University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Wednesday, May 6
Lafayette
7:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
29-26
5
vs
0
Troy
32-22
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Louisiana | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 5 | 8 | 0 |
Fast Start, Hoover’s Dominance Lift Louisiana Past Troy
5/6/2026 11:09:00 PM | Softball
Early offense and airtight pitching propel the Ragin’ Cajuns to the SBC quarterfinals
LAFAYETTE – Behind a dominant complete-game effort from Sage Hoover and an early offensive surge, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball team opened the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship tournament with a 5-0 victory over Troy on Wednesday, May 6 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
Louisiana (29-26) struck for three runs in the opening inning and never looked back as Hoover controlled the game in the circle from start to finish. The junior right-hander retired 15 consecutive batters from the second through sixth innings and allowed only two hits while striking out nine in her first complete game shutout as a Ragin' Cajun.
The win advances Louisiana to Thursday's 4:00 p.m. quarterfinal contest against No. 1 seed ULM (37-19). Tickets, starting at $15 for general admission outfield seating, can be purchased in advance online at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Ragin' Cajuns wasted little time grabbing momentum in the bottom of the first inning.
Kennedy Marceaux opened the frame with a walk before Mia Liscano reached on a bunt single. After a pair of outs, Cecilia Vasquez ripped a double down the right-field line that plated two runs and later came around to score on an RBI single from Mia Norwood for a 3-0 lead.
Hoover settled in after allowing a leadoff single in the second inning. From there, she retired every batter she faced until the seventh inning, mixing strikeouts with weak contact and keeping the Trojans (32-22) from generating any offensive rhythm.
Louisiana added to its advantage in the fourth inning when a wild pitch allowed pinch runner Miki Watts to score, and the Cajuns pushed across another run in the fifth as Haley Hart brought home pinch runner McKayla Ferguson with a squeeze bunt.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Marceaux and Liscano each collected two hits to lead Louisiana's eight-hit attack, while Vasquez finished 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Norwood added an RBI single, and Hart drove in a run.
Liscano collected her team-leading 16th multiple-hit game and extended her string of consecutive games carrying a .390-plus average to 41 straight. Marceaux notched her 12th multiple-hit game and Hart reached the 40-RBI mark in her rookie season.
Hoover improved to 11-12 after tossing seven shutout innings, allowing two hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.
The strikeout total marked Hoover's highest against an SBC foe and was one shy of her season-high total set vs. Abilene Christian in March at the OU Tournament. The complete game shutout marked the first of her collegiate career since March 2023 pitching for Texas Tech against ACU.
For Troy, Makaley Boswell and Mia Tidmore recorded the team's lone hits. Abby Lovell took the loss after allowing three runs over two innings, while Ella Cunningham worked the final four innings in relief.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana moves on to day two in the SBC Championship Softball tournament, taking on No. 1 seed ULM in a quarterfinal round contest at 4:00 p.m. at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek to avenge a three-game sweep at the hands of the Warhawks back in March in Monroe.
Louisiana and ULM last met in the SBC Championship quarterfinals during the 2023 event at Lamson Park, a 3-1 Cajuns win on the way to a tournament title.
Thursday's matchup will be televised on ESPN+ with Lincoln Rose and Genna Rose calling the action. Fans can listen to the radio broadcast on The GOAT 103.3 FM and 1420 AM in the Acadiana region and worldwide on Varsity Network with Cody Junot (pxp) and Bobby Neveaux (analyst) providing commentary.
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.
Fans can support the softball 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).
Louisiana (29-26) struck for three runs in the opening inning and never looked back as Hoover controlled the game in the circle from start to finish. The junior right-hander retired 15 consecutive batters from the second through sixth innings and allowed only two hits while striking out nine in her first complete game shutout as a Ragin' Cajun.
The win advances Louisiana to Thursday's 4:00 p.m. quarterfinal contest against No. 1 seed ULM (37-19). Tickets, starting at $15 for general admission outfield seating, can be purchased in advance online at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685).
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Ragin' Cajuns wasted little time grabbing momentum in the bottom of the first inning.
Kennedy Marceaux opened the frame with a walk before Mia Liscano reached on a bunt single. After a pair of outs, Cecilia Vasquez ripped a double down the right-field line that plated two runs and later came around to score on an RBI single from Mia Norwood for a 3-0 lead.
Hoover settled in after allowing a leadoff single in the second inning. From there, she retired every batter she faced until the seventh inning, mixing strikeouts with weak contact and keeping the Trojans (32-22) from generating any offensive rhythm.
Louisiana added to its advantage in the fourth inning when a wild pitch allowed pinch runner Miki Watts to score, and the Cajuns pushed across another run in the fifth as Haley Hart brought home pinch runner McKayla Ferguson with a squeeze bunt.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Marceaux and Liscano each collected two hits to lead Louisiana's eight-hit attack, while Vasquez finished 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Norwood added an RBI single, and Hart drove in a run.
Liscano collected her team-leading 16th multiple-hit game and extended her string of consecutive games carrying a .390-plus average to 41 straight. Marceaux notched her 12th multiple-hit game and Hart reached the 40-RBI mark in her rookie season.
Hoover improved to 11-12 after tossing seven shutout innings, allowing two hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.
The strikeout total marked Hoover's highest against an SBC foe and was one shy of her season-high total set vs. Abilene Christian in March at the OU Tournament. The complete game shutout marked the first of her collegiate career since March 2023 pitching for Texas Tech against ACU.
For Troy, Makaley Boswell and Mia Tidmore recorded the team's lone hits. Abby Lovell took the loss after allowing three runs over two innings, while Ella Cunningham worked the final four innings in relief.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana moves on to day two in the SBC Championship Softball tournament, taking on No. 1 seed ULM in a quarterfinal round contest at 4:00 p.m. at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek to avenge a three-game sweep at the hands of the Warhawks back in March in Monroe.
Louisiana and ULM last met in the SBC Championship quarterfinals during the 2023 event at Lamson Park, a 3-1 Cajuns win on the way to a tournament title.
Thursday's matchup will be televised on ESPN+ with Lincoln Rose and Genna Rose calling the action. Fans can listen to the radio broadcast on The GOAT 103.3 FM and 1420 AM in the Acadiana region and worldwide on Varsity Network with Cody Junot (pxp) and Bobby Neveaux (analyst) providing commentary.
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.
Fans can support the softball 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: Hoover, Sage (11-12)
L: Abby Lovell (8-6)
Batting:
2B: Otto, Brooke 1 ; Vasquez, Cecilia 1
RBI: Hart, Haley 1 ; Vasquez, Cecilia 1 ; Norwood, Mia 1
SH: Hart, Haley 1 ; Ardoin, Erin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marceaux, Kennedy 1 ; Liscano, Mia 1 ; Ferguson, McKayla 1 ; Vasquez, Cecilia 1 ; Watts, Miki 1
SB: Otto, Brooke 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballC/UT
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
C/UT
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