Rematch in Austin on Wednesday Begins Road Trip for Louisiana Softball

Louisiana (20-8) at No. 14 Texas (26-9-1)
Date: Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Location: Austin, Texas
Stadium: Red & Charline McCombs Field
Game Time: 6:00 p.m. (CDT)

MEDIA INFORMATION
Season Stats (PDF): Louisiana | Texas
Rosters: Louisiana | Texas
Schedule/Results: Louisiana | Texas
Television: Longhorn Network | Talent: Alex Loeb, PxP; Cat Osterman, analyst
Radio: ESPN Lafayette 103.3 FM // 1420 AM | Talent: Ian Auzenne, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, analyst
Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Live Coverage Links: Video | Radio | Stats
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsSB

THE BASICS
>> A four-game road trip in the state of Texas for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball team begins on Wednesday, March 30 in Austin as the squad meets the host-Texas Longhorns in a rematch. First pitch from Red & Charline McCombs Field is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (CDT) live on the Longhorn Network.

>> The Ragin' Cajuns and Longhorns are just two weeks removed from meeting at Lamson Park in Lafayette in a doubleheader on March 16, which Texas swept by a 10-2, 3-2 count.

>> Wednesday's single game completes the home-and-home matchup between the two nationally renowned programs. It also gives Louisiana the opportunity at the elusive breakthrough it's been searching for against ranked teams in the 2022 season.

>> The stop in Austin starts a week of prime contests for Louisiana which heads to San Marcos over the weekend for a critical Sun Belt Conference series with Texas State. The matchup with the Bobcats is the first of three straight series against the SBC's fellow NCAA participants from 2021.

>> Louisiana seeks to build upon its most complete weekend performance in Sun Belt play. In last weekend's sweep of UT Arlington, the pitching staff yielded a single run, six base hits on a .115 average, and struck out 23 batters over 16 innings while the offense churned out 32 base hits on a .457 average and outscored the visiting Mavericks 29-1.

>> One team will continue a win streak after Wednesday's contest. Louisiana enters McCombs Field on a four-game win streak, while Texas has won 10 straight including a three-game sweep of LSU in Austin from March 18-19.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH
>> Since inserting Ari Quiñones into the defense at third base and transitioning Jourdyn Campbell to second base, the Ragin' Cajuns have fielded cleanly four straight games (66 PO, 20 A, 0 E).

>> Defense will be a key for Louisiana in the rematch with Texas. In the March 16 doubleheader at Lamson Park, the Longhorns scored four unearned runs.

>> The Ragin' Cajuns bring a red-hot offense into Wednesday's contest. Since last meeting Texas, the bats have generated 62 runs and 73 base hits (33 for extra bases) on a .448 average over a six-game span.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MATCHUP
>> Texas owns a 14-7 lead in the all-time series. The Longhorns hold a 4-3 edge over the Ragin' Cajuns at McCombs Field.

>> The two teams are meeting for the third straight season, and for the second time in the 2022 campaign. Texas claimed a 10-2, 3-2 doubleheader sweep at Lamson Park in Lafayette back on March 16.

>> Louisiana and Texas split a doubleheader at McCombs Field in Austin in 2020 and 2021.

>> The Ragin' Cajuns and Longhorns first met in March 1998, but the series didn't become a mainstay on the teams' schedules until Mike White arrived at Texas. White coached Louisiana head coach Gerry Glasco's daughter, Geri Ann, during his tenure at Oregon.

>> The two storied programs have met five times in NCAA postseason play. The Ragin' Cajuns hold a 4-0 edge in NCAA Regionals; Texas' lone win in a postseason matchup came in the 2003 WCWS.

THE LAST TIME OUT (March 25-27 vs. UT Arlington – Lamson Park)
>> Louisiana collected a three-game Sun Belt Conference sweep of UT Arlington from March 25-27 at Lamson Park – its first series sweep in conference play this season.

>> The sweep extended the program's nation-leading streak of consecutive conference series won to 67 straight, an impressive streak which dates back to March 2013.

