kept on flowing in the fourth inning.
Gomez led off with a double and was brought home on Webre's second home run of the afternoon to make it 6-0. George made it 8-0 with a double of her own that scored Tiffany Hebert and Summar Lapeyrouse.
NMSU finally crossed home plate at Ragin' Cajuns Park after seven scoreless games and 44 scoreless innings. The Aggies scored three times in the top of the fourth to trim the Cajuns lead to 8-3.
Apparently the Cajuns didn't like the fact that they gave up runs to the Aggies and would put up their second 10-spot of the weekend with 10 runs on nine hits in the bottom half of the fourth.
The fourth-inning onslaught was highlighted by McMurtry extending her hitting streak to 15 games and Gomez hitting two home runs as the Cajuns batted around.
Gomez had two home runs and four RBI in that inning alone as she made history with the first of the two home runs.
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE…
The New Mexico State softball team had a season to forget in 2003. The Aggies managed just eight wins in 63 games, hit .186 as a team and had a pitching staff earned run average of 6.11.
The Aggies (9-30) have turned over a new leaf in 2004 as a coaching change was made following an 8-55 mark in 2003.
Kathy Rodolph took over the head coaching position after Lea Ann Jarvis resigned. Rodolph came to NMSU from Angelo State University where she led the team to a 49-10 record in 2003.
A new sense of direction has obviously helped changed the attitude in the Aggies' camp. NMSU is currently hitting .205 as a team and has lowered the team ERA to 3.31.
NMSU has been more competitive on the field and has a win over Big 12-member Texas Tech. The Aggies have lost 12 games this season by two runs or less.
The Aggies enter this weekend's series with a 9-30 record and already have more wins than last season in 24 fewer games.
NMSU has won four of its last six home outings and is 8-17 at the Presley Askew Softball Complex.
The Aggies haven't played since Wednesday, March 31 when they were swept in a doubleheader at Texas Tech by the scores of 2-1 and 3-0.
Veronica Owens is saving her best season for last. After hitting just .196 last year, the senior is 10th in the Sun Belt with a .300 average. She is fourth in the league in hits and leads the SBC with 17 stolen bases.
Stacy Knight is hitting a respectable .250 with four doubles, one triple and one home run.
In the pitching circle, NMSU has made tremendous strides. The Aggies have held the opposition to 25 home runs through 39 contests. Jennifer Bride is the Aggies No. 1 starter and features a 2.67 ERA. Bride pitched nine innings against Texas Tech giving up one run on eight hits.
Last season Bride struggled with a 6.98 ERA and a 7-26 record and surrendered 42 home runs. Opponents are hitting .250 off of Bride and have hit just 11 home runs in 24 appearances.
Stephanie Carrasco and Lindsay Ashley have given the Aggies more arms to throw at the opposition this season. The two have combined for 17 starts to help take some of the pressure off of Bride.
Carrasco no-hit UTEP March 24 for the program's first no-hitter in six years.
Defense has continued to give NMSU problems, though. The Aggies have committed a league-high 91 errors which has led to 42 unearned runs for the opposition.
The Aggies have struggled in Sun Belt play the past two seasons. Since going 11-9 in the inaugural Sun Belt season of 2001, the Aggies have combined to go 3-29 in league play the past two seasons and enter the series with the Cajuns having lost 19 of their last 20 SBC contests.
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 345 strikeouts this season in 30 appearances - that's an average of over 12 strikeouts per game.
She has tallied at least five (5) strikeouts in 57 of her last 71 appearances and has 31 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.
The week of Feb. 16-22, Mitchell tossed two no-hitters, six victories and had 74 strikeouts in 42 innings of work and had 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 20 of her 28 starts this season and notched 15 strikeouts in six innings of relief against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, Feb. 21 to give her a total of 21 double-digit strikeout games 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.
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 at 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 at 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
3/31/04 vs. Northwestern State 14K
3/31/04 at Northwestern State 12K (4 2/3 IP, no hits
allowed)
CLIMBING THE CAREER CHARTS TOWARD NO. 1...
Brooke Mitchell 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.
Currently with 788 strikeouts recorded in two-plus seasons and 98 appearances, Mitchell is within striking distance of first place.
The Pasadena, Texas, native is 32 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 and in her junior season.
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.) 788K
3. Kim Eisnaugle (1983-86) 612K
4. Stefni Whitton (1987-90) 576K
5. Jennifer Clendenin (1993-97) 554K
MOVING UP THE CAREER VICTORIES LIST…
With her victory in game one of the Cajuns doubleheader against Nicholls State on Wednesday, March 24, 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 six more wins to tie head coach Stefni Lotief for third place and 12 to tie former teammate Melissa Coronado for second.
