University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, March 14
Huntington, W.Va.
2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
Marshall
Louisiana Travels to Marshall for Sun Belt Opening Weekend
3/13/2025 3:42:00 PM | Softball
Ragin’ Cajuns first SBC series with Alyson Habetz is against a first-time foe
Louisiana (13-10, 0-0 SBC) at Marshall (12-12, 0-0 SBC)
Dates: Friday-Saturday, March 14-15, 2025
Location: Huntington, W.Va.
Stadium: Dot Hicks Field
Series Schedule:
     Fri., Mar. 14 (DH) – 2:00 p.m. (CDT) and 5:00 p.m. (CDT), or 30 mins following G1
     Sat., Mar. 15 – 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
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MEDIA INFORMATION
Game Notes (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | Roster | Schedule/Results
Television:Â ESPN+ | Talent:Â Ben Westfall, PxP
Radio: The GOAT 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Network | Talent: Cody Junot, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, analyst
Live Stats:Â CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates:Â @RaginCajunsSB
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TEAM INFORMATION
LOUISIANA Ragin' Cajuns
NFCA: -- |Â USA: --Â |Â SBA: -- |Â D1S: -- |Â RPI: 40
Head Coach: Alyson Habetz (Louisiana, '95)
Record at Louisiana: 13-10 (1st season)
Team Slash Line (AVG / SLG / OBP): .297 / .391Â / .396
Team ERA: 3.62
MARSHALLÂ Thundering Herd
NFCA: -- |Â USA: --Â |Â SBA: -- |Â D1S: -- |Â RPI: 141
Head Coach: Morgan Zerkle (Marshall, '17)
Record at Marshall: 37-40 (2nd season)
Team Slash Line (AVG / SLG / OBP): .320 / .510 / .397
Team ERA: 5.35
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LEADING OFF
>> Louisiana begins Sun Belt Conference play on the road from Friday-Saturday, March 14-15 against Marshall in Huntington, West Virginia.
Â
>> It's the first regular season matchup between Louisiana and Marshall.
Â
>> This weekend starts the 25th season of softball within the Sun Belt. UL enters as the five-time reigning SBC regular season champion.
Â
>> The Cajuns have an active streak of 89 consecutive Sun Belt Conference series won, dating back to March 2013.
Â
>> Louisiana is winding down its season-long, 15-game road trip that will end on Tuesday, March 18 in Lake Charles at McNeese.
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>> UL was tested in the weeks leading up to the SBC opener, the team's strength of schedule ranking No. 10 as of March 12.
Â
>> UL has protected leads, standing 10-0 when leading after five, and owns two comeback wins in the seventh or later (Ole Miss, Houston).
Â
>> Louisiana enters the weekend No. 2 nationally in double plays turned per game (0.96). The 22 double plays rank No. 1 in total number turned.
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>> The Cajuns batters usually make adjustments the second time around, as a result the third inning is the most-scored in this season (24 runs).
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A LOOK AT THE SERIES
Series Record:Â Louisiana leads, 1-0
Last: 5/13/23 – UL 1, MAR 0 (Lamson Park)
In Huntington: First Meeting
Streak: UL, +1
>> First regular season meeting in the all-time series.
>> Only prior meeting occurred in 2023 Sun Belt Tournament title game at Lamson Park.
>> It's the first SBC series between the two programs since Marshall joined the conference in 2023.
>> Marshall was not on Louisiana's SBC schedule the previous two seasons.
>> UL used a Lauren Allred solo home run and a one-hit shutout from Sam Landry to claim a 1-0 decision in the 2023 SBC Tournament matchup.
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THIS 'N THAT
>> Louisiana has won its SBC opening series each year since 2014.
Â
>> Cajuns are 8-2 when scoring first and stand at 3-1 in one-run games.
Â
>> UL can go four-deep in the circle, the innings pitched among the four active pitchers ranging from 27.0 as fewest and 48.0 as the high mark.
Â
>> In last Saturday's sweep, Mallory Wheeler and Tyra Clary combined to work all 14 innings and held Iowa and Alabama to 10 hits on a .204 average.
Â
>> Maddie Hayden captured her 200th career hit on Friday in Tuscaloosa. She joins older sister Haley Hayden (2014-17) in posting 200 hits as a Cajun.
