SEASON SYNOPSIS
For Gerry Glasco, his fifth season with Louisiana Softball will have a different look and feel than the previous others: the team largely consists of players he recruited and went from being one of the oldest in the nation to one of the youngest. The Ragin' Cajuns went from a roster in 2021 that was predominantly sixth-year and fifth-year players to a group in 2022 that includes eight freshmen and 12 total newcomers.

While there's plenty of newness and unknowns leading up to the launch of the 2022 season on Feb. 11 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park, the goal for Glasco and the program remains the same: compete for championships, be one of the Top 25 teams in the country and pursue a trip to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series.

Louisiana is armed with the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class of the 2021 recruits by Extra Inning Softball including the No. 4-rated recruit in pitcher Sam Landry and No. 15-rated recruit in outfielder Maddie Hayden, has first team All-Sun Belt performer Kandra Lamb back in the circle seeking to pick up where Summer Ellyson left off, and welcomes back Raina O'Neal and Taylor Roman and their power bats back to the lineup.

THE BASICS
Head Coach: Gerry Glasco (Illinois, 1980)
Record at Louisiana: 158-40 (5th season)
Overall Career Record: Same
Assistant Coach: Lacy Prejean (4th season)
Assistant Coach: Justin Robichaux (1st season)
Volunteer Coach: Kevin Myers (2nd season)

Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/12
Position Starters Returning/Lost: 1/7
Pitchers Returning/Lost: 3/2
Newcomers (Freshmen/Transfers): 8/4

Letterwinners Returning (9):
C Sophie Piskos, 1B/OF Taylor Roman, UT Melissa Mayeux, OF Raina O'Neal, OF Frankie Izard, OF Jenna Kean, OF/P Karly Heath, P Kandra Lamb, P Vanessa Foreman

Redshirts Returning (1):
P Taylor Snow

Key Letterwinners Lost:
C Julie Rawls, SS Alissa Dalton, 2B Jade Gortarez, 3B Kaitlyn Alderink, OF Ciara Bryan, OF Kendall Talley, 1B Justice Milz, P Summer Ellyson

Newcomers (12):
IF Jourdyn Cambell# (Texas A&M), IF Stormy Kotzelnick# (Washington), IF Ari Quiñones# (Washington), P Meghan Schorman# (Kentucky), IF Laney Credeur, IF Alexa Langeliers, OF Kramer Eschete, OF Kayla Falterman, OF Samantha Graeter, OF Maddie Hayden, P Sam Landry, P Tyler Oubre
# - Division I transfer

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Piskos, Sophie 2021-22 HeadshotSophie Piskos (So., C)
Paris, Tenn. (The Baylor School)
- Expected to resume role as starting catcher. Stepped in mid-season of 2021 – after intending to redshirt – and went on to earn a start 22 times, closing the year as the primary starter.
- Finished 2021 as one of team's hottest hitters: hit .429 with three doubles and two home runs over 40 plate appearances April 20 onward.

ONeal, Raina 2021-22 HeadshotRaina O'Neal (Jr., OF)
Richmond, Texas (Texas Tech)
- Recovered from the season-ending arm injury that forced her to miss final three months of 2021 season and will return to customary center field spot.
- Posted double-digit home runs in last full season of competition (2019). Has hit .300-plus and slugged .500 plus each season as a Ragin' Cajun.

Campbell, Jourdyn 2021-22 HeadshotJourdyn Campbell (So., IF)
Kingwood, Texas (Texas A&M)
- Exited fall practice period as the leading candidate for the all-important role of locking down third base defensively.
- Likely candidate to hit in the heart of the order, the Texas A&M transfer ranked second nationally in doubles (13) during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and saw 60 percent of her hits go for extra bases both years with the Aggies.

Lamb, Kandra 2021-22 HeadshotKandra Lamb (Jr., P)
Kurrajong, NSW, Australia (Intl. Community)
- Returning first team All-Sun Belt performer who pitched a three-hit shutout of LSU in final start of the 2021 season, enters 2022 as the pitching staff's ace.
- Coming off career-high totals in wins (17) and strikeouts (164) recorded during the 2021 season. Limited foes to a .182 average over 611 batters faced over 149 innings and to five hits or less in 26 of 28 games started.

Schorman, Meghan 2021-22 Season HeadshotMeghan Schorman (Jr., P) Hazelwood, Mo. (Kentucky)
- Provides additional veteran experience in the pitching circle after having spent three seasons as SEC-member Kentucky.
- Was off to a great start (7-1, 1.30 ERA, 45 strikeouts, 43 innings) in 2020 prior to the pandemic-related shutdown. Claimed wins over 2021 NCAA Tournament participants Liberty and Minnesota, and led the Wildcats staff in ERA.

