University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Tuesday, February 15
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Nicholls
No. 19 Louisiana Faces Nicholls at Lamson on Tuesday Prior to Lengthy Break
2/14/2022 5:30:00 PM | Softball
Matchup with Colonels is lone game of the week, then Ragin' Cajuns get an eight-day rest before Alabama's visit
No. 19 Louisiana (5-0) vs. Nicholls (1-3)
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022
Location: Lafayette, La.
Stadium: Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park
Game Time: 6:00 p.m. (CST)
MEDIA INFORMATION
Season Stats (PDF): Louisiana | Nicholls
Rosters: Louisiana | Nicholls
Television: ESPN+ • Talent: Dan McDonald, PxP; Yvette Girouard, analyst
Radio: ESPN Lafayette 103.3 FM // 1420 AM | Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, analyst
Live Coverage: Radio | Video | Stats
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsSB
LEADING OFF
>> No. 19 Louisiana continues its season-opening, seven-game homestand at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park on Tuesday, Feb. 15 hosting in-state foe Nicholls (1-3) at 6:00 p.m. (CST).
>> The Ragin' Cajuns are returning to the field just two short days after a 5-0 run through Opening Weekend of the 2022 season.
>> It's the lone game of the entire week for Louisiana. The team has a scheduled weekend off, providing an eight-day rest prior to a visit from No. 2 Alabama to Lamson Park on Thursday, Feb. 24.
>> Louisiana is coming off a highly successful start to Year No. 5 with Gerry Glasco, scoring 46 runs, generating 24 extra base hits and posting five shutouts in the sweep of play in the 36th Annual Louisiana Classics.
>> The pitching staff carries a streak of five consecutive shutouts recorded to start the 2022 campaign into the Nicholls matchup. It's the program record for most consecutive shutouts to start a season.
>> Louisiana and Nicholls are meeting at Lamson Park for the first time since March 2012.
>> The Ragin' Cajuns lead the all-time series with the Colonels 89-24, and claimed the last matchup between the two programs 8-0 in Thibodaux in March 2019.
>> Tuesday's contest with Nicholls continues a stretch where the Ragin' Cajuns are playing inside or near the city limits of Lafayette the entire month of February, following up the current homestand with a visit to Youngsville's Sports Complex for the Mardi Gras Mambo from Feb. 25-27.
DIAMOND NOTES
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
5: Sophie Piskos' hitting streak to start the season - was the only Ragin' Cajun to get a hit in all five games on Opening Weekend.
8: Number of days Louisiana will have to prepare for the showdown with No. 2 Alabama at Lamson Park (on Feb. 24) following Tuesday's game with Nicholls.
12/10: The offense drew more walks (12) than they struck out (10) during Opening Weekend.
24: The Ragin' Cajuns produced 24 two-out RBI in its five-game march through Opening Weekend, sparked by a .522 average (24-for-46) hitting with two outs.
30: Louisiana's pitching staff has started the 2022 season with 30 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.
37: Louisiana is scheduled to play 37 games this season within the state of Louisiana's borders.
46-0: Louisiana's run-scored differential over the opposition over the five-game, Opening Weekend slate.
52: Career extra base hits total for Raina O'Neal (includes 27 home runs), who has hit .300-plus and slugged .500-plus all three previous seasons with Louisiana.
ABOUT LOUISIANA
During the 2021 season, the Ragin' Cajuns reached the 40-win mark for the 22nd consecutive completed season, closing out the regular season winning 25 of the final 29 games, and advanced to Championship Sunday of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. Louisiana repeated as Sun Belt Conference regular season and tournament champions highlighted by an 11-1 record, regular season and tournament combined, against the league's other three NCAA Tournament participants (Texas State, Troy and South Alabama).
Moving forward into the 2022 season, Louisiana is armed with the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class of the 2021 recruits by Extra Inning Softball including the No. 4-rated recruit in pitcher Sam Landry and No. 15-rated recruit in outfielder Maddie Hayden, has first team All-Sun Belt performer Kandra Lamb back in the circle seeking to pick up where Summer Ellyson left off, and welcomes back Raina O'Neal and Taylor Roman and their power bats back to the lineup.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Infield: Ready to be Louisiana's next primary catcher, Sophie Piskos is back with her infectious energy and enthusiasm and is ready to build upon last season's strong finish (hit .429 from April 20 onward). Back from injury, Taylor Roman has made a strong case for covering the first base bag after turning in three triples, a home run and eight RBI on Opening Weekend. Power 5 transfers Ari Quiñones (Washington) and Jourdyn Campbell (Texas A&M) appear to be the front runners at second base and third base, respectively. At shortstop, freshman Alexa Langeliers was the Opening Day starter and was there the entire weekend due to an impressive.429 showing at the plate which included a pair of home runs vs. UAB. Melissa Mayeux and Stormy Kotzelnick are expected to rotate around the infield at the other three positions.