>> The Ragin' Cajuns were dominant in the circle as Sam Landry tossed 10 scoreless innings and struck out 18 and Kandra Lamb pitched a perfect game in the series clincher.

>> At the plate, Ari Quiñones started a pair of multiple-run scoring innings in the series opener, Melissa Mayeux's second home run of the weekend started the sprint away from the Mavericks in Game 2 and Stormy Kotzelnick stirred the offense on Sunday with a pair of run-scoring doubles and a home run.

LOUISIANA-TEXAS REVISITED (March 16 at Lamson Park)
>> A late-game push carried No. 25 Texas to the finish line in Game 1 and a seventh inning rally fell short for No. 23 Louisiana in Game 2 as the visiting Longhorns picked up a 10-2, 3-2 doubleheader sweep.

>> The opening contest was deadlocked at 2-2 through five innings, with both Longhorns runs being unearned, and Kandra Lamb yielding just one base hit. A three-run double from Janae Jefferson and three-run home run from McKenzie Parker sparked Texas' runaway.

>> In the nightcap, Meghan Schorman finished her relief effort with four consecutive scoreless innings pitched to match Texas' Hailey Dolcini. Louisiana scored twice in the seventh inning and had the tying run at second base before the Longhorns closed out the game.

NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
1: In the 8-1/3 innings of relief that she pitched in the two matchups vs. LSU earlier this month, Meghan Schorman yielded only one run.
1: The Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff yielded only one run to UT Arlington the entire series – over a span of 16 innings. The Mavericks were shutout for the final 10-1/3 innings.
2: In games from March 3 through March 9, Ragin' Cajuns pitchers yielded only two runs over 18 innings (2 runs, 10 hits, 27 strikeouts) in relief effort situations.
.204: The Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff has limited the opposition to a .204 average. Opponents hit sub-.200, combined, over the first five weeks of the season.
2.71: Louisiana entered the week ranked No. 1 nationally averaging 2.71 stolen bases per game (76 swipes in 28 games).
3: Louisiana has three hitters batting above .400 as the second half of the season begins: Stormy Kotzelnick (.427), Maddie Hayden (.421) and Jourdyn Campbell (.417).
5: Including last Saturday's perfect game, which was her third no-hitter of the season, Kandra Lamb has pitched five career no-hitters.
9: Starting with the Georgia Southern series finale (March 20), Sophie Piskos recorded nine RBI in 11 plate appearances over a three-game stretch.
10: There are 10 different players who have combined to give Louisiana its 31 home runs.
11: Number of shutouts posted by Louisiana's pitching staff.
12: Louisiana's pitching staff has yielded only 12 home runs to the opposition through 170 innings.
13: There are 13 players on Louisiana's roster who have already produced double-digit base hits.
14: The Ragin' Cajuns offense has produced double-digit hits in 14 games.
14-1/3: Sam Landry has an active streak of 14-1/3 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.
18: Stormy Kotzelnick leads the Ragin' Cajuns with 18 extra base hits (10 doubles, 5 triples, 3 home run).
19-0: Louisiana's record when scoring first.
20: Sophie Piskos has generated 20 RBI in only 65 plate appearances.
30-2/3: Louisiana's pitching staff started the 2022 season with 30-2/3 consecutive scoreless innings pitched. The streak featured a school-record five consecutive shutouts to begin the season.
.380: Batting average for the Ragin' Cajuns offense through the season's first 28 games. The figure has been .360 or higher the entire season.
.459: Louisiana's on base percentage, which ranks No. 2 nationally and trails only Oklahoma (.506). The Ragin' Cajuns and Sooners are the lone two teams entering the weekend with a .450-plus on base percentage.
99/81: The Ragin' Cajuns hitters have drawn more walks (99) than they have struck out (81).
104: Total number of extra base hits produced by Louisiana's offense (60 doubles, 13 triples, 31 home runs).

