Lafayette Regional Finale: Louisiana 3, Baylor 4

[SlickRick]

I'm more concerned that the on deck batter wasn't directing a slide. She went straight in.

The throw to the plate was perfectly placed. Don't think it would have made a difference how she went in.

[ragin50]

I'm willing to bet 9 out 10 coaches send her home. People act like she was out by a mile; it took a perfect throw to get her out at the plate. Six inches either way and she is safe. You are trying to win the darn game! BTW, a costly error and your ace was unable to hold them. What makes people think Baylor wasn't going to score again. The stats say the Cajuns have 1 win after 6 innings and trailing, if find the stat very revealing.

In addition to the error, one of the main reasons for the loss was something that has plagued us much of the season, leaving way too many runners on base and getting the 2 out hit. We left 9 on in the final game yesterday, and left 10 on in the 2nd Princeton game.

[CajunRage]

The throw to the plate was perfectly placed. Don't think it would have made a difference how she went in.

May not, but I've seen some crazy situations in diamond sports since replay has been implemented. For example, sliding to the outside of the plate with left hand pulled back could be just enough to sneak a fingertip in on the other hand. It's something that many teams take time to practice going through the motions. You may go your entire career without needing to do it, but there could be that one time...

clarification - not blaming the loss on this

[alum81]

I think a hook slide could have made the difference. It seems like the preferable way to slide in home now.

[Rainman66]

We didn't hit the ball well enough in clutch situations to win. Eventhough we scored three runs only one was earned. In a perfectly played game, the Cajuns lose that game, AND we out hit them nine to eight.

We had many opportunities early to really get them by the neck and didn't, then Crandall settled in and we were behind the 8-ball.

I think it was good matchup and Baylor played better and deserved to win.

[ZoomZoom]

In addition to the error, one of the main reasons for the loss was something that has plagued us much of the season, leaving way too many runners on base and getting the 2 out hit. We left 9 on in the final game yesterday, and left 10 on in the 2nd Princeton game.

Game of inches in the first couple of innings. Two early SFs plated 2 runs. If either hits the gap or clears the fence, Cajuns headed to Gainesville.

CGG will be fine. He owned sending the runner post game. Just needs to get a next level pitcher or two with nerves of steel.

[moorecajun]

It was a perfect throw, an absolutely fantastic play by their center fielder! Sometimes you just have to applaud the play.

[CajunVic]

We didn't hit the ball well enough in clutch situations to win. Eventhough we scored three runs only one was earned. In a perfectly played game, the Cajuns lose that game, AND we out hit them nine to eight.

We had many opportunities early to really get them by the neck and didn't, then Crandall settled in and we were behind the 8-ball.

I think it was good matchup and Baylor played better and deserved to win.

Wait, we not getting into feelings again? Baylor deserved to win because they scored more runs than Louisiana. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s softball, the team with more runs at the end of the game is the winner.

[Cajun90]

It was a perfect throw, an absolutely fantastic play by their center fielder! Sometimes you just have to applaud the play.

Agreed. Top outfielders in the country make that precise of a throw probably 1 out of 4 times.

It is kind of mind boggling when you think about it. Baylor run rules us. We run rule Baylor. Then it boils down to a one run game. Weird to say the least.

[CajunT]

Game of inches in the first couple of innings. Two early SFs plated 2 runs. If either hits the gap or clears the fence, Cajuns headed to Gainesville.

CGG will be fine. He owned sending the runner post game. Just needs to get a next level pitcher or two with nerves of steel.

I think the next level pitcher will be a challenge because this is where the NIL money actually pays dividends for that position.

[CajunVic]

Trying to get or keep the next level pitcher in softball has probably risen to the level of difficulty as keeping or getting a good football player by a G5.

[VObserver]

I don't see any dominant pitchers at schools outside the P5 this year, except possibly the girl at SIU; who had an ERA of 1.11 and several impressive wins over P5 programs this year, along with a win over Texas State. Two factors that make her unlikely to go anywhere are that she is a twin whose sister is a catcher on the same team and not nearly as talented as the pitcher, and she is only 5'4", which will scare some programs off.

She might be a possibility, as we also need a catcher to back up Vic.

Two more plus factors: She is a freshman and she is a lefty.