Outfield: The Ragin' Cajuns have their "rock" back in center field in Raina O'Neal. O'Neal, who missed the final three months of the 2021 season due to injury, provides a tremendous boost defensively and offensively (has hit .300-plus and slugged .500-plus all three previous seasons with Louisiana). Senior Jenna Kean has had an exceptional fall and preseason practice period, potentially shoring up a spot in right field - and will be the team's primary speed option in the stolen base department. Freshmen Kramer Eschete and Maddie Hayden could be the newcomers who join the patrol in the outfield, serving as options in right field and left field.
Pitchers: The coaches expect a true "pitching staff" in the circle to be the norm throughout the season. Kandra Lamb, who pitched a three-hit shutout of LSU in her final start of the 2021 season, is ready to take her turn as the leader. Kentucky-transfer Meghan Schorman and freshman Sam Landry are expected to round out the rotation of "starters" with Lamb. Schorman was off to a 7-1 start with a 1.30 ERA before the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, while Landry was the No. 4-rated recruit by Extra Inning Softball and shined in last summer's Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) High School Senior All-American Game. Vanessa Foreman and Karly Heath should play a role in relief assignments to further deepen the staff approach.
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.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
-- RaginCajuns.com --
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022
Location: Lafayette, La.
Stadium: Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park
Game Time: 6:00 p.m. (CST)
MEDIA INFORMATION
Season Stats (PDF): Louisiana | Nicholls
Rosters: Louisiana | Nicholls
Television: ESPN+ • Talent: Dan McDonald, PxP; Yvette Girouard, analyst
Radio: ESPN Lafayette 103.3 FM // 1420 AM | Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, analyst
Live Coverage: Radio | Video | Stats
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsSB
LEADING OFF
>> No. 19 Louisiana continues its season-opening, seven-game homestand at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park on Tuesday, Feb. 15 hosting in-state foe Nicholls (1-3) at 6:00 p.m. (CST).
>> The Ragin' Cajuns are returning to the field just two short days after a 5-0 run through Opening Weekend of the 2022 season.
>> It's the lone game of the entire week for Louisiana. The team has a scheduled weekend off, providing an eight-day rest prior to a visit from No. 2 Alabama to Lamson Park on Thursday, Feb. 24.
>> Louisiana is coming off a highly successful start to Year No. 5 with Gerry Glasco, scoring 46 runs, generating 24 extra base hits and posting five shutouts in the sweep of play in the 36th Annual Louisiana Classics.
>> The pitching staff carries a streak of five consecutive shutouts recorded to start the 2022 campaign into the Nicholls matchup. It's the program record for most consecutive shutouts to start a season.
>> Louisiana and Nicholls are meeting at Lamson Park for the first time since March 2012.
>> The Ragin' Cajuns lead the all-time series with the Colonels 89-24, and claimed the last matchup between the two programs 8-0 in Thibodaux in March 2019.
>> Tuesday's contest with Nicholls continues a stretch where the Ragin' Cajuns are playing inside or near the city limits of Lafayette the entire month of February, following up the current homestand with a visit to Youngsville's Sports Complex for the Mardi Gras Mambo from Feb. 25-27.
DIAMOND NOTES
- Louisiana's pitching staff shined in its debut with first-year pitching coach Justin Robichaux, the son of legendary Ragin' Cajuns Baseball head coach Tony Robichaux, tossing 30 scoreless innings during Opening Weekend.
- In last weekend's pitching dominance, the opposition combined for just 15 baserunners and of the 90 outs, 50 were strikeouts.
- Sophie Piskos showed signs that she's picking up right where she left off from 2021 when she finished hitting .420 onward after April 20. Piskos led the Ragin' Cajuns with a .538 average (7-for-13) during Opening Weekend while delivering two doubles, two home runs.
- Taylor Roman produced a team-leading three triples and eight RBI on Opening Weekend. Roman, who had four of her six hits over the weekend go for extra bases, batted .462 and slugged 1.154 in her first weekend back returning from a 2021 season-ending injury.
- As a unit, Louisiana's offense produced a .450 batting average, generated 46 runs scored and saw 24 of its 58 base hits (41 percent) go for extra bases during the season-opening weekend.
- The Ragin' Cajuns defense fielded near flawlessly in its 2022 debut with the only error committed over 112 chances (90 PO, 21 A, 1 E) being a catcher's interference – an impressive feat given that the unit vast majority of the unit had yet to play an inning together.
- A total of 11 players made their Ragin' Cajuns debut during Opening Weekend including several members of Extra Inning Softball's highly touted No. 1-rated 2021 recruiting class.
- Louisiana was preseason ranked in all four major national polls: No. 19 in Softball America, No. 22 in D1Softball and No. 23 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll.
