University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025: Haley Hayden
9/3/2025 4:00:00 PM | Athletics, Softball
The fourth in a six-part series on the 2025 Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame Class; next - Kevin Brooks
She remains UL's all-time career leader in runs scored, almost a decade after finishing her four-year career, and is still one of the top 30 scorers in NCAA Division I softball history.
Yes, Haley Hayden's still listed near the top in several career offensive categories after a career in which she started every game – 244 straight starts – over her four-year span.
But many of those who saw her play from the 2014 through 2017 seasons insist her defensive skills set her apart from most who ever played in the storied Ragin' Cajun program.
"If she'd played all that time at only one position, she'd be the best defensive player they've ever had at that spot," said long-time UL softball broadcaster Steve Peloquin. "She's really underrated there because she played different positions every year. But who does that and does it as well as she did."
"Anywhere they needed her, that's where she played," said long-time UL staffer Bobby Neveaux. "She was just the same every day, so consistent and so versatile, and as fierce a competitor as I've ever seen regardless of where she was playing."
Indeed, Hayden started at second base one year, in center field one year, at first base one season and in right field her final year, and had only 15 errors while playing virtually every inning of those 244 games – none of those errors in her senior year. That part of her game helped the Cajuns go 184-39 in those four years, including a hard-to-believe 83-7 record in Sun Belt Conference play.
But it was her offensive prowess and her ability to wreak havoc while running the bases that made her a four-time All-Sun Belt, All-Louisiana and NFCA All-Region selection.
Those talents also make her one of the inductees into the UL Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 5, as part of a full weekend of Hall of Fame activities that includes the Cajuns' second home football game of the season against McNeese on Saturday, Sept. 6.
She will be inducted along with football's Brett Baer, men's basketball great Kevin Brooks, baseball's Corey Coles, standout golfer Richard Ainley and long-time UL administrator Dr. Ed Dugas at the Friday night ceremony.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. in the McElligott Club of the new Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. Tickets are available from the Ragin' Cajun Athletic Foundation at RCAF@louisiana.edu or by calling (337) 851-7223.
Along with scoring a record 251 runs – now 28th in NCAA history – Hayden ranks fourth in UL history in hits (297, only 11 short of the career mark) and at-bats, and fifth in total bases. She hit .365 for her career and slugged at a .644 mark even though not known as a power-hitter – despite 49 homers and 214 RBI over her career.
Neveaux said Hayden was at her best in clutch situations, and numbers like recording over 60 hits in four straight years, a .370 career mark with runners in scoring position and a .431 average in Sun Belt play as a senior back that up.
"She always came up clutch," he said. "Her whole senior year she only struck out nine times. When the game was on the line in the seventh inning, if they were down with runners on base, it seemed like she delivered every time. If she was up there when they needed something to happen, there's a better chance than not she was going to get it done."
And the threat didn't stop after she made her way on base.
"She was one of the best baserunners I've ever seen," Peloquin said. "You can be fast and not be a good baserunner, but she was exactly the opposite. She cut the corners with such precision and had unbelievable instincts on the bases. I don't know how many times she scored from second base on a ground ball to the right side, which most players can't do."
Hayden was one of the catalysts for UL's six Sun Belt championships in her career, four regular-season and two tournament titles, along with three NCAA Regional titles as a national seed. UL went 11-3 in regional play during her four years at the top of the lineup along with making a trip to the Women's College World Series.
"She played the game hard," Peloquin said. "Stealing bases (29-of-33 for her career), diving for balls, working the count to get on base. Her body got beat up and nicked up a lot, but in those doubleheaders she was always back in the lineup for game two. She was about as tough a player as I've seen."
Hayden was also an Academic All-American, and used that intelligence to master the nuances of four very different positions. She saved maybe her best defensive play for one of her last games, when she made a sixth-inning diving catch against McNeese in a 6-0 NCAA Regional win that preserved Alex Stewart's postseason no-hitter. That year, she was one of the catalysts for a team that went 23-1 in Sun Belt play, outscored its opponents 454-125 during the season and outscored Sun Belt tournament competition 31-2.
"I'm sure she had some bad games, but I don't remember any," Neveaux said. "A lot of the things she did were taken for granted because she got it done each and every game."
"A lot of people have the tendency to overlook her because she played with so many great players that had big numbers," Peloquin said. "But you look at the overall career, she did a great job of everything she did. She's the type of player you want on your team."
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.
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@RaginCajuns) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Athletics.
