University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, April 17
Lafayette
3 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Texas State
Softball Returns to Lamson Park, Seeks to Maintain Conference Lead
4/16/2021 5:17:00 PM | Softball
After a midweek weather delay 14th-ranked Ragin' Cajuns start their April homestand
No. 14 Louisiana (32-6, 14-1 Sun Belt) vs. Texas State (26-6, 8-3 Sun Belt)
Dates: Saturday-Sunday, April 17-18, 2021
Location: Lafayette, La.
Stadium: Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park
Series Schedule:
Sat., April 17 (DH) – 3 p.m. (CDT)
Sun., April 18 – 12 p.m. (CDT)
MEDIA INFORMATION
Game Notes (PDF): Louisiana
Season Stats (PDF): Louisiana | Texas State
Rosters: Louisiana | Texas State
Radio: ESPN-1420 AM | Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, analyst
Television: ESPN+ | Talent: Dan McDonald and Cody Junot, PxP; Yvette Girouard, analyst
Live Video: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsSB
LEADING OFF
>> For the second straight week, No. 14 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball faces another series that will have a determining factor in the Sun Belt Conference's regular season title race when the squad hosts Texas State Saturday-Sunday, April 17-18 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
>> Last weekend, the Ragin' Cajuns swept Troy to advance past the Trojans, previously undefeated in league play, and into first place.
>> This weekend Louisiana has a chance to distance itself from the other former front-runner, Texas State. The Ragin' Cajuns hold a two-game lead over the Bobcats in the loss column entering the weekend.
>> The series with Texas State marks the start of Louisiana's lone homestand of April, which ends Tuesday, April 20 vs. Louisiana Tech.
>> The Ragin' Cajuns return home to Lamson Park after sweeping a 10-game Spring Break road trip. It's the first home game since March 29.
>> Louisiana's 17-game win streak is the third-longest active streak in NCAA Division I Softball, trailing only Oklahoma (36) and Fordham (20). It's the program's longest streak since the record-setting, 29-game streak of the 2019 season.
THIS 'N THAT
>> Entering the weekend, Louisiana's 32 wins ranked second in the Division I Softball ranks trailing only the 33 recorded by Arkansas.
>> Louisiana seeks to build upon the momentum gained on the recent 10-game road trek: batted .378, scored 98 runs, posted 110 hits, generated 48 extra base hits, and committed only four errors.
>> During the 17-game win streak, Louisiana is batting .335 and has produced 59 extra base hits which includes 23 of the season's 43 home runs.
>> Pitching and defense has made a tremendous upswing during the win streak, sporting a 1.59 ERA and a .975 fielding percentage (previous 21 games had a 2.90 ERA and .960 fielding percentage).
>> Kaitlyn Alderink posted four multiple-hit games over a seven-day span last week. She is batting .579 (11-for-19) since April 5.
>> Ciara Bryan has had at least one hit in all but two games this season and in 58 of the last 66 games competed in dating back to 2020. Her 59 hits rank No. 2 nationally trailing only Kentucky's Kayla Kowalik's 67.
>> Kendall Talley hit .523 during her 15-game hitting streak (March 26-April 11), raising her season average to .375.
>> Julie Rawls and Bailey Curry both posted three RBI in the Troy finale and finished as team leaders in the series with five and four, respectively.
>> Summer Ellyson brings a personal eight-game win streak into the homestand. She's limited foes to 11 earned runs and 39 hits over 53-1/3 innings pitched during the resurgence (since March 21 at UTA).
>> Kandra Lamb tops the pitching staff with 122 strikeouts in 98 innings. She's tallied at least five strikeouts in 12 of her 17 starts.
SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Louisiana leads, 38-6
At Lamson Park: Louisiana leads, 20-4
Last Meeting: 5/9/19 // LA 4, TXST 3 (San Marcos, Texas)
Streak: Louisiana, +4
Series Notables
- 7th Sun Belt series, overall, and 4th at Lamson Park since TXST joined league (2014)
- Cajuns won each previous series and hold a 15-3 edge in SBC regular season games.
