University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Louisiana State
Busy Week for Louisiana Continues and Brings First Battle with Ranked Foes
2/25/2021 1:22:00 PM | Softball
7th-ranked Ragin' Cajuns Softball set to face No. 11 Louisiana State and No. 8 Oklahoma State
Dates: Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 25-28, 2021
Lamson Park Schedule:
Thurs., Feb. 25 – vs. #11 Louisiana State, 6:00 p.m. (CST) // ESPN+
Fri., Feb. 26 – vs. Buffalo (DH), 4:00 p.m. (CST)
Sun., Feb. 28 – vs. #8 Oklahoma State, 11:00 a.m. (CST)
Tiger Park Schedule:
Sat., Feb. 27 – vs. #8 Oklahoma State, 1:30 p.m. (CST)
Sat, Feb. 27 – vs. #11 Louisiana State, 4:00 p.m. (CST) // SEC Network Plus
MEDIA INFORMATION
Live Video (Thursday vs. Louisiana State): ESPN+ | Talent: Dan McDonald, PxP; Yvette Girouard, analyst
Live Video (Saturday vs. Louisiana State): SEC Network Plus | Talent: Beth Mowins, PxP; Michelle Smith, analyst
Radio: ESPN 1420-AM | Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, analyst
Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsSB
LEADING OFF
>> Louisiana begins play in a weekend tournament that the program is co-hosting with Louisiana State on Thursday, Feb. 25, meeting the Tigers in a 6 p.m. contest at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
>> The event continues Friday, Feb. 26 with a 4 p.m. doubleheader against Buffalo at Lamson Park. The scene switches to Baton Rouge for a doubleheader against Oklahoma State and Louisiana State on Saturday, Feb. 27 beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Ragin' Cajuns meet OSU once more on Sunday, Feb. 28 in an 11 a.m. matinee at Lamson Park.
>> The Ragin' Cajuns are entering the heart of a week-long stretch where the squad is playing eight games over a six-day span.
>> It's the second straight year that the Ragin' Cajuns and Tigers co-host the weekend event. Last season, the two I-10 neighbors split a pair of games – the home team winning each time.
>> Louisiana has its first Top 25 tests of the 2021 season with four games combined against No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 11 Louisiana State.
THIS 'N THAT
>> Six games into the 2021 season and Louisiana has faced a deficit only once (Feb. 21 at UAB).
>> Kandra Lamb's eight strikeouts vs. McNeese were the second-most recorded in her collegiate career, trailing only the career-high 11 posted on Feb. 9, 2019 vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
>> Summer Ellyson was brilliant in her return to the circle during opening weekend, allowing only one run and seven hits over 13 innings.
>> Following the two-run single in the fifth inning vs. McNeese, Justice Milz has now collected at least one RBI in each of the past three games.
>> Ten (10) different individuals combined to generate the 12 hits recorded by Louisiana in the home opener Tuesday vs. Eastern Illinois.
>> 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.
>> 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.
>> 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.
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
22: Of the 26 runs scored at UAB's Green & Gold Classic, a total of 22 came from 4th inning on
6: Ciara Bryan brings a team-leading 6-game hitting streak into the LSU Crossover event
10: Louisiana holds an 10-game winning streak dating back to the 2020 season
8: Louisiana has produced at least eight runs in five of the season's first six games
14: Louisiana has a strong veteran presence with 14 upperclassmen on the roster
10: The Ragin' Cajuns were preseason ranked in the Top 10 for the second straight year
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.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
It won't be quite as busy as the current week, however the Ragin' Cajuns are set to face a six-game week as the month of March begins.
First up is a rematch with McNeese on Wednesday, March 3 in Lake Charles at 6:30 p.m., immediately followed by a newly added doubleheader with Baylor, to make up the canceled Louisiana Classics games, on Thursday, March 4 at Lamson Park beginning at 4 p.m.
Louisiana will wrap up the week traveling to Memphis, Tenn., for a three-game series with the Tigers. Games begin with a 1 p.m. twinbill on Saturday and wrap up on Sunday with a Noon single game.
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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