Â
>> Kayla Falterman reached base each of the first 19 games (has .535 OB%).
Â
>> Cecilia Vasquez, with a team-best 24 RBI, has posted at least one RBI in 14 of 23 games and has a team-leading seven (7) multiple-RBI games.
Â
>> RBI total (24) for Cecilia Vasquez marks her personal single-season best.
Â
>> Maddie Hayden, Kayla Falterman and Cecilia Vasquez, Nos. 1-3 in the lineup, have combined for 71 hits on a .372 average.
Â
>> Freshman pitcher Mallory Wheeler has had a hand in both of UL' s shutouts. She leads the pitching staff in wins (5) and innings pitched (48.0).
Â
>> Bethaney Noble has thrived in relief situations, yielding only five (5) runs and tallying 22 strikeouts over 19.0 IP as a reliever.
Â
>> Bethaney Noble is 2-0 with 1.84 ERA over her six relief appearances.
Â
>> Mallory Wheeler (D1Softball and Softball America) and Emily Smith (Softball America) were named to national Freshmen Watch Lists.
Â
>> Maddie Hayden, Sam Roe and Cecilia Vasquez represented Louisiana on the 2025 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team.
Â
>> UL, picked second, had the most first-place votes in the SBC Coaches Poll.
Â
>> UL has recorded 1,903 wins, a total that ranks Top 5 in NCAA history.
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UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana completes its season-long, 15-game road trip on Tuesday, March 18 in Lake Charles visiting McNeese for a 6:00 p.m. midweek game at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond.
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The Ragin' Cajuns and Cowgirls meet for the second and final time in the 2025 season. Louisiana, which claimed a 4-1 win on Friday, February 28 at Auburn's Jane B. Moore Memorial, goes for the season sweep of McNeese.
Â
Live coverage is available on ESPN+, the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Sports app) and CajunStats.com.
Â
The visit to Lake Charles is followed by Louisiana's much awaited return to Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park which is scheduled for Friday-Sunday, March 21-23 with a three-game SBC series against ULM.
Â
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.
Louisiana Softball season and single-game tickets are currently on sale, outfield general admission seating only, available for purchase online at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685). Fans can also support the softball student athletes, and invest in the program's future, through the Krewe Allons NIL Collective (click here).
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Dates: Friday-Saturday, March 14-15, 2025
Location: Huntington, W.Va.
Stadium: Dot Hicks Field
Series Schedule:
     Fri., Mar. 14 (DH) – 2:00 p.m. (CDT) and 5:00 p.m. (CDT), or 30 mins following G1
     Sat., Mar. 15 – 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Â
MEDIA INFORMATION
Game Notes (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | Roster | Schedule/Results
Television:Â ESPN+ | Talent:Â Ben Westfall, PxP
Radio: The GOAT 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Network | Talent: Cody Junot, PxP; Bobby Neveaux, analyst
Live Stats:Â CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates:Â @RaginCajunsSB
Â
Â
TEAM INFORMATION
LOUISIANA Ragin' Cajuns
NFCA: -- |Â USA: --Â |Â SBA: -- |Â D1S: -- |Â RPI: 40
Head Coach: Alyson Habetz (Louisiana, '95)
Record at Louisiana: 13-10 (1st season)
Team Slash Line (AVG / SLG / OBP): .297 / .391Â / .396
Team ERA: 3.62
MARSHALLÂ Thundering Herd
NFCA: -- |Â USA: --Â |Â SBA: -- |Â D1S: -- |Â RPI: 141
Head Coach: Morgan Zerkle (Marshall, '17)
Record at Marshall: 37-40 (2nd season)
Team Slash Line (AVG / SLG / OBP): .320 / .510 / .397
Team ERA: 5.35
Â
Â
LEADING OFF
>> Louisiana begins Sun Belt Conference play on the road from Friday-Saturday, March 14-15 against Marshall in Huntington, West Virginia.
Â
>> It's the first regular season matchup between Louisiana and Marshall.
Â
>> This weekend starts the 25th season of softball within the Sun Belt. UL enters as the five-time reigning SBC regular season champion.
Â
>> The Cajuns have an active streak of 89 consecutive Sun Belt Conference series won, dating back to March 2013.
