Louisiana Softball Haading West for Weekend in the Lone Star State
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Louisiana Softball competes in a tournament setting on the road for the first time in the 2024 season while in Austin, Texas.
The Lone Star State Invitational at Red & Charline McCombs Field includes a combined four games vs. Top 15 teams: Texas and Stanford.
UL is beginning a stretch of 15 consecutive games away from home.
Visiting Austin has been custom in Gerry Glasco's tenure, this marking the fifth straight season the Cajuns appear at McCombs Field.
The Stanford and Texas matchups increase the number of games against Power 5 teams – in February alone – to 11.
It's the second straight season appearing in a McCombs Field-based tournament. UL participated in the March 2023 Longhorn Invitational.
The Cajuns arrive in Austin coming off a season-high six (6) extra base hits (4 doubles, triple, HR) produced in Tuesday's 9-3 win over LA Tech.
A LOOK AT THE SERIES
STANFORD
Series Record: Louisiana leads, 2-1
Last: 5/20/12 – UL 6, STAN 2 (Lamson Park)
Streak: Louisiana, +2
- Only prior regular season meeting: 2000 NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.
- Last met in 2012 NCAA Lafayette Regional at Lamson Park – Cajuns won both meetings.
COLORADO STATE
Series Record: Louisiana leads, 2-0
Last: 3/5/94 – UL 11, CSU 1 (College Station, Texas)
Streak: Louisiana, +2
- First meeting in 30 years between two programs.
- Third time meeting in State of Texas
TEXAS
Series Record: Texas leads, 16-8
Last: 3/5/23 – TEXAS 8, UL 3 (Austin, Texas)
Streak: Texas, +2
- Have met every season since 2020 (nine games).
- Texas holds slim 4-3 edge in Austin since 2020
THIS 'N THAT
Louisiana is undefeated (6-0) when scoring three runs or more.
Maddie Hayden entered the week as the hottest hitter after posting a .583 average (7-of-12) in the five games with Mississippi State and Baylor.
Chloe Riassetto emerged in the circle vs. Baylor, taking a two-hit shutout to the seventh on Friday and tossing 2-2/3 scoreless relief Sunday.
Two-out hitting was contagious for UL on Opening Weekend, scoring 30 of 45 runs (67%) in two-out situations.
Sam Landry began the season with 10-plus consecutive scoreless innings pitched, highlighted by the no-hitter of California.
Louisiana was preseason ranked in all four major polls: No. 21 in NFCA, ESPN/USA Softball and D1Softball and No. 23 by Softball America.
Louisiana was the unanimous choice as the favorite to win the 2024 Sun Belt Conference softball title in a vote of the league's 12 head coaches.
Mihyia Davis, the 2023 SBC Freshman of the Year and NFCA All-American, was chosen as the SBC Preseason Player of the Year.
Sophie Piskos, Lauren Allred, Alexa Langeliers, Brooke Ellestad and Sam Landry joined Davis on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
Louisiana now has a veteran-laden roster with Gerry Glasco's No. 1 recruiting Class of 2022 now entering their junior campaign, plus the key offseason transfer additions of five upperclassmen.
Two new coaches are on staff: Hunter Veach (defense) and Shellie Landry (hitting), an All-American alumnae who played from 2013-16.
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
1st: Chloe Riassetto posted the first complete game victory of her career vs. Baylor (Feb. 16).
5: All five of Alexa Langeliers' hits last week (MSU, BU) went for extra bases (3 doubles, 2 HR).
8: Team-leading hits (8) for Maddie Hayden in games vs. Power 5 teams (8-for-18, .444)
13: Of the 21 team members on UL's roster, there are 13 total upperclassmen (62 percent).
15: The next 15 games are away from home, with Louisiana returning to Lamson Park on March 13 vs. McNeese.
