Softball Preview: at Oregon

Games 40-42: #9/9 Louisiana (34-5, 17-3 Sun Belt) at #2/2 Oregon (38-5, 16-2 Pac 12)
Friday, April 24 • 6 p.m. (CDT) • Howe Field (1,200) • Eugene, Ore.
Saturday, April 25 (DH) • 2 p.m. (CDT) • Howe Field (1,200) • Eugene, Ore.

Game Notes: Louisiana
Radio: ESPN 1420-AM • Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP
TV: None
Live Stats
Live Video
Rosters: Louisiana | Oregon
Schedule/Results: Louisiana | Oregon
Statistics: Louisiana | Oregon
Ragin' Cajuns Twitter: @ULRaginCajuns | @RaginCajunSB
Opponents Twitter: @OregonSB

THE COACHES
Louisiana: Michael Lotief (Louisiana, 1985)
Career Record: 630-152-1 (13th season)   Record at Louisiana: Same

Oregon: Mike White (Mount Mercy, 1989)
Career Record: 317-91-1 (6th season)   Record at Oregon: Same

CAJUNS HEADED FOR THE GREAT NORTHWEST
No. 9 Louisiana is set to face No. 2 Oregon in Eugene, Ore., in a three-game series Friday-Saturday, April 24-25. It will be Louisiana's fourth weekend series against a ranked team and third against a 2014 WCWS participant (Alabama, Baylor, Oregon).

ANOTHER TOP 10 BATTLE
The Cajuns are taking part in their second weekend series featuring two Top 10 teams. Earlier this season, then-No. 5 Louisiana visited then-No. 4 Alabama Feb. 28-Mar. 1.

DRESS REHEARSAL
The trip to Oregon gives Louisiana an opportunity to compete in an atmosphere similar to what the squad will experience in the NCAA Tournament. The three-game series follows the same format used in the NCAA Super Regional round.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Last week's trip to Appalachian State began a stretch of three straight weekend series away from Lamson Park to conclude the 2015 regular season. In addition to this week's trip to Oregon (April 24-25), the Cajuns travel to Monroe to face ULM (May 2-3) before heading to San Marcos, Texas for the Sun Belt Tournament (May 6-9).

CAJUNS VS. RANKED FOES IN 2015
Louisiana is 5-3 vs. ranked opponents in 2015: 1-2 at #4 Alabama (Feb. 28-Mar. 1); 2-1 at #24 South Alabama (Mar. 7-8); 2-0 vs. #14 Baylor (Apr. 11).

RAGIN' ON OFFENSE
The Cajuns have scored double-digit runs in eight of the last 11 games (dates back to Troy finale on March 22). The squad is hitting .420 during the stretch.

TEAM EFFORT
It's not just one "star" carrying the load for the Ragin' Cajuns. Each starter in the lineup has posted at least 27 hits (ranges from 27-52). Seven players have posted 20-plus RBI.

TRIPLE THREAT IN THE CIRCLE
Alex Stewart's emergence in the pitching circle during the Texas State and Georgia State series has further strengthened Louisiana's pitching efforts. She registered the two wins that won both series, allowing just five runs and striking out 34 in 21 innings. Stewart adds to a pitching rotation that also includes two-time, first team All-Sun Belt pick Jordan Wallace and 2014 All-American Christina Hamilton.

ELKINS' PRODUCTION AT APP STATE LEADS TO HONORS
Lexie Elkins was a combined 8-for-10 with five home runs, 13 RBI and six runs scored during the Appalachian State doubleheader last Saturday. For her efforts, she was named USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week in addition to Sun Belt Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week honors.

WALLACE CLIMBING THE CHARTS
With her win in the Georgia State series finale on April 4, Jordan Wallace picked up career win No. 85 allowing her to take sole possession of fourth place on the career list, passing Melissa Coronado. Her first strikeout of the game, the 821st of her career, moved her past Kyla Hall for third place on the career list.

CAREER VICTORIES
1. Brooke Mitchell (2002-05) 119
2. Kyla Hall (1991-94) 104
3. Ashley Brignac (2008-12)                 94
4. Jordan Wallace (2012-pres.) 87
5. Melissa Coronado (1999-02) 84

CAREER STRIKEOUTS
1. Brooke Mitchell (2002-05) 1,309
2. Ashley Brignac (2008-12) 862
3. Jordan Wallace (2012-pres.) 839
4. Kyla Hall (1991-94) 820
5. Kim Eisnagule (1983-86) 812

CHASING HISTORY
With 25 home runs and still two weeks left in the regular season, plus postseason, Lexie Elkins might challenge the single-season record 30 home runs hit by Danyele Gomez in 2006. Through 39 games in 2006, Gomez had hit 20 home runs.

SINGLE-SEASON HOME RUNS
1. Danyele Gomez (2006)                    30
2. Lexie Elkins (2015)                         25
3. Lexie Elkins (2014)                         24
4. Christi Orgeron (2011)                      23
    Holly Tankersley (2008)                    23

LEXIE JOINS PROGRAM'S GREAT SLUGGERS
With 25 home runs, Lexie Elkins has eclipsed 20 home runs for the second straight season (hit 24 in 2014). She joins Danyele Gomez, Christi Orgeron and Holly Tankersley as the only players in school history to reach 20 home runs twice in a career.

HEY, IT'S HALEY
Haley Hayden has an active reached-base streak of 28 games. The career-best streak began Feb. 21 vs. Hofstra. It's the longest reached-base streak since Katie Smith had a 37-game streak in 2012. The record streak is 53 games by Holly Tankersley in 2008.