Landry, Sam 2021-22 HeadshotSam Landry (Fr., P) Mont Belvieu, Texas (Barbers Hill HS)
- Program's most-heralded pitching prospect since Ashely Brignac (2008), was ranked No. 4 in the Class of 2021 recruiting rankings by Extra Innings Softball.
- Went 17-1 with a 0.40 ERA and 252 strikeouts in senior season at Barbers Hill (Texas) High School.Was one of only 40 athletes nationwide to participate in 2021 Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) High School Senior All-American Game.

DIAMOND NOTES
Changing of the Guard
Following the 2021 season Louisiana ushered out eight seniors – a group that included multi-year contributors Summer Ellyson, Alissa Dalton and Julie Rawls – who had a profound impact on the program's success. Beginning with the 2022 season, a group of 13 newcomers (nine freshmen, four transfers) step in to begin writing their chapter of success in Louisiana Softball history.

A New Dynamic
For head coach Gerry Glasco, his fifth season in Louisiana will have a different look and feel than the previous others: the team largely consists of players he recruited and went from being one of the oldest in the nation to one of the youngest.

A New Dynamic, Part 2
In going from one of the oldest teams in the nation to youngest, Louisiana went to a roster in 2021 that was predominantly sixth-year and fifth-year players to a group in 2022 that includes nine freshmen and 13 total newcomers.

Much-Awaited Arrival
Louisiana is armed with the nation's No. 1-ranked recruiting class of 2021 recruits by Extra Innings Softball. Seven of the nine individuals were featured in Extra Inning Softball's Elite 100 led by pitcher Sam Landry (No. 4) and outfielder Maddie Hayden (No. 15).

It's Her Time to Lead
After working alongside then-ace pitcher Summer Ellyson in 2021, it's now Kandra Lamb's turn to lead the pitching staff. Lamb (17-5, 2.02 ERA, 164 K in 2021), who hurled a three-hit shutout of No. 16 LSU in her last start of 2021, yielded no more than five hits in six starts vs. Top 25 teams last season and had a 10-strikeout effort vs. Oklahoma State.

A Crew in the Circle
Picking up where Summer Ellyson left off won't be a task that Kandra Lamb has to do all by herself. Kentucky transfer Meghan Schorman provides Louisiana another arm with collegiate experience and freshman Sam Landry ranked No. 4 by Extra Innings Softball proved throughout the fall she's ready for the challenge.

Welcome Back
Both Raina O'Neal and Taylor Roman are back and ready to contribute after season-ending injuries last February shortened their playing time in 2021. Both possess home run-hitting power and should help the Ragin' Cajuns offense in the quest to replace production lost to graduation.

A Jolt of Energy
With her infectious energy Sophie Piskos helped light the spark in Louisiana's strong second-half run in 2021. Expect more of the same, on a game-by-game basis, as Piskos becomes the next in line to man the catcher's position. She closed the 2021 season as the starter from April 20 onward, and finished the season hitting .429.

The X Factor
One players' impact to watch will be Karly Heath. Heath, who transferred in for 2021 as a hitter and pitcher from South Carolina, hit eight home runs in only 97 at bats last season and this fall was the most improved pitcher with faster speeds, better control and a 1.28 ERA.

Family Tree
Maddie Hayden is the latest in her family to suit up for the Ragin' Cajuns. She's the younger sister of former Louisiana Softball standout Haley Hayden (2014-17) who was a four-time All-Sun Belt Conference performer and four-time NFCA All-Central Region selection.

Newcomers to Watch
On the infield Texas A&M transfer Jourdyn Campbell is the frontrunner to defend at the all-important hot corner (third base) and be one of the team's leading run producers. Washington transfers Stormy Kotzelnick and Ari Quiñones are expected to be factors on the right side. In the outfield, freshmen Maddie Hayden and Kramer Eschete are candidates to break into the starting lineup and provide tremendous speed.

Options, Options and More Options
From players who can play multiple positions, to a speed lineup, or even a power lineup, the Ragin' Cajuns will have several lineup options to choose from. The coaching staff will have the option to play matchups, whenever necessary.

Fan-Friendly Schedule
The Ragin' Cajuns 2022 season schedule features 37 games that will be played within the state of Louisiana's borders, highlighted by contests with Alabama, LSU and Texas at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park. Beginning with the Louisiana Classics Feb. 11-13 at Lamson Park, Louisiana spends the entire first month inside or near the city limits of Lafayette.

GLASCO'S THOUGHTS
"I think you'll see a lot of rotating and platooning early, because it's such a young team. It may just be a matter of one player getting comfortable and hot and another player not getting comfortable. It's pretty balanced. There are 12 or 13 players who can really play.

We have a really broad skillset, where we can play a powerful lineup, play a fast lineup, play a defensive lineup and play an offensive lineup, and still be competitive.

I don't know if we will be a Top 20 team early in the year, but I think this team may get to that level of a Top 15 or Top 10 team in the country by the middle or the end if we work really hard. That is our goal. We want to be one of the best teams in the country every year."