Her next target on the list is Jennifer Clendenin who notched 76 wins from 1993-97 and currently holds fourth 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. 72 Brooke Mitchell (2002-present)
SINGLE-SEASON WIN RECORD IN SIGHT…
Given the fact that she has started 78 percent of the Cajuns games this season and already has 26 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 recently tied her personal single-season best for victories with the second win of the Northwestern State doubleheader on March 31 which gave her 26 victories this season.
Her next win will be a new career best.
Mitchell is just three wins away from cracking the single-season victories Top 5 list and needs nine more wins to tie Melissa Coronado for the single-season record of 35 set in 2001.
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 53 home runs through 36 games with 13 different players contributing including each player in the starting lineup.
Holly Tankersley leads the way with 10 dingers. Joy Webre recently took over second place on the squad with her two home runs in the Northwestern State doubleheader moving her to eight for the season.
Danyele Gomez, last season's leader with 20 homers, has seven and is closely followed by Lacey Bertucci and Brittany Bryant 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 89 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.
GOOD EYES...
Cajun hitters have drawn 163 walks through 36 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 26 walks. Holly Tankersley is a close second with 24 walks and a .500 on-base percentage.
Brittany Bryant (23), Danyele Gomez (15), Crystal George (14) and Lacey Bertucci (12), Ashley Evans (10) and Joy Webre (10) have double-digit walks as well giving the Cajuns eight batters who have drawn 10-plus walks.
Hebert has 26 free passes to 23 strikeouts and sports a .398 on-base percentage.
Crystal George and Holly Tankersley join Hebert as the three toughest to strikeout on the team George has 14 walks to just eight strikeouts (68 at bats) while Tankersley has 24 walks and 20 strikeouts.
Tankersley has gone the last three games without being struck out.
OFF AND RUNNING...
The Cajuns 32-4 record through 36 games is the program's best start under head coach Stefni Lotief and the best since the 1993 team got off to the exact same start.
That season, the Cajuns went on to win a program-record 57 games.
MORE IS BETTER…
Through 36 games, UL Lafayette has 103 extra base hits. The Cajuns have hit 48 doubles, three triples and 53 home runs.
Holly Tankersley leads the way with 16 extra-baggers (6 doubles, 10 home runs).
Brittany Bryant, who had three doubles in the Northwestern State doubleheader, is a close second with 15 extra-baggers (7 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs).
Danyele Gomez, the team leader with eight doubles, is tied with Bryant at 15 extra base hits.
MILESTONES WATCH…
*Joy Webre needs four (4) more hits to reach 100 in her career. She is also 22 RBI away from 100.
*Brooke Mitchell needs one win to set her personal single-season best for victories. She is also 12 strikeouts away from 800 in her career and 32 away from tying Kyla Hall's career strikeout record.
*Brittany Bryant is three (3) runs from setting a new personal single-season best. She has 23 runs this season (scored 26 as a freshman in 2003). She is also two home runs shy of tying her personal single-season best of eight hit last year.
*Danyele Gomez needs five (5) RBI to reach 100 in her career. She enters the New Mexico State series with 95 career RBI. She needs just four (4) hits to reach 100 for her career.
*Crystal George needs two (2) hits for 100 in her career.
*Brooke Mitchell needs four more wins to reach 30 wins in a season for the first time in her career and to make her just the fourth pitcher in program history to reach 30 wins in a season.
*As a team, the Cajuns need 17 more walks to tie the program record for walks in a season. Last season and in 2000 the Cajuns drew 180 free passes which is the current standard. UL Lafayette enters the NMSU series with 163 walks.
*The Cajuns pitching staff is just seven strikeouts away from tying the program record for strikeouts in a season. The record is 403 set during the 1993 season. Louisiana-Lafayette's pitching staff currently has 396 strikeouts through 244 innings pitched.
THE GUNSLINGER…
Junior catcher Joy Webre has shown 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 16-of-32 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.
BREAKING OUT OF THE FUNK...
As a rookie, Holly Tankersley jumped out of the gate with a sparkling .411 batting average through the season's first month. Tankersley was hitting 23-for-56 at the plate with eight (8) home runs and 19 RBI. She even had a .929 slugging percentage.
However, the Kirbyville, Texas, native would experience growing pains over the next 10 games which included stops at the Florida State Seminole Challenge and the prestigious Kia Klassic.
She struggled at the plate going 4-for-28 (.143) with one home run and one RBI. Her average dipped down to .321 following the Cajuns 2-0 loss to Arizona in the team's final game at the Kia Klassic.
The right fielder/pitcher has reversed the trend in the last four games reasserting herself as the Ragin' Cajuns top slugger. Tankersley is batting 8-for-12 (.667), has a .917 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage.
The turnaround has increased her batting average by 44 points from .321 to its current level of .365.
WAY TO SPEED THINGS UP...
After taking nearly two-plus hours to finish their games through much of February, the Ragin' Cajuns have played five of their last six and eight of the last 11 games in less than two hours.