Yes, Haley Hayden's still listed near the top in several career offensive categories after a career in which she started every game – 244 straight starts – over her four-year span.
But many of those who saw her play from the 2014 through 2017 seasons insist her defensive skills set her apart from most who ever played in the storied Ragin' Cajun program.
"If she'd played all that time at only one position, she'd be the best defensive player they've ever had at that spot," said long-time UL softball broadcaster Steve Peloquin. "She's really underrated there because she played different positions every year. But who does that and does it as well as she did."
"Anywhere they needed her, that's where she played," said long-time UL staffer Bobby Neveaux. "She was just the same every day, so consistent and so versatile, and as fierce a competitor as I've ever seen regardless of where she was playing."
Indeed, Hayden started at second base one year, in center field one year, at first base one season and in right field her final year, and had only 15 errors while playing virtually every inning of those 244 games – none of those errors in her senior year. That part of her game helped the Cajuns go 184-39 in those four years, including a hard-to-believe 83-7 record in Sun Belt Conference play.
But it was her offensive prowess and her ability to wreak havoc while running the bases that made her a four-time All-Sun Belt, All-Louisiana and NFCA All-Region selection.
Those talents also make her one of the inductees into the UL Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 5, as part of a full weekend of Hall of Fame activities that includes the Cajuns' second home football game of the season against McNeese on Saturday, Sept. 6.
She will be inducted along with football's Brett Baer, men's basketball great Kevin Brooks, baseball's Corey Coles, standout golfer Richard Ainley and long-time UL administrator Dr. Ed Dugas at the Friday night ceremony.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. in the McElligott Club of the new Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium. Tickets are available from the Ragin' Cajun Athletic Foundation at RCAF@louisiana.edu or by calling (337) 851-7223.
Along with scoring a record 251 runs – now 28th in NCAA history – Hayden ranks fourth in UL history in hits (297, only 11 short of the career mark) and at-bats, and fifth in total bases. She hit .365 for her career and slugged at a .644 mark even though not known as a power-hitter – despite 49 homers and 214 RBI over her career.
Neveaux said Hayden was at her best in clutch situations, and numbers like recording over 60 hits in four straight years, a .370 career mark with runners in scoring position and a .431 average in Sun Belt play as a senior back that up.
"She always came up clutch," he said. "Her whole senior year she only struck out nine times. When the game was on the line in the seventh inning, if they were down with runners on base, it seemed like she delivered every time. If she was up there when they needed something to happen, there's a better chance than not she was going to get it done."
And the threat didn't stop after she made her way on base.
"She was one of the best baserunners I've ever seen," Peloquin said. "You can be fast and not be a good baserunner, but she was exactly the opposite. She cut the corners with such precision and had unbelievable instincts on the bases. I don't know how many times she scored from second base on a ground ball to the right side, which most players can't do."
Hayden was one of the catalysts for UL's six Sun Belt championships in her career, four regular-season and two tournament titles, along with three NCAA Regional titles as a national seed. UL went 11-3 in regional play during her four years at the top of the lineup along with making a trip to the Women's College World Series.
"She played the game hard," Peloquin said. "Stealing bases (29-of-33 for her career), diving for balls, working the count to get on base. Her body got beat up and nicked up a lot, but in those doubleheaders she was always back in the lineup for game two. She was about as tough a player as I've seen."
Hayden was also an Academic All-American, and used that intelligence to master the nuances of four very different positions. She saved maybe her best defensive play for one of her last games, when she made a sixth-inning diving catch against McNeese in a 6-0 NCAA Regional win that preserved Alex Stewart's postseason no-hitter. That year, she was one of the catalysts for a team that went 23-1 in Sun Belt play, outscored its opponents 454-125 during the season and outscored Sun Belt tournament competition 31-2.
"I'm sure she had some bad games, but I don't remember any," Neveaux said. "A lot of the things she did were taken for granted because she got it done each and every game."
"A lot of people have the tendency to overlook her because she played with so many great players that had big numbers," Peloquin said. "But you look at the overall career, she did a great job of everything she did. She's the type of player you want on your team."
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.
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (@RaginCajuns) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Athletics.
Inside Louisiana Athletics Recap for Aug 27, 2025 to Sep 2, 2025
Tuesday, September 02
Chris McBride Media Availability (Sept 1, 2025)
Monday, September 01
Kristi Gray Media Availability (Sept 1, 2025)
Monday, September 01
Michael Desormeaux Media Availability (Sept 1, 2025)
Monday, September 01