- Teams met in SBC Tournament title game each year from 2016-18
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
2-1/2: Number of innings Louisiana has trailed in the month of April (out of 61 innings)
59: Number of extra base hits Louisiana has recorded during its current 17-game win streak
38: Ciara Bryan has reached base all 38 games. She sports a team-best .490 on base percentage
1: Ciara Bryan needs one hit to reach 60 in a single season for the first time in her career
61: Dating back to March 2013, the Ragin' Cajuns have won 61 consecutive conference series – the nation's longest active streak
27-0: Louisiana's record when scoring five or more runs in a game this season
23: Runs scored off a Troy pitching staff that had previously tossed four straight shutouts
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Infield: The Ragin' Cajuns have one of the best infield units in the country, and it may have been strengthened further by the adjustments made during the final week of March. Returning shortstop Alissa Dalton remains the anchor of the unit with her astounding range at shortstop. Sure-handed defender Kaitlyn Alderink switched sides and moved to third base (from second base) to assist Dalton in locking down the left side. Jade Gortarez has settled in at second base after starting the year on the left side alternating between third and shortstop. Melissa Mayeux took over at first base in the new-look alignment, but expect Justice Milz to see time at the position as well.
Outfield: Returning center fielder Raina O'Neal (hit .329 with nearly 30 extra base hits previous two seasons) is out for the regular season with an injury. Ciara Bryan has taken over in center field and continues to be one of most dynamic hitters in the nation. Kendall Talley closed March with a six-game hitting streak and seems to have claimed the left field slot. Right field has been a rotation of Jenna Kean, who adds elite speed to the base path, Karly Heath, and Julie Rawls who provides veteran experience for late-game adjustments.
Pitchers: Efforts in the circle are 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 with wins over Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Florida. Kandra Lamb emerged as the front-runner for the No. 2 spot following solid outings in her first career starts against ranked teams (at Louisiana State, vs. Oklahoma State). Casey Dixon, Vanessa Foreman and Karly Heath provide added depth and options to shorten innings pitched for Ellyson and Lamb.
Catchers: Julie Rawls, the mainstay from the past two seasons, is joined by Bailey Curry who trained at the position in preseason practice and freshman Sophie Piskos who was called into duty the last week of March due to an injury with Rawls. Curry and Piskos allow for a rotation that can keep Rawls' legs rested for the postseason. Rawls has led Louisiana in slugging percentage the past two seasons.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
No. 14 Louisiana remains at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park and closes out its April homestand on Tuesday (April 20) with a 4 p.m. single game against Louisiana Tech. The meeting the Lady Techsters is a makeup for a contest originally scheduled for March 24 but was postponed by inclement weather.
After meeting Louisiana Tech on Tuesday, the Ragin' Cajuns take a break from Sun Belt Conference play and travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a two-game series with the Top 5-ranked Crimson Tide set for Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25 at Rhoads Stadium. The two nationally ranked squads square off in single games both days at 1:30 p.m. (CDT).
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.
Dates: Saturday-Sunday, April 17-18, 2021
Location: Lafayette, La.
Stadium: Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park
Series Schedule:
Sat., April 17 (DH) – 3 p.m. (CDT)
Sun., April 18 – 12 p.m. (CDT)
MEDIA INFORMATION
Game Notes (PDF): Louisiana
Season Stats (PDF): Louisiana | Texas State
Rosters: Louisiana | Texas State
Radio: ESPN-1420 AM | Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, analyst
Television: ESPN+ | Talent: Dan McDonald and Cody Junot, PxP; Yvette Girouard, analyst
Live Video: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsSB
LEADING OFF
>> For the second straight week, No. 14 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball faces another series that will have a determining factor in the Sun Belt Conference's regular season title race when the squad hosts Texas State Saturday-Sunday, April 17-18 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
>> Last weekend, the Ragin' Cajuns swept Troy to advance past the Trojans, previously undefeated in league play, and into first place.
>> This weekend Louisiana has a chance to distance itself from the other former front-runner, Texas State. The Ragin' Cajuns hold a two-game lead over the Bobcats in the loss column entering the weekend.
>> The series with Texas State marks the start of Louisiana's lone homestand of April, which ends Tuesday, April 20 vs. Louisiana Tech.
>> The Ragin' Cajuns return home to Lamson Park after sweeping a 10-game Spring Break road trip. It's the first home game since March 29.
>> Louisiana's 17-game win streak is the third-longest active streak in NCAA Division I Softball, trailing only Oklahoma (36) and Fordham (20). It's the program's longest streak since the record-setting, 29-game streak of the 2019 season.
THIS 'N THAT
>> Entering the weekend, Louisiana's 32 wins ranked second in the Division I Softball ranks trailing only the 33 recorded by Arkansas.
>> Louisiana seeks to build upon the momentum gained on the recent 10-game road trek: batted .378, scored 98 runs, posted 110 hits, generated 48 extra base hits, and committed only four errors.
>> During the 17-game win streak, Louisiana is batting .335 and has produced 59 extra base hits which includes 23 of the season's 43 home runs.
