UL - Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns softball team opens the week with a three-game Sun Belt Conference series with the North Texas Mean Green on Wednesday and Thursday. The series begins with a doubleheader on Wednesday, Apr. 23 beginning at 2:00 p.m. and will conclude with a single game on Thursday, Apr. 24 at 1:00 p.m.

Louisiana claimed all three regular season games against the Mean Green last season, but suffered their first SBC Tournament loss in program history at the hands of North Texas.

Last time out, the Lady Cajuns battled the USA Olympic Team. UL gave Team USA another excellent game, falling 2-0 to the world’s best team. In two games against Team USA, UL has allowed just three unearned runs in 16 innings.

Ashley Brignac (River Ridge, La.) earned Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week for her efforts in the circle last week. She made two appearances on the week with two games started, two complete games and two shutouts to her credit. She struck out 19 batters in 14.0 innings of work, surrendering just two hits and one walk. Brignac held the Owls to a .045 batting average, allowing just one batter to reach second base.

She began the week with a 7.0 innings no-hit shutout over Florida Atlantic. Brignac followed her no-hitter with a two-hit shutout against the Owls. She recorded six Ks in the game with no walks.

Brignac also pitched 3.0 innings in the Lady Cajuns exhibition game with Team USA. She did not allow an earned run against the best team in the world, scattering four hits - all singles - with no walks. Brignac struck out Natasha Watley and Jessica Mendoza in the game.

The Lady Cajuns softball team is currently in the midst of a 13-game winning streak. The streak is the longest of the season for the Cajuns, topping their nine-game winning streak to open the season. The 13-game winning streak is the longest streak since the Cajuns opened up the 2006 with 22 consecutive wins.

In the Lady Cajuns 28-year history, the softball team has finished the year with at least one double-digit winning streak on the season 18 times. The Cajuns’ longest winning streak in school history was set in 1994, when Louisiana rattled off 24 consecutive wins en route to a 57-5 record on the season.

The Ragin’ Cajuns are 17-0 at Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park. Louisiana has currently won 20 consecutive games at Lamson Park. UL has outscored their opponents 139-to-10 at home this season and 164-to-10 during their 20-game home winning streak. The Cajuns have also boasted 14 shutouts at Lamson Park during the streak.

The Cajuns are batting .373 as a team this season at home. UL has blasted 16 home runs at home this season, with five triples, and 25 doubles. They are led by junior Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La.) who boasts a .511 clip in Lafayette. Hubbard is followed closely by Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas) who has a .500 batting average at home. Tankersley leads the Cajuns in hits, triples, home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage and on base percentage at Lamson Park this season.

In the circle, the Cajuns pitching staff boasts a 0.58 ERA at Lamson Park. Opponents are batting just .113 against Louisiana pitching with just a pair of extra base hits. Donna Bourgeois (Lafayette, La.) is perfect at home on the season. The freshman has made nine appearances in Lamson Park registering a 6-0 record with a perfect 0.00 ERA. Bourgeois is followed closely by Brignac. The “ace” of the pitching staff is 8-0 at home in seven appearances with a 1.02 earned run average.

RaginCajuns.com

Chris Whitehead