University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Georgia State
Players Mentioned
Softball Preview: at Sun Belt Tournament
5/6/2015 12:10:00 PM | Softball
Thursday, May 7 • 2 p.m. (CDT) • vs. Troy/Georgia State winner • Bobcat Softball Stadium (1,000) • San Marcos, Texas
Friday, May 8 • 11 a.m. (CDT) or 2 p.m. (CDT) • vs. TBA • Bobcat Softball Stadium (1,000) • San Marcos, Texas
Game Notes (PDF): Louisiana | Troy | Georgia State
Radio: ESPN 1420-AM • Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, Color
TV: ESPN3 (Friday and Saturday)
Live Stats
Live Webstream (Thursday)
Roster: Louisiana | Troy | Georgia State
Schedule/Results: Louisiana | Troy | Georgia State
Statistics: Louisiana | Troy | Georgia State
Ragin' Cajuns Twitter: @ULRaginCajuns | @RaginCajunSB
Opponents Twitter: @TroyTrojanSB | @GSU_Softball
Sun Belt Twitter: @ULM_Softball
THE COACHES
Louisiana: Michael Lotief (Louisiana, 1985)
Career Record: 630-155-1 (13th season) Record at Louisiana: Same
Troy: Beth Mullins (UAB, 2004)
Career Record: 32-22 (1st season) Record at Troy: Same
Georgia State: Roger Kincaid (Georgia, 1987)
Career Record: 176-108 (5th season) Record at GAST: Same
COMPLETE 2015 SUN BELT TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
G1 No. 5 Georgia State 8, No. 8 Georgia Southern 0 (5 inn.)
G2 No. 6 ULM vs. No. 7 UT Arlington - 12:30 PM
G3 No. 5 Georgia State vs. No. 4 Troy - 3:00 PM
G4 Winner G2 vs. No. 3 Texas State - 5:30 PM
Thursday, May 7, 2015
G5 Winner G3 vs. No. 1 Louisiana - 2:00 PM
G6 Winner G4 vs. No. 2 South Alabama - 5:00 PM
Friday, May 8, 2015
G7 Loser G5 vs. Loser G6 - 11:00 AM (ESPN3)
G8 Winner G5 vs. Winner G6 - 2:00 PM (ESPN3)
G9 Loser G8 vs. Winner G7 - 5:00 PM (ESPN3)
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Championship Game
G10 Winner G8 vs. Winner G9 - 1:00 PM (ESPN3)
LET THE POSTSEASON BEGIN
No. 10 Louisiana begins postseason play in San Marcos, Texas, at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament being held Wednesday-Saturday, May 6-9. Louisiana received a bye in the quarterfinal round and opens tournament play on Thursday, May 7 at 2 p.m., against the survivor of Wednesday's single-elimination games between Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Troy.
CAJUNS CAPTURE SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP, NO. 1 SEED
The Ragin' Cajuns claimed the 2015 Sun Belt Conference regular season championship after last Saturday's doubleheader sweep of ULM. The Cajuns won the title for the second straight season and 13th time in the 15 years of regular season competition. Louisiana earned the No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament for the second straight year and 14th time in the 16-year history of the event (began in 2000).
ELKINS CHASING HISTORY
With 27 home runs and the postseason still ahead, Lexie Elkins is in striking distance of challenging the single-season record 30 home runs hit by Danyele Gomez in 2006. Through 45 games in 2006, Gomez had hit 23 home runs.
SINGLE-SEASON HOME RUNS
1. Danyele Gomez (2006) 30
2. Lexie Elkins (2015) 27
3. Lexie Elkins (2014) 24
4. Christi Orgeron (2011) 23
Holly Tankersley (2008) 23
TEAM ON RECORD PACE, ALSO
The Ragin' Cajuns have hit 97 home runs as a team which is three home runs shy of joining the 2006 team, which hit 102 home runs, as the only two teams in program history to reach 100 home runs and six shy of establishing a new record.
RAGIN' ON OFFENSE
Louisiana excelled against Sun Belt Conference pitching during regular season play, hitting .398 and slugging .774 in league play. Four players hit above .400 against SBC pitchers: Lexie Elkins (.541, 20 HR), Shellie Landry (.438, 11 HR), Kelsey Vincent (.424, 13 HR) and Haley Hayden (.418, 4 HR).
TEAM EFFORT
It's not just one "star" carrying the load for the Ragin' Cajuns. Each starter in the lineup has posted at least 31 hits (ranges from 31-57). Of the seven non-slap hitters in the lineup, six have double digit home runs. Seven starters 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 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 three-time, first team All-Sun Belt pick Jordan Wallace and 2014 SBC Pitcher of the Year and NFCA All-American Christina Hamilton.
ELKINS' TOP BILLING HIGHLIGHTS ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
Lexie Elkins earned repeat honors as Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and eight total Ragin' Cajuns were named to the all-league team. Elkins, also the 2014 SBC Player of the Year, joins Becky McMurtry (2002-03), Danyele Gomez (2005-06) and Christi Orgeron (2011-12) as Cajuns to win the league's top honor in back-to-back seasons. Louisiana's eight All-SBC selections are a league-high.
First Team All-SBC: Jordan Wallace (P), Lexie Elkins (C), Kelsey Vincent (1B), Haley Hayden (2B), Shellie Landry (OF)
Second Team All-SBC: Alex Stewart (P), Samantha Walsh (3B), Leandra Maly (DP)
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 on May 3 at ULM, the 863rd of her career, moved her past Ashley Brignac for second 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.) 88
5. Melissa Coronado (1999-02) 84
CAREER STRIKEOUTS
1. Brooke Mitchell (2002-05) 1,309
2. Jordan Wallace (2012-pres.) 868
3. Ashley Brignac (2008-12) 862
4. Kyla Hall (1991-94) 820
5. Kim Eisnagule (1983-86) 812
LEXIE JOINS PROGRAM'S GREAT SLUGGERS
With 27 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 24 of 45 games and has committed only 28 errors through 1,086 chances (822 PO, 236 A, 28 E) for a .974 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), slugging percentage (2nd), scoring (2nd) and batting average (7th). The squad is Top 20 nationally in fielding percentage (17th) and earned run average (20th).
SPARKLING SEASON FOR SHELLIE
Shellie Landry has posted career-highs in home runs (19) and extra base hits (33). She's registered a hit in 34 of 45 games played and has 17 multi-hit and 17 multi-RBI games.
CONSISTENT RESULTS
Haley Hayden is two runs shy of 60 and four RBI shy of 50 for a second straight season. The West Monroe, La., native is tied for the team lead with 17 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 awaits its assignment for the regional round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. The tournament field and regional sites are being announced on Sunday, May 10 at 9 p.m. (CDT) on ESPNU.
DIAMOND NOTES
• #AGoodIndicator: Louisiana was ranked No. 10 in the latest NCAA RPI (May 4). That puts the Cajuns in a good position to 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 Sun Belt Tournament without a strikeout in her last 90 plate appearances.
• #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 170 hits and 82 walks. Add in a combined 13 times being hit by a pitch, they've been on base a combined 265 times in a combined 536 plate appearances (49.4 percent).
• #OnTheRise: Samantha Walsh finished strong in the final three weeks of the regular season, hitting .560 (14-for-25) with seven home runs.
• #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 125 chances that have come her way (58 PO, 63 A, 4 E).
• #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 45 games.
• #InARhythm: Prior to the Oregon series (Apr. 24-25), Lexie Elkins homered in eight of 10 games, generating 13 home runs. Kelsey Vincent homered in seven of 10 games, collecting eight home runs.
#GeauxCajuns