- Louisiana, the two-time defending Sun Belt regular-season and tournament champion, was selected as the favorite to win the 2022 Sun Belt Conference softball title in a vote of the league's 10 head coaches.
- Kandra Lamb, Raina O'Neal and Sophie Piskos were voted onto the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Softball Preseason All-Conference Team.
- Kandra Lamb represented Louisiana Softball on the Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 list and Sam Landry was named on of D1Softball's Top 75 Impact Freshman. The duo was ranked among D1Softball's Top 150 Players.
- With the exception of Sophie Piskos at catcher, Raina O'Neal returning in center field and Taylor Roman at first base, the Ragin' Cajuns are using a new starter at every other position.
- Louisiana is in a transition year in the pitching circle following the departure of former All-American and Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Summer Ellyson. After working alongside Ellyson last season to lead the Ragin' Cajuns to repeat champions in the Sun Belt, Kandra Lamb takes her turn as the pitching staff's leader.
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
5: Sophie Piskos' hitting streak to start the season - was the only Ragin' Cajun to get a hit in all five games on Opening Weekend.
8: Number of days Louisiana will have to prepare for the showdown with No. 2 Alabama at Lamson Park (on Feb. 24) following Tuesday's game with Nicholls.
12/10: The offense drew more walks (12) than they struck out (10) during Opening Weekend.
24: The Ragin' Cajuns produced 24 two-out RBI in its five-game march through Opening Weekend, sparked by a .522 average (24-for-46) hitting with two outs.
30: Louisiana's pitching staff has started the 2022 season with 30 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.
37: Louisiana is scheduled to play 37 games this season within the state of Louisiana's borders.
46-0: Louisiana's run-scored differential over the opposition over the five-game, Opening Weekend slate.
52: Career extra base hits total for Raina O'Neal (includes 27 home runs), who has hit .300-plus and slugged .500-plus all three previous seasons with Louisiana.
ABOUT LOUISIANA
During the 2021 season, the Ragin' Cajuns reached the 40-win mark for the 22nd consecutive completed season, closing out the regular season winning 25 of the final 29 games, and advanced to Championship Sunday of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. Louisiana repeated as Sun Belt Conference regular season and tournament champions highlighted by an 11-1 record, regular season and tournament combined, against the league's other three NCAA Tournament participants (Texas State, Troy and South Alabama).
Moving forward into the 2022 season, Louisiana is armed with the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class of the 2021 recruits by Extra Inning Softball including the No. 4-rated recruit in pitcher Sam Landry and No. 15-rated recruit in outfielder Maddie Hayden, has first team All-Sun Belt performer Kandra Lamb back in the circle seeking to pick up where Summer Ellyson left off, and welcomes back Raina O'Neal and Taylor Roman and their power bats back to the lineup.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Infield: Ready to be Louisiana's next primary catcher, Sophie Piskos is back with her infectious energy and enthusiasm and is ready to build upon last season's strong finish (hit .429 from April 20 onward). Back from injury, Taylor Roman has made a strong case for covering the first base bag after turning in three triples, a home run and eight RBI on Opening Weekend. Power 5 transfers Ari Quiñones (Washington) and Jourdyn Campbell (Texas A&M) appear to be the front runners at second base and third base, respectively. At shortstop, freshman Alexa Langeliers was the Opening Day starter and was there the entire weekend due to an impressive.429 showing at the plate which included a pair of home runs vs. UAB. Melissa Mayeux and Stormy Kotzelnick are expected to rotate around the infield at the other three positions.
Outfield: The Ragin' Cajuns have their "rock" back in center field in Raina O'Neal. O'Neal, who missed the final three months of the 2021 season due to injury, provides a tremendous boost defensively and offensively (has hit .300-plus and slugged .500-plus all three previous seasons with Louisiana). Senior Jenna Kean has had an exceptional fall and preseason practice period, potentially shoring up a spot in right field - and will be the team's primary speed option in the stolen base department. Freshmen Kramer Eschete and Maddie Hayden could be the newcomers who join the patrol in the outfield, serving as options in right field and left field.
Pitchers: The coaches expect a true "pitching staff" in the circle to be the norm throughout the season. Kandra Lamb, who pitched a three-hit shutout of LSU in her final start of the 2021 season, is ready to take her turn as the leader. Kentucky-transfer Meghan Schorman and freshman Sam Landry are expected to round out the rotation of "starters" with Lamb. Schorman was off to a 7-1 start with a 1.30 ERA before the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, while Landry was the No. 4-rated recruit by Extra Inning Softball and shined in last summer's Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) High School Senior All-American Game. Vanessa Foreman and Karly Heath should play a role in relief assignments to further deepen the staff approach.
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.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
-- RaginCajuns.com --
Players Mentioned
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P
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OF
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P/OF
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OF
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IF
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P
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P
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IF
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UTL
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OF
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C/IF
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1B/OF
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P
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