Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns continue Sun Belt Conference this weekend as they head to Mobile, Ala. for a three-game SBC series with South Alabama. The Cajuns are 4-1 (.800) all-time against the Jaguars under co-head coaches Stefni and Michael Lotief.

The Lady Cajuns enter the weekend ranked No. 19 according to the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll. UL is also receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll, the highest team outside of the top 25 receiving votes (26th).

Last season, the Cajuns swept South Alabama in a three-game series in Lafayette. Louisiana posted 10-2, 7-1 and 8-0 victories over the visiting Jaguars.

Last week, Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team finished the week 5-1, claiming a pair of Sun Belt Conference series. The Cajuns opened up the week with a three-game sweep of Middle Tennessee and finished the week, taking two of three games against FIU. The Cajuns posted four shutouts and four run-rule victories in their five wins.

Gabriele Bridges was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week. She displayed her power on the week. Bridges batted .471 on the week, going 8-for-17 with four home runs, six runs scored and eight RBI. She reached base safely in all six games she played on the week, hitting safely in five games. Bridges had two multiple hit games on the week; including a 3-for-3 performance against Middle Tennessee with a home run and three RBI; and a 2-for-3 effort with a home run and two RBI.

Ashley Brignac was 2-0 on the week picking up a pair of Sun Belt Conference wins against Middle Tennessee and FIU. She did not allow an earned run in two appearances on the week. Brignac struck out 16 batters in 10.0 innings of work. Brignac currently has a streak of 59.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

Donna Bourgeois finished the week with three wins. The sophomore leads the team with 16 victories and 168 strikeouts on the season.

Scouting the Opposition
USA is led in the circle by Beth Pilgrim, who was named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week Monday. Entering the week, Pilgrim has a 1.32 ERA in 138.1 innings pitched, a team-best four shutouts, 151 strikeouts and 20 starts.

Top hitters for USA are Tara Donaldson and Carolina Mendoza, who pace the club with .383 and .333 batting averages, respectively. Donaldson has a team-high 41 hits and .472 on base percentage while Mendoza has a club-best .609 slugging percentage entering the week.

Errors proved costly as the South Alabama softball team fell 5-2 to Mississippi State Wednesday afternoon at MSU Softball Field.

UL Press