>> Pitching and defense has made a tremendous upswing during the win streak, sporting a 1.59 ERA and a .975 fielding percentage (previous 21 games had a 2.90 ERA and .960 fielding percentage).
>> Kaitlyn Alderink posted four multiple-hit games over a seven-day span last week. She is batting .579 (11-for-19) since April 5.
>> Ciara Bryan has had at least one hit in all but two games this season and in 58 of the last 66 games competed in dating back to 2020. Her 59 hits rank No. 2 nationally trailing only Kentucky's Kayla Kowalik's 67.
>> Kendall Talley hit .523 during her 15-game hitting streak (March 26-April 11), raising her season average to .375.
>> Julie Rawls and Bailey Curry both posted three RBI in the Troy finale and finished as team leaders in the series with five and four, respectively.
>> Summer Ellyson brings a personal eight-game win streak into the homestand. She's limited foes to 11 earned runs and 39 hits over 53-1/3 innings pitched during the resurgence (since March 21 at UTA).
>> Kandra Lamb tops the pitching staff with 122 strikeouts in 98 innings. She's tallied at least five strikeouts in 12 of her 17 starts.
SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Louisiana leads, 38-6
At Lamson Park: Louisiana leads, 20-4
Last Meeting: 5/9/19 // LA 4, TXST 3 (San Marcos, Texas)
Streak: Louisiana, +4
Series Notables
- 7th Sun Belt series, overall, and 4th at Lamson Park since TXST joined league (2014)
- Cajuns won each previous series and hold a 15-3 edge in SBC regular season games.
- Teams met in SBC Tournament title game each year from 2016-18
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
2-1/2: Number of innings Louisiana has trailed in the month of April (out of 61 innings)
59: Number of extra base hits Louisiana has recorded during its current 17-game win streak
38: Ciara Bryan has reached base all 38 games. She sports a team-best .490 on base percentage
1: Ciara Bryan needs one hit to reach 60 in a single season for the first time in her career
61: Dating back to March 2013, the Ragin' Cajuns have won 61 consecutive conference series – the nation's longest active streak
27-0: Louisiana's record when scoring five or more runs in a game this season
23: Runs scored off a Troy pitching staff that had previously tossed four straight shutouts
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Infield: The Ragin' Cajuns have one of the best infield units in the country, and it may have been strengthened further by the adjustments made during the final week of March. Returning shortstop Alissa Dalton remains the anchor of the unit with her astounding range at shortstop. Sure-handed defender Kaitlyn Alderink switched sides and moved to third base (from second base) to assist Dalton in locking down the left side. Jade Gortarez has settled in at second base after starting the year on the left side alternating between third and shortstop. Melissa Mayeux took over at first base in the new-look alignment, but expect Justice Milz to see time at the position as well.
Outfield: Returning center fielder Raina O'Neal (hit .329 with nearly 30 extra base hits previous two seasons) is out for the regular season with an injury. Ciara Bryan has taken over in center field and continues to be one of most dynamic hitters in the nation. Kendall Talley closed March with a six-game hitting streak and seems to have claimed the left field slot. Right field has been a rotation of Jenna Kean, who adds elite speed to the base path, Karly Heath, and Julie Rawls who provides veteran experience for late-game adjustments.
Pitchers: Efforts in the circle are 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 with wins over Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Florida. Kandra Lamb emerged as the front-runner for the No. 2 spot following solid outings in her first career starts against ranked teams (at Louisiana State, vs. Oklahoma State). Casey Dixon, Vanessa Foreman and Karly Heath provide added depth and options to shorten innings pitched for Ellyson and Lamb.
Catchers: Julie Rawls, the mainstay from the past two seasons, is joined by Bailey Curry who trained at the position in preseason practice and freshman Sophie Piskos who was called into duty the last week of March due to an injury with Rawls. Curry and Piskos allow for a rotation that can keep Rawls' legs rested for the postseason. Rawls has led Louisiana in slugging percentage the past two seasons.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
No. 14 Louisiana remains at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park and closes out its April homestand on Tuesday (April 20) with a 4 p.m. single game against Louisiana Tech. The meeting the Lady Techsters is a makeup for a contest originally scheduled for March 24 but was postponed by inclement weather.
After meeting Louisiana Tech on Tuesday, the Ragin' Cajuns take a break from Sun Belt Conference play and travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a two-game series with the Top 5-ranked Crimson Tide set for Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25 at Rhoads Stadium. The two nationally ranked squads square off in single games both days at 1:30 p.m. (CDT).
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.
-- RaginCajuns.com --
Players Mentioned
2B/3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF/DP
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ Softball
P/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
IF/DP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
OF
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