Softball Preview: at ULM

Games 43-45: #10/11 Louisiana (34-8, 17-3 Sun Belt) at ULM (28-17, 10-9 Sun Belt)
Saturday, May 2 (DH) • 2 p.m. (CDT) • ULM Softball Complex (500) • Monroe, La.
Sunday, May 3 • 12 p.m. (CDT) • ULM Softball Complex (500) • Monroe, La.

Game Notes (PDF): Louisiana | ULM
Radio: ESPN 1420-AM • Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, Color
TV: None
Live Stats
Live Video (purchase necessary)
Rosters: Louisiana | ULM
Schedule/Results: Louisiana | ULM
Statistics: Louisiana | ULM
Ragin' Cajuns Twitter: @ULRaginCajuns | @RaginCajunSB
Opponents Twitter: @ULM_Softball

THE COACHES
Louisiana: Michael Lotief (Louisiana, 1985)
Career Record: 630-155-1 (13th season) Record at Louisiana: Same

ULM: Corey Lyon (Newman, 1995)
Career Record: 118-106 (4th season) Record at ULM: 28-17 (1st season)

CAJUNS CLOSE REGULAR SEASON IN MONROE
No. 10 Louisiana concludes regular season play Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3 in Monroe meeting ULM in a three-game Sun Belt series. The Cajuns will attempt to claim their 13th Sun Belt regular season championship in the 15-year existence of the league.

SUN BELT TOURNAMENT BYE SECURED
The Cajuns have secured a bye in the quarterfinal round of the Sun Belt Tournament set for May 6-9 in San Marcos, Texas. Louisiana is assured of no lower than a second-place finish in the league standings.

THE RACE IS ON
Louisiana (17-3, .850) is in a percentage-points battle with South Alabama (14-3, .824) for the 2015 Sun Belt regular season title. The Cajuns must match the Jaguars results in the closing weekend to ensure finishing ahead of the Jaguars for the title. South Alabama travels to Troy to complete regular season play.

EYES ON THE PRIZE
Previous Sun Belt regular season championship seasons include: 2001-06, 2008-12, 2014.

IN THE VISITOR'S DUGOUT ONCE MORE
The series at ULM is the third straight road series for Louisiana. The stretch began April 18-19 at Appalachian State and continued last weekend at No. 2 Oregon (Apr. 24-25). The Cajuns home finale was back on April 11 vs. No. 14 Baylor.

CHASING HISTORY
With 25 home runs and one weekend series 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 42 games in 2006, Gomez had hit 21 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

TEAM EFFORT
It's not just one "star" carrying the load for the Ragin' Cajuns. Each starter in the lineup has posted at least 28 hits (ranges from 28-54). Seven players have posted 20-plus RBI. Samantha Walsh's next home run gives the squad five players in double figures.

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.

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.)      849
4. Kyla Hall (1991-94) 820
5. Kim Eisnagule (1983-86) 812

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.

SOLID DEFENSE
Louisiana has played error-free in 21 of 42 games and has committed only 28 errors through 1,014 chances (765 PO, 221 A, 28 E) for a .972 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 15 nationally in home runs per game (1st), slugging percentage (3rd), scoring (4th) and batting average (15th). The squad is Top 25 nationally in earned run average (17th) and fielding percentage (25th).

HEY, IT'S HALEY
Haley Hayden recorded a reached-base streak of 28 games from Feb. 21-April 18. It was 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.

SPARKLING SEASON FOR SHELLIE
Shellie Landry has posted career-highs in home runs (16) and extra base hits (27). She's registered a hit in 31 of 42 games played and has 14 multi-hit and 15 multi-RBI games.

CONSISTENT RESULTS
Haley Hayden is six runs shy of 60 and six RBI shy of 50 for a second straight season.The West Monroe, La., native leads the Cajuns with 16 multi-hit games.

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. 10 Louisiana travels to San Marcos, Texas for the 2015 Sun Belt Tournament set for May 6-9 at Bobcat Softball Stadium on the campus of Texas State University. The Cajuns have a bye in the quarterfinal round and will open tournament play on Thursday, May 7.

LOUISIANA-ULM SERIES
Series Record: Louisiana leads 96-27
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads 42-10
In Monroe: Louisiana leads 43-14
Neutral: Louisiana leads 11-3
Current Streak: Louisiana won 9
Last Meeting: 5/9/14 at Lamson Park
(Louisiana 14, ULM 6)

Last Season's Series (May 3-4, 2014 at Lamson Park)
The Cajuns took Game 1 of the Saturday doubleheader 8-6 after a walk-off, three-run home run by Samantha Walsh. Alexis Cacioppo drove in all six runs for ULM. Louisiana plated six runs in the first inning of Game 2 and cruised to a 7-0 victory. The Cajuns received five RBI from Lexie Elkins off three hits in a 9-3 win in the single game on Sunday, leading the Cajuns to a sweep of the Warhawks. Victoria Brown preserved the lead in the fifth inning after ULM trimmed the lead to 2-1.

Series Notes
Louisiana posted three-game sweeps the last two seasons, the only sweeps in seven SBC series that were three games in length (2009 only a doubleheader was played)...Cajuns' most-played series at 123 games...Southland Conference foes from 1983-87...Sun Belt Conference foes 2007-present...First met in 1981, the Cajuns inaugural season...Met every season through 2005, but no meetings were scheduled in 2006...Series resumed in 2007 when ULM joined the Sun Belt...Cajuns hold a 18-5 edge in Sun Belt regular season games...Louisiana won all previous eight Sun Belt series...Met in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2014 Sun Belt Tournament...Cajuns hold a 4-1 edge in SBC Tournament...ULM was part of the four-team 1997 NCAA Regional held at Lamson Park...Cajuns posted a 2-1 win in 1997 NCAA Regional opener....ULM was the opposition for the first games of the Lotief era on Feb. 14, 2001...Cajuns' 6-2 win in Monroe on April 20, 2005 marked the 1,000th win in program history.

DIAMOND NOTES

• #AGoodIndicator: Louisiana was ranked No. 10 in the latest NCAA RPI (Apr. 27). That puts the Cajuns in a good position to potentially host an NCAA Regional for the second straight season and third time in the last four seasons (2012, 2014).

• #NoFoolingHer: Lexie Elkins has not struck out since March 14 vs. UTA. She enters the ULM series on a string of 76 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout.

• #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 153 hits and 80 walks. Add in a combined 12 times being hit by a pitch, they've been on base a combined 245 times in a combined 493 plate appearances (49.6 percent).

• #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 117 chances that have come her way (55 PO, 58 A, 4 E).

• #InARhythm: Prior to the Oregon series, Lexie Elkins homered in eight of 10 games, generating 13 home runs. Kelsey Vincent homered in seven of 10 games, collecting eight home runs.

• #HistoricPace: With 83 home runs hit and the current pace of 1.98 HR/game, the Cajuns could be in striking distance of just the second 100 HR season in school history (102 in '06) before the NCAA Regional round begins (on pace for 89 before SBC Tournament).

• #TurningUpTheHeat: In Sun Belt Conference play, the Ragin' Cajuns are hitting .386 and slugging .738. Eight of the nine starters in the batting order are hitting above .300.

• #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.

• #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 42 games.

#GeauxCajuns

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Players Mentioned

Victoria Brown

Lexie Elkins

Christina Hamilton

Haley Hayden

Shellie Landry

Kelli Martinez

DJ Sanders

Alex Stewart

Kelsey Vincent

Jordan Wallace

Samantha Walsh

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