The second game of last Wednesday's twinbill at Northwestern State lasted 2:15 which snapped a streak of five straight games that took less than two hours to complete.
Of the 14 games played by the team in March, only four elapsed two hours.
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 37 walks through 30 appearances and 189 1/3 innings.
Her strikes:walks ratio is an astounding 9.3K/BB. Opponents are hitting just .127 against her.
As a team, the Cajuns pitching staff has surrendered just 47 walks in 244.0 innings and sports a 8.4K: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 111-18 in the first three innings with 49 of those runs coming in the first inning. The Cajuns have outscored opponents 49-2 in the first inning through 36 games.
UL Lafayette is 28-1 when it scores first and has scored at least one run in the first inning of a game 15 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 154-9 (.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 85-11 which includes a 9-0 bulge in extra innings.
Louisiana-Lafayette is 24-0 this season when holding the lead in a game after five complete (includes six mercy-rule wins).
FREE SOFTBALL...
Louisiana-Lafayette has been taken into extra innings four times this season and has won each time.
The Cajuns last extra inning affair resulted in the squad's lone win over a ranked team. UL Lafayette topped then-No. 6 Florida State 1-0 in 10 innings on March 6 in the FSU Seminole Challenge.
The Cajuns have outscored opponents 9-0 in the extra frames including a 6-0 margin in the eighth inning alone.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE...
Louisiana-Lafayette's offense has been among the nation's top producers since co-head coaches Stefni and Michael Lotief took over the program in 2001.
This season is no different.
Though 36 games, the Cajuns have scored 216 runs for an average of exactly 6.0 runs per game.
Getting base hits hasn't been a problem either. UL Lafayette has 245 hits compared to just 118 for its opponents.
Nineteen (19) times this season, the Cajuns have scored five or more runs in a game and have reached double digits in hits nine (9) times.
HERE'S A STAT...
The Cajuns have won 12 games this season that were decided by two runs or less.
Louisiana-Lafayette is 7-2 in one-run games and 5-1 in two-run games.
LAYING THE (GOOSE) EGGS...
Louisiana-Lafayette's pitching staff has posted 16 shutouts this season. The Cajuns have turned the trick in three of the last four games.
Junior ace hurler Brooke Mitchell has crafted eight complete-game shutouts and has combined for five more.
The Cajuns will be facing a New Mexico State squad that they shutout in three of four meetings last season and have done so eight times in 13 all-time meetings.
Twice this season the Cajuns have posted shutouts in both ends of a doubleheader.
SILENT, BUT DEADLY...
Could be a phrase best used to describe the play of sophomore All-American Danyele Gomez.
Though not ripping home runs as often as she did last season and her batting average isn't as sparkling as it was a year ago, the Metairie native is producing for the Cajuns and providing them with one of the more consistent bats in the lineup.
The No. 3 hitter in the lineup, Gomez has brought home a team-high 33 RBI and leads the way with eight doubles.
She is second on the team with 31 hits and is third with seven home runs.
Facing NMSU pitching could be the jumpstart for the sophomore third baseman. Last season, she went 10-for-13 with three doubles, four home runs and nine RBI in a four-game series with the Aggies.
THE “BOOKENDS” DO THEIR JOB WELL...
The top of the lineup and the bottom can play important roles for a team.
Louisiana-Lafayette is fortunate to have a leadoff hitter and a nine-hole hitter who manage to find their way on base.
Freshman Hillary Guidry, a slap-hitter who can hit for power, has generated 28 hits this season providing the Cajuns with a baserunner for when power hitters Holly Tankersley and Danyele Gomez step up to the plate.
Equally as important is the job of nine-hole hitter Tiffany Hebert who has managed to draw a team-high 26 walks. Her discipline at the plate has paid dividends in getting the Cajuns back to the top of the lineup in key innings.
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 Holly Tankersley, Brittany Bryant and Hillary Guidryu who each have seven multi-hit games.
Gomez leads the way with eight 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 .308 with runners in scoring position (91-for-295). Against Northwestern State, the Cajuns were 7-for-15 (.467) with a runner in scoring position.
The Cajuns have come through this season with 53, 2-out RBI. Joy Webre leads the way with nine (9) two-out RBI.
Danyele Gomez has team-high 18 hits with runners in scoring position. Gomez is 18-for-44 (.409) with 6 two-out RBI. For her career, Gomez is a .378 hitter with runners in scoring position (42-for-111).
Holly Tankersley is equally effective in cashing in on opportunities as well – the Kirbyville, Texas, native is hitting .435 (10-for-23) with a runner in scoring position.
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 20 more wins to reach 200 in her coaching career.
Lotief enters this weekend's play with an overall coaching record of 180-38 (.826) 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 Sunday, Feb. 8 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 7, 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 --
