The gradual rising of temperatures in Lafayette brought with it the start of Sun Belt Conference play for the Ragin’ Cajuns’ softball team. The first series of the season was played 223 miles away, in Hattiesburg, MS, against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
The Cajuns went into the series with a 16–10 record. Though not mind blowing as is, when taking into account the gauntlet of a schedule the team played, their record really is impressive. Louisiana started the season off playing five ranked teams, including No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 7 Florida State.
With such a stacked schedule before conference play, Louisiana had plenty of experience under their belt going into their series against Southern Miss. Unfortunately they lost the series 2–1.
Game one went poorly for the Cajuns, as they lost 6–1, struggling at the plate and on the mound.
The start went to junior pitcher, Sage Hoover. She wowed in her previous start against Abiline Christrian, pitching all seven innings and striking out 10 players. Southern Miss was not so easy for Hoover, who was pulled in the second inning after five runs.
Senior Lexie Delbry came on to replace Hoover, and she finished out the game spectacularly, holding the Golden Eagles to just one additional run.
Hoover, nor Delbry, got any help from the bats. Louisiana managed only four hits the entire game, allowing Southern Miss pitcher Kayla Giardina to comfortably pitch the entire game. The Cajuns would not stay quiet for long though.
Game two saw the lineup explode, as the Cajuns scored all nine runs in the first three innings to take a 9–1 win.
This explosion in runs was led by Kaplan native, Kennedy Marceaux. The sophomore catcher led off the lineup and she got on base in all three of her appearances at the plate, recording two hits and a walk. She would end up crossing home plate all three times she got on base.
Yet, the player of the game could be found a few more spots down the lineup was junior infielder Brooke Otto. Otto recorded five RBIs in just two hits, three of those RBIs came with a bases-clearing double in the third inning.
The game was called in the fifth since the Cajuns were up by eight runs, thanks not just to the batters, but also the excellent pitching.
Game two’s starter was senior Bethaney Noble, who pitched four innings and only gave up a single, unearned run. Sophomore Julianne Tipton came on in the final inning, allowing two hits but keeping the Golden Eagles from scoring any runs for the rest of the game.
Game three would be called with a score of 9–1. This game did not end in the Cajuns favor though, as UL lost their first conference game of the season.
The game started off well for the Cajuns with a Haley Hart home run in the first inning. That would prove to be the only positive play for the Cajuns the entire game, as the Golden Eagles would proceed to roll over Louisiana.
The problem this game was, just like in game one, pitching. Louisiana went through three pitchers in five innings, each UL pitcher gave up two or more runs.
Noble would be asked to pitch for her second straight start of the weekend. This start did not go as well as Saturday’s. She would be pulled after just over an inning of work, giving up three runs in 1.1 innings.
Hoover would be called up next, performing about as well as Noble. Hoover allowed four runs, three earned, in 2.2 innings of work.
Delbry replaced Hoover, finishing out the game. Delbry would be the one to give up the final two runs that would end the game in the fifth.
The Cajuns’ first conference series did not go the way that team wanted, but they can bounce back in their next series. Louisiana will be returning to Lafayette for the first time since February to host the Texas State Bobcats in their SBC series at home. This will be a good respite for a road weary team, especially a team that is 7–3 at home so far this season.