Lady Cajuns Set for Sun Belt Home Opener vs Troy
The Lady Cajuns enter the weekend with the reigning Sun Belt Player and Pitcher of the Week in Gabriele Bridges and Ashley Brignac. Bridges hit .533 at the plate last week with four home runs and nine RBI. The senior posted her fifth multi-home run in UL's win over New Mexico last weekend.
Brignac picked up all four of the Cajuns' wins last week, recording 42 strikeouts in 28.0 innings. The junior defeated Notre Dame and Long Beach State who were both receiving votes in the NFCA/USA Today and ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 polls.
Two weeks ago UL took two of three from North Texas in the Cajuns' only Sun Belt series to date, and they will look to continue that momentum this weekend against the Trojans.
"Troy is always competitive, and they've got the Preseason Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year in Ashlyn Williams," Lotief said. "With conference games, everyone knows you so well that, we just have to stay focused and be ready for a well prepared team."
All three of this weekend's contests can be heard on ESPN Radio 1420 AM with play-by-play from Steve Peloquin.
Both of Saturday's games are being televised on MyKLAF with Mike Mithcell and Chris Venetis calling the action. Lafayette residents with Cox or LUS cable services can tune to channel 13. Lafayette area fans with DirecTV can see the game on channel 62 while Dish Network subscribers can view it on channel 15.
Also be sure to tune in to the UL Softball Coaches Show which will air every Monday at 12 noon on ESPN Radio 1420 AM. If you would like to join the coaches and Steve Peloquin for the show, visit Walk-Ons on Kaliste Saloon Rd. at 12 noon each Monday for the remainder of the season.
Game Day Storylines
- After a weekend in California, the Cajuns return home to host their first Sun Belt series of 2011 at Lamson Park. This weekend's games will be the first of nine straight Sun Belt contests for UL.
- Louisiana is 11-0 thus far in 2011 at Lamson Park, including a 9-4 victory over McNeese State last Tuesday. The Cajuns went 19-2 at Lamson Park a year ago, including 11-1 in Sun Belt games a year ago.
- The Cajuns are 15-3 all-time against Troy including a 7-1 mark at home. The last time the two squads met was on May 15, 2010. That game was the Sun Belt Championship, which UL won 8-0.
- The Cajuns have had eight individual multi-home run games in 2011, with the most recent being Gabriele Bridges on Saturday against New Mexico. That game marked the fifth time this season that Bridges has hit at least two home runs in a game.
- Bridges and Christi Orgeron have been sensational for UL. They sit with .434 and .433 batting averages respectively. The two have combined for 27 home runs, 94 RBI, 16 doubles and 46 walks.
Scouting the Competition
Troy
- The Trojans come currently sit at 19-12 (1-2 SBC) after dropping two of three to La.-Monroe at home last weekend. In their most recent contests, the Trojans split a home doubleheader with Kennesaw State on Tuesday. Troy is 4-6 in its last 10 games.
- Nikki Hollett paces the Trojans offense with a team-high .418 batting average. She has posted 16 home runs, which puts her one ahead of Gabriele Bridges for the Sun Belt lead. Her 11 doubles also tops the league. Hayden Gann is also an offensive threat for the Trojans, as she is hitting .396 with seven home runs and 27 RBI.
- As a team, Troy hits .320 while their opponents hit at a .254 clip.
- In the circle, Preseason Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Ashlyn Williams is in her senior season. She currently sits with a 2.12 ERA in 18 appearances. She has struck out 139 batters in 95.2 innings pitched. The Trojans as a team enter with a 2.58 team ERA.
- The Cajuns are 15-3 all-time against the Trojans, including a 3-1 mark last season. UL took two of three in the regular season in Troy, then defeated the Trojans 8-0 in the Sun Belt Championship game on May 15. The Cajuns are 7-1 all-time against the Trojans in Lafayette.
Last Time Out
Judi Garman Classic (3-2)
- The Cajuns posted a 3-2 mark at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. UL defeated Notre Dame, New Mexico and Long Beach, but fell to No.7 Arizona and No.6 Arizona State.
- Game 1: The Cajuns fell in an early 1-0 hole, but came back to defeat Notre Dame 5-1 on St. Patrick's Day. Christi Orgeron went 3-for-3 at the plate, including a two-run home run. Gabriele Bridges was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Ashley Brignac threw a complete game striking out seven and walking just one.
- Game 2: The Cajuns dropped their next contest, 10-2, to No.7 Arizona. Bridges recorded a home run in the game for UL. Shelbee Rodgers was tagged with the loss.
- Game 3: The next day the Cajuns fell to No.6 Arizona State, 10-4. Christi Orgeron posted her second home run of the weekend in the Cajuns four-run sixth inning. Brignac was shouldered with the loss, but only threw the first inning.
- Game 4: UL used a five-run bottom of the sixth inning to reclaim the lead late in an 8-4 win over New Mexico. In the contest, Bridges posted her fifth multi-home run game of the season as she connected on two long balls. Nerissa Myers also homered for the Cajuns, marking her first of the year. Myers' shot was a three-run blast in the Cajuns five-run sixth. Brignac threw a complete game and struck out 13.
- Game 5: The Cajuns used another five-run inning, this one in the third, to down Long Beach 9-5. Jennifer Martin hit her first career home run, a grand slam in the third innings, to give UL a lead they would not relinquish. Brignac threw her second complete game of the day to pick up the win.
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Originally Posted by lcitsh
