Lady Cajuns not looking past N.C. State

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Everybody knows what could happen on Saturday at the Baton Rouge Regional. But the difference between a juicy possibility and reality has two major scales to major hurdle first. Louisiana and LSU softball fans are salivating at the possibility of a second-round showdown between the state’s two powerhouses. Before the Ragin’ Cajuns (48-10) can punch their ticket for a possible showdown with the Tigers, however, they have a major chore to handle at 4 p.m. today when they tangle with Atlantic Coast regular-season and tournament champion North Carolina State. The Wolf Pack (49-19) is in the NCAA tournament for the first time in the program’s third year. By contrast, ULL is making its 16th NCAA tourney appearance in 17 years. The Cajuns are 11-4 in regional openers and have advanced to the championship round in 15 previous trips. Despite its newness, though, N.C. State has UL’s full attention. “We know N.C. State is good,” Cajuns co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “They won the ACC, so we have a lot of respect for what they have done and what they can do. They have big girls who are good, strong powerful hitters. They play the game the right way and they’re coached well. “There may be a lot of people talking about us playing LSU, but not on this team. We’re focused on N.C. State and what we have to do to beat them.” The Cajuns’ cause for concern seems to be well-founded. N.C. State has won 17 of its last 22 games, with the most impressive stretch at the ACC tournament last week in Chapel Hill, N.C. After losing to perennial power Florida State in the second round, the Wolf Pack roared back through the losers bracket with four consecutive victories, all against teams in the NCAA tournament (Virginia Tech, North Carolina twice, Florida State). The rest of the story By RANDY ROSETTA

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The goal for North Carolina State, and eventually LSU and/or Princeton, in the NCAA Regional Softball Tournament is simple - stop Danyele Gomez. The University of Louisiana softball squad has more than its share of weapons offensively, defensively and in the pitching circle. That's why it's ranked 15th nationally, has its sixth straight Sun Belt Conference regular-season title and its seventh straight Sun Belt league title, and is making its eighth straight NCAA appearance beginning today. But it's the senior from Metairie that puts the Cajuns in gear, and it's no secret that she'll have the attention of North Carolina State's Wolfpack when the squads open the Baton Rouge regional at 4 p.m. Gomez won the national home run title with a school-record 29, and also led the nation in slugging percentage and runs scored per game. She also won the Sun Belt's "triple crown" with a .443 batting average and 65 RBIs. The scouting reports probably have her name circled in red ink, but Gomez isn't concerned. "We have a lot of players that can hit," Gomez said. "We've got players up and down the lineup that have stepped up big all season. We're going to be fine if we play our game." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com