University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
North Carolina State
Players Mentioned
Softball Preview: Louisiana Classics
2/4/2015 3:31:00 PM | Softball
Friday, Feb. 6 • 3 p.m. (CST) • North Carolina State • Lamson Park
Saturday, Feb. 7 • 12:30 p.m. (CST) • Central Arkansas • Lamson Park
Saturday, Feb. 7 • 3 p.m. (CST) • Eastern Illinois • Lamson Park
Sunday, Feb. 8 • 2 p.m. (CST) • Eastern Illinois • Lamson Park
Game Notes:Â LouisianaÂ
Radio: ESPN 1420-AM | Live Stats | Live VideoÂ
Rosters: Louisiana | Central Arkansas | Eastern Illinois | North Carolina State
Ragin' Cajuns Twitter: @ULRaginCajuns | @RaginCajunSB
Opponents Twitter: @UCASoftball | @EIUPanthers | @PackSoftball
THE COACHES
Louisiana:Â Michael Lotief (Louisiana, 1985)
Career Record:Â 596-147-1 (13th season) Â Â Record at Louisiana:Â Same
Central Arkansas:Â David Kuhn (Delta State, 1994)
Career Record:Â 546-390 (17th season) Â Â Record at Central Arkansas:Â 174-169 (7th season)
Eastern Illinois:Â Angie Nicholson (Cleveland State, 2000)
Career Record:Â 385-281-1 (15th season) Â Â Record at Eastern Illinois:Â 38-17 (2nd season)
North Carolina State:Â Shawn Rychcik (Gannon, 1991)
Career Record:Â 342-197-2 (11th season) Â Â Record at North Carolina State:Â 71-38-1 (3rd season)
RAISE THE CURTAIN
The 35th season of Ragin' Cajuns softball begins Friday-Sunday, Feb. 6-8 with the Louisiana Classics at Lamson Park. No. 9 Louisiana faces N.C. State, Central Arkansas and Eastern Illinois during the three-day event. The Ragin' Cajuns open tournament play and kick off the 2015 campaign on Friday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. vs. N.C. State.
OPENING DAY SUCCESS
The Cajuns are 31-3 all-time in season openers, successful each time dating back to 2002.
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COMFORTS OF HOME
The Louisiana Classics kicks off the first of 14 straight games at Lamson Park to begin the 2015 season. The Cajuns' first road contest is Feb. 27 at Alabama.
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A GOOD PRIMER
Over the years, the Cajuns have enjoyed unrivaled success in the Louisiana Classics. Louisiana is 110-13-1 all-time in the event, an annual occurrence dating back to 1987.
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SAME FACES, NEW PLACES
The Cajuns return seven starters from last season's WCWS run, but some might appear in different areas of the field. One noticeable difference is Haley Hayden, last season's center fielder, moving to second base. Hayden's move to the infield, along with the graduation of Shelbi Redfearn, could signal movement in the outfield including last season's starting right fielder Shellie Landry who is expected to move to left field.
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DEPTH IN THE CIRCLE ON DISPLAY
Louisiana's depth in the pitching circle will be on display in the season's opening weekends. Though released to pitch following shoulder ailments, seniors Christina Hamilton and Jordan Wallace will work on a pitch count. Sophomores Macey Smith and Alex Stewart plus freshman Kylee Jo Trahan will aid in logging innings. It's an excellent opportunity for the coaching staff to begin to develop the pitchers who will patrol the circle following the departure of Hamilton and Wallace.
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UP NEXT
Louisiana hosts the second of three tournaments at Lamson Park Friday-Sunday, Feb. 13-15 with Idaho State and Mississippi Valley providing the competition for the Mardi Gras Invitational presented by Hilton Lafayette.
• Head coach Michael Lotief is four wins shy of 600 career victories (596-147-1).
• Louisiana returns seven starters from its 2014 WCWS squad: Lexie Elkins (C), Kelsey Vincent (1B), Corin Voinchè (SS), Samantha Walsh (3B), Shellie Landry (RF), Haley Hayden (CF) and Sara Corbello (DP).
• Christina Hamilton (29) and Jordan Wallace (14), a combination that produced 43 of the 49 wins a season ago, return to the pitching circle.
• A knee injury has 2014 starting shortshop Corin Voinche sidelined indefinitely. Freshman DJ Sanders, recently selected to the U.S. Junior National Team, will handle shortstop duties in Voinche's absence.
• A move to left field marks the return to a familiar spot for junior Shellie Landry. The Lafayette native - positioned in right field in 2014 - patrolled left field her freshman campaign (2013).
• Expect a similar role for Kendall Smith and Kassidy Zeringue, both used as late inning defensive substitutions in the outield in 2014.
• The 2015 schedule features seven contests against 2014 NCAA Tournament teams plus three series (Alabama, Baylor and Oregon) against Women's College World Series participants from a season ago.
• Lamson Park enters its 31st season of service (1985-present) to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball program. The Cajuns all-time record in the facility stands at 687-102-1 (.870).
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