University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Set for Florida Trip
3/2/2011 9:38:00 PM | Softball
For the fourth straight week the Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team looks to capture a regular season tournament title. This time, the 17th ranked Cajuns travel to the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Fla. for the three day Citrus Classic.
The No.17/18 Cajuns are set to face two ranked teams in No.3/1 Alabama and No.13/13 Oregon. UL will also match-up with Virginia, Temple and Long Island in the three day event.
The Cajuns schedule and field assignments are as follows:
| Friday, March 4 | Louisiana vs. Virginia | Field 14 | 9:00 a.m. |
| Louisiana vs. Alabama | Field 13 | 2:0 p.m. | |
| Saturday, March 5 | Louisiana vs. Oregon | Field 14 | 11:30 a.m. |
| Louisiana vs. Temple | Field 15 | 2:00 p.m. | |
| Sunday, March 6 | Louisiana vs. Long Island | Field 12 | 10:30 a.m. |
| *Home team listed in Bold | *All times Central |
Live stats for all of the Cajuns' games can be found at the above link. Above fans can also find game notes and the 2011 Citrus Classic Tournament Central page.
Game Day Storylines
- The Cajuns hit the road for the second consecutive week after taking the Cowgirl Classic title last weekend in Lake Charles. UL has captured three tournament titles to open the season.
- The trip will mark the first of two to the state of Florida this season. The Cajuns will travel to FAU in late April.
- UL will take on their first ranked opponents of the season when they match-up with No.3/1 Alabama on Friday and No.13/13 Oregon on Saturday.
- Despite dropping a game last weekend, the Cajuns are off to their best start since 2007 when that squad also started the season at 14-1.
- The Cajuns' pitching staff has continued to be lights out, as seen in their 0.31 team ERA. No other team in the Sun Belt has a team ERA below 2.00. All three Cajuns starters are under 1.00, and freshman Shelbee Rodgers is at 0.00, having not given up an earned run in five career starts.
- The Cajuns offense continues to lead the league with a .390 batting average and 167 runs scored. The Cajuns hottest hitter is Christi Orgeron who enters the weekend with a 15 game hitting streak, having hit safely in all 15 of the Cajuns games.
Scouting the Competition
Virginia
- The Cavaliers enter this weekend's tournament at 9-5 after a 3-2 showing at the Cathedral City Classic last weekend, including a win over No.11 Hawaii. UVA is receiving votes in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 poll for the first time this season
- UVA is led offensively by Stephanie Harris who has posted a .364 batting average through 14 games. The Cavaliers ace pitcher is Melanie Mitchell who has started 11 and appeared in all 14 of UVA's games. She enters the weekend with a 6-4 record and a 2.99 ERA.
- The Cajuns lead the series 4-1, with the one loss being the most recent meeting, a 10-4 Virginia last season at the Judi Garman Classic. In the first meeting between the two schools (3/15/86), Kim Eisnaugle no-hit the Cavaliers.
Alabama
- The Crimson Tide come into the weekend at 16-0, including a 3-1 win over No.15 Missouri last weekend. The Tide is ranked No.3 in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 poll and No.1 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll.
- Alabama is hitting .401 as a team, including two players, Kayla Braud (.510) and Cassie Reilly-Bocci (.501), who are hitting above .500. Braud has swipe 26 bases in the Tide's 16 games. Jackie Traina leads the Crimson Tide with eight home runs and 25 RBI. Ace pitcher Kelsi Dunne has recorded a 0.51 ERA with a 7-0 record.
- The Crimson Tide lead the series over UL 3-2. The last time the two squads met was in the 2008 Women's College World Series where Alabama eliminated the Cajuns in a 3-1 win.
Oregon
- The Ducks enter the weekend at 14-2, including a 9-1 win over Pacific in their most recent contest. Oregon's two losses have come to Pacific and Cal State Fullerton. The Ducks are ranked No.13 in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 poll and No.13 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll.
- Oregon is led offensively by Christi Nieto and Courtney Ceo who are hitting .448 and .442, respectively. Kelsey Chambers represents the Ducks' power threat thus far this season with six home runs and 14 RBI. The Ducks have two pitchers with ERA's south of 1.00 in Jessica Moore (0.91) and Sam Skillingstaf (0.99).
- Oregon leads the series over UL 4-3 with the last two meetings coming in the 2005 NCAA Regional in Norman, Okla. UL won the first game 7-5, but was eliminated by the Ducks the following day, 3-1.
Temple
- The Owls come into the weekend at 3-2 with their first contests of the season coming last weekend at a tournament hosted by South Florida. Temple fell to No.15 Missouri and Illinois State.
- Sarah Prezioso and Rachel Knable each hit .400 on the weekend for the Owls.
- UL leads the all-time series over Temple 1-0. The lone meeting came in the 2004 NCAA Regional in Tucson, Ariz. UL defeated Temple 8-1 and went on to eliminate No.1 Arizona the next day.
Long Island
- The Blackbirds come into the weekend at 3-12 after a 1-4 showing at the Cathedral City Classic last weekend. LIU began the season receiving votes in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 poll. The Blackbirds have lost to four ranked teams in 2011.
- Emily Kakuska is the only Blackbird with a batting average over .300 as she is at .302 for the season. LIU as a team in hitting just .192.
- The Cajuns are 2-0 all-time against LIU, with the two wins coming in a doubleheader sweep at home on March 4, 2002. UL won the two contests, 5-4 and 7-0.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