SOLID DEFENSE
Louisiana has played error-free in 20 of 39 games and has committed only 24 errors through 945 chances (716 PO, 205 A, 24 E) for a .975 FLD%. Much credit goes to Haley Hayden (2B), DJ Sanders (SS) and Kelli Martinez (CF) who, each debuting at their position, have solidified the "spine" of the defense.

BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS
The Ragin' Cajuns have combined strong offense with strong pitching and defense to generate success. Louisiana ranks Top 10 nationally in home runs per game (1st), scoring (2nd), slugging percentage (2nd) and batting average (6th). The squad is Top 20 nationally in earned run average (10th) and fielding percentage (14th).

ELKINS NAMED TOP 26 FINALIST FOR USA SOFTBALL AWARD
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball junior catcher Lexie Elkins has been named one of the 26 finalists named for the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. It's the first time in her career that Elkins was selected as a finalist for the award. She's the first Ragin' Cajuns player since Christi Orgeron in 2012 to make the cut.

Just prior to the start of postseason play on May 6 the list will be narrowed to the Top 10 Finalists. The Top 3 Finalists will be announced May 20, while the winner of the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be revealed on May 26 prior to the start of the NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

UP NEXT
No. 9 Louisiana travels to Monroe to meet in-state rival ULM in the final series of the season May 2-3. The Cajuns will attempt to secure the Sun Belt regular season title.

LOUISIANA-OREGON SERIES
Series Record: Oregon leads 5-3
In Lafayette: 0-0
In Eugene, Ore.: 0-0
Neutral: Oregon leads 5-3
Current Streak: Oregon won 2
Last Meeting: 3/5/11 in Kissimmee, Fla.
(Oregon 5, Louisiana 2)

Last Meeting (March 5, 2011 at Citrus Classic - Kissimmee, Fla.)
The Ragin' Cajuns held a 2-1 lead entering the seventh inning, but gave up four runs in the top of the frame and fell 5-2 to the Ducks in the Citrus Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. A one-out walk loaded the bases in the decisive inning, then a fielder's choice grounder by Kailee Cuico allowed the tying run to score. A single through the left side from Alex Peterson then put Oregon on top for good 3-2. Louisiana had taken a 2-1 lead in the third inning after Katie Smith scored on an Oregon error. Ashley Brignac held the Ducks to one hit over the next three innings, but surrendered the lead in the seventh and suffered her first loss of the season.

Series Notes
This weekend's series marks the first games on either school's campus...All previous eight meetings took place at a neutral site...Five of the previous eight matchups occurred in the NCAA Regional round...Programs first met in 1992 in Las Vegas at the UNLV Spring Fling, splitting two meetings...Next five meetings were in the NCAA Regionals from 2000-05...Oregon eliminated Louisiana from the 2000 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional...In 2003, the Cajuns won the "if necessary" game on Championship Sunday in Fullerton, Calif., to advance to the WCWS for the first time in the Lotief Era...In the first year of the Super Regional format (2005), the Cajuns and Ducks were sent to Norman, Okla., and paired in the opening round...Louisiana won the opener in Norman, 7-5, but lost to Oklahoma in the winner's bracket final the next day and was eliminated by Oregon, 2-1, later that same evening...The Ducks win at the 2011 Citrus Classic marked the Cajuns lone loss in the event.

DIAMOND NOTES

• #ThinkingOfCoachMike: Louisiana head coach Michael Lotief is presently attending to a medical situation with his throat which caused him to miss road trips to Texas State (Mar. 28-29) and Appalachian State (Apr. 18-19). He is not expected to travel with the team to this weekend's series in Oregon.

• #InARhythm: Lexie Elkins has homered in eight of the last 10 games, generating 13 home runs. Kelsey Vincent has homered in seven of the last 10 games, collecting eight home runs.

• #MightyInMarch: Lexie Elkins hit .532 (25-of-47) with three doubles, 11 home runs and 27 RBI in the month of March. She struck out only twice in 62 plate appearances.

• #NoFoolingHer: Lexie Elkins has not struck out since March 14 vs. UTA. She enters the Oregon series on a string of 54 consecutive at bats without a strikeout.

• #SweepingUpAtShort: True freshman DJ Sanders has shined at shortstop this season after taking over for last season's starter Corin Voinche who is injured. She's made just four errors through the first 106 chances that have come her way (52 PO, 50 A, 4 E).

• #NotAnEasyOut: Opponents have found it tough to keep Haley Hayden, Shellie Landry and Lexie Elkins off the base path. The Cajuns' 1-2-3 hitters have combined for 149 hits and 78 walks. Add in a combined 11 times being hit by a pitch, they've been on base a combined 238 times in a combined 466 plate appearances (51 percent).

• #SettledOnTheLineup: No. 1-5 in the lineup has remained the same order since opening day. No. 6-9 in the batting order was the same Feb. 7-Mar. 17. Position-wise, the starters at each spot in the field have started all 39 games.

• #HistoricPace: With 81 home runs hit so far and the current pace of 2.08 HR/game, the Cajuns could be in striking distance of just the second 100 HR season in school history (102 in '06) before the postseason arrives (on pace for 93 by regular season's end).

• #CatchMeIfYouCan: Louisiana is 30-3 when scoring first. The lone losses: Mar. 8 at South Alabama, Mar. 21 vs. Troy (Game 1) and Mar. 28 at Texas State (Game 1).

#GeauxCajuns

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Players Mentioned

Lexie Elkins

Christina Hamilton

Haley Hayden

Shellie Landry

Kelli Martinez

DJ Sanders

Alex Stewart

Kelsey Vincent

Jordan Wallace

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