A QUICK LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Infield: Now in her first full season as Louisiana's primary catcher, Sophie Piskos brings an infectious energy and enthusiasm to the lineup and is continuing to build upon last season's strong finish (hit .429 from April 20 onward). With an 11-game hitting streak and a .500-plus average in February, Stormy Kotzelnick penciled herself into the lineup beginning at second base. Power 5 transfer Jourdyn Campbell (Texas A&M) has remained a mainstay in the infield – opening the season at third base – with her .400-plus average (.433), and team-leading totals in home runs (5) and multiple-hit games (10). 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 provides Louisiana with the flexibility to play all infield positions, and can even serve as backup catcher for Piskos. In a recent alignment shift, Kotzelnick moved to first base, Campbell to second base and Ari Quiñones was inserted at third base.

Outfield: The Ragin' Cajuns "rock" in center field, Raina O'Neal, hit .300-plus and slugged .500-plus all three previous seasons with the program. O'Neal, who missed the final three months of the 2021 season due to injury, has been sidelined by a hand injury in the month of March. Freshman Maddie Hayden, the younger sister of four-time All-Sun Belt and All-Central Region performer Haley Hayden, has used her speed and a hot streak at the plate – hit .619 with three doubles, two triples and five stolen bases from Feb. 13-27 – to land a spot in the lineup. Hayden emerged in left field, but in recent weeks has covered center field with O'Neal out due to injury. Senior Jenna Kean is the team's primary speed option in the stolen base department and is the veteran of a rotation in right field that includes freshmen Kramer Eschete, Kayla Falterman and Samantha Graeter. Eschete and Falterman have risen to the forefront in right field and left field, respectively, while Graeter provides a power bat off of the bench for key pinch-hit situations.

Pitchers: The coaching staff entered the season expecting 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 veteran leader. Kentucky-transfer Meghan Schorman and freshman Sam Landry 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. The staff approach played out early on, with the starting nod spread evenly amongst Lamb (9), Landry (7) and Schorman (5) prior to the Georgia Southern series. Beginning March 18-20 in Statesboro, the latest trend of Landry starting on Friday and Sunday with Lamb handling the middle game of the series began. Vanessa Foreman and Karly Heath have primarily appeared in relief assignments throughout the season, further deepening the staff approach.

DIAMOND NOTES

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.
For Gerry Glasco, his fifth season in Louisiana has a different look and feel: the team largely consists of players he recruited and went from being one of the oldest in the nation to one of the youngest. The Ragin' Cajuns went from a roster in 2021 that was predominantly sixth-year and fifth-year players to a group in 2022 that includes eight freshmen and 12 total newcomers.
Louisiana is in a transition year in the pitching circle following the departure of former All-American and two-time 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.
The 2022 season has brought the much-anticipated debut for Louisiana's 2021 recruiting class, which was ranked No. 1 by Extra Inning Softball and includes the No. 4-rated recruit in pitcher Sam Landry and the No. 15-ranked prospect in Louisiana native Maddie Hayden.

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.

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 --

Rematch in Austin on Wednesday Begins Road Trip for Louisiana Softball

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jourdyn Campbell

Summer Ellyson

Kramer Eschete

Kayla Falterman

Vanessa Foreman

Samantha Graeter

Maddie Hayden

Karly Heath

Jenna Kean

Stormy Kotzelnick

Kandra Lamb

Sam Landry

Alexa Langeliers

Melissa Mayeux

Raina O'Neal

Sophie Piskos

Taylor Roman

Meghan Schorman

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University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Rematch in Austin on Wednesday Begins Road Trip for Louisiana Softball

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jourdyn Campbell

Summer Ellyson

Kramer Eschete

Kayla Falterman

Vanessa Foreman

Samantha Graeter

Maddie Hayden

Karly Heath

Jenna Kean

Stormy Kotzelnick

Kandra Lamb

Sam Landry

Alexa Langeliers

Melissa Mayeux

Raina O'Neal

Sophie Piskos

Taylor Roman

Meghan Schorman

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