Softball Set for Weekend of Sun Belt Series at Lamson Park
Louisiana Softball faces a rare instance of two Sun Belt Conference series in the same weekend: it begins with a regularly scheduled series vs. South Alabama that starts on Friday, March 26, and is immediately followed by another three-game series vs. Georgia Southern that follows the USA finale on Sunday, March 28.
For Louisiana, it's the first appearance at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park since the March 4 Baylor contest.
The South Alabama series serves as the Ragin' Cajuns' 2021 Sun Belt Conference home-opening series.
The return home was delayed when the March 13-14 Sun Belt series with Georgia Southern was postponed by COVID concerns within the Eagles' program, a weather system moved the Texas doubleheader to Austin, and the March 24 La. Tech game was postponed by weather.
The six-game homestand – which will be the longest of the season for Louisiana – was extended with the rescheduling of the Georgia Southern series that wraps up with a Monday, March 29 doubleheader.
The Ragin' Cajuns seek to halt a two-game losing streak on their home field, falling to Oklahoma State and Baylor the last two outings.
THIS 'N THAT
Friday's single game vs. South Alabama closes out a 22-day lapse between home games for Louisiana.
Summer Ellyson enters the weekend having not allowed an earned run and only four hits over her last 10 innings in the circle.
Since March 1, the Ragin' Cajuns have excelled in two-out hitting situations posting a .388 average and 31 two-out RBI.
Ciara Bryan's 15-game hitting streak (her career-best) is the longest by a Ragin' Cajun since Brianna Cherry's 17-game streak in 2013. The school-record streak is 25 games by Kelli Bruce (Mar. 16-Apr. 23, 1999).
Alissa Dalton and Julie Rawls are coming off strong performances during last week's Texas trip. Dalton started off 8-for-9 on the way to a .667 showing (8-for-12) and Rawls finished at .571 (8-for-14). They combined for 14 team's 24 RBI, tallying seven apiece.
Both Karly Heath and Ciara Bryan collected their third home run of the 2021 season last Sunday in Arlington, moving into a tie for the team lead with Alissa Dalton and Justice Milz.
In the first three weeks of play, Ciara Bryan led Louisiana in hitting each time. She hit .500 (8-for-16) at UAB's Green and Gold Classic, finished .435 (10-for-23) over the eight-game stretch that ended February, and sported a .526 average (10-for-19) the first week of March.
The March 3 win at McNeese halted a brief two-game losing streak. Since taking over the program in 2018, Gerry Glasco's Ragin' Cajuns have never lost more than two straight.
SOUTH ALABAMA SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Louisiana leads, 34-11
At Lamson Park: Louisiana leads, 18-2
Last Meeting: 3/24/19 // LA 14, USA 0 (6) (Mobile, Ala.)
Streak: Louisiana, +12
Series Notable
- Louisiana's current win streak is its longest in the series (won every meeting since '16)
GEORGIA SOUTHERN SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Louisiana leads, 15-2
At Lamson Park: Louisiana leads, 5-1
Last Meeting: 3/31/19 // LA 3, GS 1 (Statesboro, Ga.)
Streak: Louisiana, +5
Series Notable
- All but two meetings have occurred since Georgia Southern joined Sun Belt (2015)
NUMBERS TO KNEAUX
12: Number of Ragin' Cajuns who have hit at least one home run in the 2021 season
22: Ciara Bryan has reached base all 22 games. She sports a team-best .518 on base percentage
14-0: Louisiana's record when scoring five or more runs in a game this season
1: Summer Ellyson is one win shy of her 80th career victory. Would become the 6th Ragin' Cajun pitcher to reach the mark
7: Kandra Lamb closed last week's Texas trip with seven scoreless innings pitched in the UTA series
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Infield: The Ragin' Cajuns have one of the best infield units in the country as both Alissa Dalton (returning shortstop) and Jade Gortarez are on the field together on the left side, covering shortstop and third base. Sure-handed second baseman Kaitlyn Alderink leads the way in securing the right side. Georgia transfer Justice Milz took over at first base following the untimely injury to Taylor Roman. Melissa Mayeux will also be in the mix with the group, available to play at any position.
Outfield: Returning center fielder Raina O'Neal (.329 average and nearly 30 extra base hits previous two seasons) is out for at least the regular season with an injury. Ciara Bryan has taken over in center field and is showing signs that she'll continue the performance that made her one of the most dynamic hitters in the nation during the COVD-19 shortened season. Kendall Talley and Frankie Izard have shared duties left field in recent weeks. Jenna Kean adds speed to the base path that rivals single-season stolen base record holder Keeli Milligan and has appeared to claim the right field position. Karly Heath is also in the rotation (primarily in right field), while Julie Rawls provides veteran experience for late-game adjustments.
Pitchers: Efforts in the circle are led by Summer Ellyson once again. She led the nation in wins (39) in 2019, and was off to an 11-1 start (1.83 ERA) in 2020 with wins over Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Florida. Kandra Lamb has emerged as the front-runner for the No. 2 spot following solid outings in her first career starts against ranked teams (at Louisiana State, vs. Oklahoma State). Casey Dixon, Vanessa Foreman and Karly Heath provide added depth and options to shorten innings pitched for Ellyson and Lamb.
Catchers: The mainstay from the past two seasons, Julie Rawls, is joined by Bailey Curry and Melissa Mayeux who trained at the position in preseason practice. Curry and Mayeux should allow for a rotation at the position which would prevent Rawls from having to catch every game to keep her fresh for the postseason. Rawls has led the Ragin' Cajuns in slugging percentage the past two seasons.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
No. 16 Louisiana travels to the Atlanta area for an Easter Weekend series with Georgia State at the Bob Heck Softball Complex in nearby Decatur, Ga., set for Friday-Saturday, April 2-3. The Ragin' Cajuns and Panthers meet in a Good Friday doubleheader at 12 p.m. (CDT), then conclude the series the next day with a single game at 12 p.m. (CDT).
The GSU series is the start of a busy Spring Break for Louisiana - all games on the road - that continues with midweek games at Lamar (April 5), Sam Houston (April 6) and Houston (April 7), followed by a key Sun Belt Conference series at Troy (April 9-11).
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Re: Cajuns Softball vs South Alabama
Originally Posted by roarman
