The 2024 softball season has officially The 2024 softball season has officially begun. The women started their season with the 38th annual Louisiana Classics. The classic started Feb. 8 and lasted through Feb. 11.
The tournament started off with the Cajuns taking on Chattanooga. Sophie Piskos, Victoria Valdez and Maddie Hayden each produced four RBI in charging the attack as number 21 Louisiana Softball downed Chattanooga 21–2 (5 inn.) in the opening game of the season.
Louisiana produced multiple runs in all four at bats-scoring at least five runs three times- and fired off 17 runs in two-out situations. The Ragin’ Cajuns hit a crisp 11-of-16 with two-outs.
Patience was the other key for the Cajuns, drawing 10 walk offs of Chattanooga pitching led by three from Laney Credeur. All five Cajuns pitchers saw time and combined to limit the Mocs to four hits over five innings.
Sam Landry opened with two scoreless frames and three strikeouts while Lexie Delbrey proved to be the most effective afterwards, facing only one over the minimum over 1-1/3 innings of scoreless softball.
Sam Roe launched the first home run of the season, a three-run line drive shot that highlighted an eight-run first inning for Louisiana. The second home run was courtesy of Piskos’ bat and the two-run towering lift to straightaway center in the fourth inning capped off the scoring.
The tournament continued Friday, Feb. 9 where the Cajuns took home a clean sweep against Cal and Chattanooga.
A no-hitter from Sam Landry and two clutch swings from Jourdyn Campbell highlighted a Friday sweep for the Cajuns. Landry retired the first 13 batters she faced and was hit batter and one miscue away from a perfect game in the Cajuns 8–0 (6 inn.) run-rule win over Pac-12 member California to start the day.
In her first plate appearance of the nightcap against Chattanooga, Campbell drove a two-run single up the middle advancing the early lead for Louisiana in the first inning to 3–0. Lexie Delbrey and Denali Loecker combined to strand 11 Mocs baserunners in the contest to preserve the 5–2 win for Louisiana.
Delbrey caught pinch hitter Alyssa Orlando looking at strike three with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of a 3–1 game and Loecker struck out five during her three innings of relief.
Louisiana closes the Louisiana Classic with split results. Brooke Ellestad jumpstarted the early morning matchup with New Mexico, launching a towering three-run home run off the scoreboard in right field in the first inning.
The Lobos scratched single runs in the second and third inning to trim Louisiana’s lead to 3–2, but the Cajuns responded in the home half of the third. A clutch two-out single from Victoria Valdez, that was misplayed, put in motion in the second three-run frame of the contest stretching the lead to 6–2.
Lauren Allred’s two-run double in the fourth and a pair of fielder’s choice RBI grounders in the fifth moved the Cajuns’ lead into run-rule territory. Ellestad and Allred combined for five RBI. The home run was Ellestad’s first as a Cajun while the double put Allred into the hit column for the first time on the weekend.
The weekend finale against California saw the visiting Bears grab the lead in the third inning with a squeeze play and hold the advantage through the sixth inning.
Louisiana drew even in the seventh inning after Ellestad led off with a double and wound-up scoring after a pair of wild pitches occurred during a brief rain shower.
The Bears staved off the walk-off this time, though, successfully fielding a bunt from Cecilia Vasquez and pitcher Randi Roelling inducing a pop up from Mihyia Davis with Alexa Langeliers standing on third.
The loss spoiled the Cajuns’ attempt at a clean sweep of the season-opening Louisiana Classics and was just the second defeat on Opening Weekend in the Gerry Glasco era (now 29–2).
The Cajuns played Mississippi on Tuesday, February 13, and took a hitting loss of 1–9.
As the Cajuns softball team continues their season, there is great potential for the rest of the season and the individuality to show in different players. Cannot wait for a great 2024 season from the team.