Â
>> Louisiana is winding down its season-long, 15-game road trip that will end on Tuesday, March 18 in Lake Charles at McNeese.
Â
>> UL was tested in the weeks leading up to the SBC opener, the team's strength of schedule ranking No. 10 as of March 12.
Â
>> UL has protected leads, standing 10-0 when leading after five, and owns two comeback wins in the seventh or later (Ole Miss, Houston).
Â
>> Louisiana enters the weekend No. 2 nationally in double plays turned per game (0.96). The 22 double plays rank No. 1 in total number turned.
Â
>> The Cajuns batters usually make adjustments the second time around, as a result the third inning is the most-scored in this season (24 runs).
Â
Â
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
Series Record:Â Louisiana leads, 1-0
Last: 5/13/23 – UL 1, MAR 0 (Lamson Park)
In Huntington: First Meeting
Streak: UL, +1
>> First regular season meeting in the all-time series.
>> Only prior meeting occurred in 2023 Sun Belt Tournament title game at Lamson Park.
>> It's the first SBC series between the two programs since Marshall joined the conference in 2023.
>> Marshall was not on Louisiana's SBC schedule the previous two seasons.
>> UL used a Lauren Allred solo home run and a one-hit shutout from Sam Landry to claim a 1-0 decision in the 2023 SBC Tournament matchup.
Â
Â
THIS 'N THAT
>> Louisiana has won its SBC opening series each year since 2014.
Â
>> Cajuns are 8-2 when scoring first and stand at 3-1 in one-run games.
Â
>> UL can go four-deep in the circle, the innings pitched among the four active pitchers ranging from 27.0 as fewest and 48.0 as the high mark.
Â
>> In last Saturday's sweep, Mallory Wheeler and Tyra Clary combined to work all 14 innings and held Iowa and Alabama to 10 hits on a .204 average.
Â
>> Maddie Hayden captured her 200th career hit on Friday in Tuscaloosa. She joins older sister Haley Hayden (2014-17) in posting 200 hits as a Cajun.
Â
>> Kayla Falterman reached base each of the first 19 games (has .535 OB%).
Â
>> Cecilia Vasquez, with a team-best 24 RBI, has posted at least one RBI in 14 of 23 games and has a team-leading seven (7) multiple-RBI games.
Â
>> RBI total (24) for Cecilia Vasquez marks her personal single-season best.
Â
>> Maddie Hayden, Kayla Falterman and Cecilia Vasquez, Nos. 1-3 in the lineup, have combined for 71 hits on a .372 average.
Â
>> Freshman pitcher Mallory Wheeler has had a hand in both of UL' s shutouts. She leads the pitching staff in wins (5) and innings pitched (48.0).
Â
>> Bethaney Noble has thrived in relief situations, yielding only five (5) runs and tallying 22 strikeouts over 19.0 IP as a reliever.
Â
>> Bethaney Noble is 2-0 with 1.84 ERA over her six relief appearances.
Â
>> Mallory Wheeler (D1Softball and Softball America) and Emily Smith (Softball America) were named to national Freshmen Watch Lists.
Â
>> Maddie Hayden, Sam Roe and Cecilia Vasquez represented Louisiana on the 2025 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team.
Â
>> UL, picked second, had the most first-place votes in the SBC Coaches Poll.
Â
>> UL has recorded 1,903 wins, a total that ranks Top 5 in NCAA history.
Â
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana completes its season-long, 15-game road trip on Tuesday, March 18 in Lake Charles visiting McNeese for a 6:00 p.m. midweek game at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns and Cowgirls meet for the second and final time in the 2025 season. Louisiana, which claimed a 4-1 win on Friday, February 28 at Auburn's Jane B. Moore Memorial, goes for the season sweep of McNeese.
Â
Live coverage is available on ESPN+, the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Sports app) and CajunStats.com.
Â
The visit to Lake Charles is followed by Louisiana's much awaited return to Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park which is scheduled for Friday-Sunday, March 21-23 with a three-game SBC series against ULM.
Â
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.
Louisiana Softball season and single-game tickets are currently on sale, outfield general admission seating only, available for purchase online at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685). Fans can also support the softball student athletes, and invest in the program's future, through the Krewe Allons NIL Collective (click here).
Â
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
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