University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Eastern Illinois
Louisiana Opens Home Schedule and Week Filled With Softball on Tuesday
2/22/2021 6:34:00 PM | Softball
8th-ranked Ragin' Cajuns set to compete in eight games over six days starting with home opener
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021
Location: Lafayette, La.
Stadium: Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park
Game Time:Â 4:30 p.m.
No. 8Â Louisiana (4-0) vs. McNeese (3-5)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021
Location: Lafayette, La.
Stadium: Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park
Game Time: 6 p.m.
MEDIA INFORMATION
Game Notes (PDF): Louisiana
Season Stats: Louisiana | Eastern Illinois | McNeese
Radio (both games): TalkRadio 960-AMÂ |Â Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, analyst
Live Stats:Â CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates:Â @RaginCajunsSB
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LEADING OFFÂ
>> An extremely busy schedule awaits No. 8 Louisiana this week with a total of eight games over six days on the docket. All but two of the contests will be at home inside Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
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>> The week begins with the home opener at Lamson Park on Tuesday, Feb. 24Â vs. Eastern Illinois at 4:30 p.m. The matchup is highlighted by head coach Gerry Glasco and his daughter, EIU head coach Tara (Glasco) Archibald, coaching against one another collegiately for the first time.
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>> The busy stretch continues on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at Lamson Park with a single game vs. McNeese, and will be followed by a combination of six games against Louisiana State, Buffalo and Oklahoma State from Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 25-28.
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>> Louisiana was originally scheduled to open its home schedule Feb. 12-13 prior to the recent winter weather canceling the event.
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>> Wednesday's meeting with McNeese is the first of a home-and-home between the two programs. The Ragin' Cajuns return the visit to Lake Charles on Wednesday, March 3.
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THIS 'N THATÂ Â
>> Louisiana scored first in three of four outings at UAB's Green & Gold Classic, and trailed only once the entire opening weekend.
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>> Summer Ellyson and Kandra Lamb took turns starting the four-game set in Birmingham. The duo combined to hold opponents to just three hits, 11 hits and a .146 average over 21-2/3 innings.Â
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>> Georgia transfer Ciara Bryan led Louisiana with a .500 average (8-for-16) and eight base hits at UAB. Melissa Mayeux (.455) and Raina O'Neal (.429) also hit .400-plus, while Alissa Dalton delivered a team-best six RBI.
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>> Heading into the 2021 season, Louisiana seeks to continue building the momentum gained in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season. The Ragin' Cajuns scored ranked wins over Louisiana State, Oklahoma State, Texas and Florida (twice) in addition to two victories over Ole Miss, leading the squad to a No. 1 ranking in the lone RPI ranking of the year.
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>> Louisiana returns all but one individual (Sarah Hudek) who started at one of the nine positions on the field in 2020. All-Sun Belt performers Summer Ellyson, Alissa Dalton, Julie Rawls and Raina O'Neal, plus last season's leading hitter Kaitlyn Alderink, headline the list of returners.
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>> Six (6) Division I transfers, a group which includes the Georgia duo of Ciara Bryan and Justice Milz added in November, add to the veteran presence on the roster and also bring valuable postseason experience. Jade Gortarez (Arizona State) and Jenna Kean (Arizona) are other impact transfers to watch.
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NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
22:Â Of the 26 runs scored at UAB's Green & Gold Classic, a total of 22 came from 4th inning on
3:Â Ciara Bryan produced 3 multi-hit games during her Louisiana debut in Birmingham
8:Â Louisiana holds an 8-game winning streak dating back to the 2020 season
7:Â Number of Ragin' Cajuns with multiple RBI totals in the UAB Green & Gold Classic
14:Â Louisiana has a strong veteran presence with 14 upperclassmen on the roster
10:Â The Ragin' Cajuns were preseason ranked in the Top 10 for the second straight year
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A QUICK LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Infield: The Ragin' Cajuns will have one of the best infield units in the country as both Alissa Dalton (returning shortstop) and Jade Gortarez will be on the field together on the left side, taking turns at shortstop and third base. Sure-handed second baseman Kaitlyn Alderink will lead the way in securing the right side. Freshman Taylor Roman, who started in right field in 2020, transitions to first base in order to keep her bat in the lineup. Melissa Mayeux will also be in the mix, available to play at any position.
Outfield: Returning center fielder Raina O'Neal has produced a .329 average and generated nearly 30 extra base hits over the past two seasons as a Ragin' Cajun. The group is boosted by a pair of talented newcomers: Ciara Bryan from Georgia who was one of the most dynamic players in 2020 (11 HR and 31 RBI in 28 games) and Jenna Kean from Arizona who adds speed that rivals single-season stolen base record holder Keeli Milligan. Sophomores Frankie Izard and Kendall Talley could offer help as defensive replacements.
Pitchers: Efforts in the circle will be led by Summer Ellyson once again. She led the nation in wins (39) in 2019, and was off to an 11-1 start (1.83 ERA) in 2020 and earned wins over Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Florida (twice). There's added depth in the bullpen, as Karly Heath, Kandra Lamb, Casey Dixon and Vanessa Foreman showed in fall practice that they will compete to become the team's No. 2 pitcher.
Catchers: The mainstay from the past two seasons, Julie Rawls, is joined by Bailey Curry and Melissa Mayeux who trained at the position in preseason practice. Curry and Mayeux should allow for a rotation at the position which would prevent Rawls from having to catch every game to keep her fresh for the postseason. Rawls has led the Ragin' Cajuns in slugging percentage the past two seasons.
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UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana begins play in a weekend tournament that the program is co-hosting with Louisiana State on Thursday, Feb. 25, hosting the Tigers in a 6 p.m. contest at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park. The contest will be televised live on ESPN+.
The event continues Friday, Feb. 26Â with a 4 p.m. doubleheader against Buffalo at Lamson Park before a doubleheader against Oklahoma State and Louisiana State on Saturday, Feb. 27Â in Baton Rouge beginning at 12:30 p.m. The Ragin' Cajuns meet OSU once more on Sunday, Feb. 28 in an 11 a.m. matinee at Lamson Park.
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FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Facebook (/RaginCajunsSB), Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@Louisiana.SB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Softball.
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