University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, February 6
Lafayette
3:30 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
1-0
6
vs
3
Tulsa
0-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Tulsa
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
3
6
2
Louisiana
1
1
4
0
0
0
X
6
10
0
Ragin’ Cajuns Start Off 2026 Season with a Pair of Victories
2/7/2026 2:31:00 AM | Softball
Day ended in thrilling fashion with Lily Knox’s walk-off home run
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball team captured two wins on the opening day of the 2026 season with shutdown pitching from Julianne Tipton to start and Lily Knox's walk-off home run to finish out the night on Friday, February 6 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
Tipton pitched 4.0 innings of one-hit softball to close the door on Tulsa after the Ragin' Cajuns pulled ahead of the Golden Hurricane 6-3 in the third inning.
UL and Tulsa swapped solo home runs in the first and second innings. The two sides would exchange the lead again in the third inning.
A bases-loaded walk gave the Golden Hurricane a brief 3-2 lead although it was short-lived as Mia Liscano led of the bottom of the third with a single and later slid underneath the tag on a Kennedy Marceaux fielder's choice grounder.
Louisiana wasn't done in the third inning, hanging up a crooked number after Brooke Otto's RBI double, Madyson Manning's sac fly and an RBI single from Knox opened a 6-3 lead.
That's all of the offense Tipton (4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K) would need as she entered in relief of Lexie Delbrey and proceeded to retire 12 of the 15 batters she faced.
The nightcap with Jacksonville State started as a pitcher's duel led by Louisiana's Sage Hoover who yielded only one hit and retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced.
Action heated up starting in the fourth inning as the two teams combined for nine runs. JSU grabbed a 4-1 lead off a three-run homer from Makalyn Kyser then the Ragin' Cajuns rallied with a five-spot capped off with a two-run home run from Kennedy Marceaux (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) that broke a 4-all tie.
The Gamecocks charged back at Hoover and the Ragin' Cajuns in the fifth getting three run-scoring base hits to climb back in front 7-6.
Tipton (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K) quieted JSU's offense by inducing a line out double play to close the top of the fifth and then blanked the visitors the rest of the way.
With Louisiana down to its final out, Manning (2-for-4) poked a single into center field to bring Knox to the plate. After working the count full, Knox (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) lifted a home run over the center field wall to walk off the Gamecocks.
Friday's games started Year No. 2 for Louisiana under the leadership of Alyson Habetz and kicked off play in the 40th Annual Louisiana Classic.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Opening Weekend continues on Saturday, February 7 as Louisiana faces North Texas at 3:30 p.m. and has a rematch with Jacksonville State at 6:00 p.m. in the 40th Annual Louisiana Classic at Lamson Park.
Live coverage is available through the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Sports app) and CajunStats.Statbroadcast.com. No television coverage is available.
Saturday's action concludes play for Louisiana in the Louisiana Classic tournament and on Opening Weekend.
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 support the women's basketball student-athletes, and invest in the program's future, through The Cajuns Edge Fund (click here) to contribute directly to the Louisiana Athletics and Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Foundation's revenue-sharing initiative or by joining the Centerfield Club (click here).
Tipton pitched 4.0 innings of one-hit softball to close the door on Tulsa after the Ragin' Cajuns pulled ahead of the Golden Hurricane 6-3 in the third inning.
UL and Tulsa swapped solo home runs in the first and second innings. The two sides would exchange the lead again in the third inning.
A bases-loaded walk gave the Golden Hurricane a brief 3-2 lead although it was short-lived as Mia Liscano led of the bottom of the third with a single and later slid underneath the tag on a Kennedy Marceaux fielder's choice grounder.
Louisiana wasn't done in the third inning, hanging up a crooked number after Brooke Otto's RBI double, Madyson Manning's sac fly and an RBI single from Knox opened a 6-3 lead.
That's all of the offense Tipton (4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K) would need as she entered in relief of Lexie Delbrey and proceeded to retire 12 of the 15 batters she faced.
The nightcap with Jacksonville State started as a pitcher's duel led by Louisiana's Sage Hoover who yielded only one hit and retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced.
Action heated up starting in the fourth inning as the two teams combined for nine runs. JSU grabbed a 4-1 lead off a three-run homer from Makalyn Kyser then the Ragin' Cajuns rallied with a five-spot capped off with a two-run home run from Kennedy Marceaux (1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI) that broke a 4-all tie.
The Gamecocks charged back at Hoover and the Ragin' Cajuns in the fifth getting three run-scoring base hits to climb back in front 7-6.
Tipton (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 K) quieted JSU's offense by inducing a line out double play to close the top of the fifth and then blanked the visitors the rest of the way.
With Louisiana down to its final out, Manning (2-for-4) poked a single into center field to bring Knox to the plate. After working the count full, Knox (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) lifted a home run over the center field wall to walk off the Gamecocks.
Friday's games started Year No. 2 for Louisiana under the leadership of Alyson Habetz and kicked off play in the 40th Annual Louisiana Classic.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Opening Weekend continues on Saturday, February 7 as Louisiana faces North Texas at 3:30 p.m. and has a rematch with Jacksonville State at 6:00 p.m. in the 40th Annual Louisiana Classic at Lamson Park.
Live coverage is available through the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Sports app) and CajunStats.Statbroadcast.com. No television coverage is available.
Saturday's action concludes play for Louisiana in the Louisiana Classic tournament and on Opening Weekend.
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 support the women's basketball student-athletes, and invest in the program's future, through The Cajuns Edge Fund (click here) to contribute directly to the Louisiana Athletics and Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Foundation's revenue-sharing initiative or by joining the Centerfield Club (click here).
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tipton, Julianne (1-0)
L: Brinly Maples (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Faith Russell 1
HR: Maci Cole 1 ; Annika Dill 1
RBI: Maci Cole 1 ; Annika Dill 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Maci Cole 2 ; Annika Dill 1
HBP: Faith Russell 1 ; Claira Skaggs 1
Batting:
2B: Otto, Brooke 1 ; Manning, Madyson 1
HR: Smith, Emily 1 ; Hart, Haley 1
RBI: Marceaux, Kennedy 1 ; Smith, Emily 1 ; Otto, Brooke 1 ; Manning, Madyson 1 ; Knox, Lily 1 ; Hart, Haley 1
SH: Williams, Dayzja 1
SF: Manning, Madyson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marceaux, Kennedy 1 ; Smith, Emily 1 ; Ferguson, McKayla 1 ; Otto, Brooke 1 ; Hart, Haley 1 ; Liscano, Mia 1
SB: Liscano, Mia 2
CS: Manning, Madyson 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballGabbie Stutes and Emily Smith Media Availability (Feb 2, 2026)
Monday, February 02
Sage Hoover and Lexie Delbrey Media Availability (Feb 2, 2026)
Monday, February 02
Alyson Habetz Media Availability (Feb 2, 2026)
Monday, February 02
Alyson Habetz Media Availability (Nov 24, 2025)
Monday, November 24
