University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, March 25
Mobile, Ala.
11 a.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
at
South Alabama
Softball Preview: South Alabama Series
3/24/2017 9:41:00 AM | Softball
Games 26-28: No. 17 Louisiana (20-5, 3-0 Sun Belt) at South Alabama (19-9, 2-4 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Mar. 25 (DH) • 11 a.m. (CDT) • Jaguar Field (1,050) • Mobile, Ala.
Sunday, Mar. 26 • 1 p.m. (CDT) • Jaguar Field (1,050) • Mobile, Ala.
PARKING ADVISORY
With South Alabama also hosting a baseball series, all parking near Jaguar Field is reserved. The USA Athletics Department recommends softball fans park at the Mitchell Center parking lot for easy access to Jaguar Field.
To view a map with locations of all available general public parking, click here.
Game Notes (PDF): Louisiana | South Alabama
Radio: ESPN 1420-AM • Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP
TV: None
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Live Video (FREE): JagNation TV
Rosters: Louisiana | South Alabama
Schedules: Louisiana | South Alabama
Season Stats: Louisiana | South Alabama
Ragin' Cajuns Twitter: @ULRaginCajuns | @RaginCajunsSB
Opponents Twitter: @USAJagsSoftball
THE COACHES
Louisiana: Michael Lotief (Louisiana, 1985)
Career Record: 704-173-1 (15th season) Record at Louisiana: Same
South Alabama: Becky Clark (Mobile, 1995)
Career Record: 522-236-2 (14th season) Record at USA: 366-203-1 (11th season)
5 THINGS TO KNOW
1 - The Ragin' Cajuns begin the road portion of their 2017 schedule, which was delayed when the original road opener at App State (Mar. 11-12) was canceled by severe weather concerns.
2 - The Louisiana-South Alabama series has been a tightly contested in recent years. The Cajuns hold a slim 9-8 edge over the past 17 meetings, and rallied from early deficits to win both games last season at Lamson Park.
3 - Louisiana seeks to extend its school and Sun Belt Conference record streak of 30 consecutive league series won. The streak dates back to March 2013.
4 - The Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff has held opponents to five runs or less in all 25 games. The staff's 1.88 ERA ranks No. 28 in the NCAA statistical rankings.
5 - DJ Sanders tops the nation in home runs per game (0.52), has hit 13 total home runs and leads the team with 30 RBI. She has continued to become stronger defensively, making tough plays at shortstop, with only four errors in 70 chances.
FOR STARTERS
17th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball (20-5, 3-0 Sun Belt) heads out on the road for the first time in the 2017 season when the squad visits South Alabama (19-9, 2-4 Sun Belt) for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series Saturday-Sunday, March 25-26 at Jaguar Field in Mobile, Ala. It's the first of two straight weekends on the road for the Ragin' Cajuns after beginning the season with 25 consecutive home games. Next weekend, Louisiana travels to Statesboro, Ga., to face Georgia Southern (April 1-2).
DELAYED ROAD DEBUT
Louisiana was originally scheduled to take in its first road games of the season March 11-12 at Appalachian State. However, the series was canceled because of severe weather concerns.
COACH LOTIEF ON FIRST ROAD TRIP
"We scheduled this way to give our team the comfort of being at home," Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball head coach Michael Lotief said. "Now we're ready. It's time.
"Championship teams are built on the road," Lotief added. "It's built through adversity and overcoming things that get put in front of you. We need the adversity. We need to get on the road to face the next test to see what this team is made of."
SUN BELT SERIES STREAK
Louisiana has won 30 consecutive Sun Belt Conference series (school and SBC record streak). The streak began in March 2013 with a three-game sweep of FIU. The last school to claim a SBC series from the Cajuns: South Alabama (March 2013).
FALLING INTO PLACE
The 2017 version of the Ragin' Cajuns offense is beginning to fit the mold of its recent predecessors. Louisiana has produced multiple home runs in 10 of the past 11 games and is the present national leader in home runs per game (1.64). The Ragin' Cajuns have produced 34 home runs since Feb. 23 (span of 16 games).
RISING TO THE TOP
Beginning with explosive numbers over the last two tournaments, the Ragin' Cajuns offense has found its way to the top of the NCAA statistical rankings. Louisiana has climbed to No. 1 in home runs per game (1.64), No. 1 in scoring (8.36), No. 3 in slugging percentage (.568), No. 5 in on base percentage (.453) and No. 22 in batting average (.389) in the latest rankings.
QUIETLY DOING THEIR JOB
While much attention entering the season was focused on how the offense would replace the lost power and run production – and the group has made recent strides – it shouldn't go unnoticed the precision and performance that the Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff has displayed. The pitching unit has yielded no more than five runs in a single game through the first 25 games, tossed seven shutouts and ranks 29th nationally with a 1.88 ERA (one of only 31 staffs with a sub-2.00 ERA).
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Louisiana closed out a season-opening, 25-game homestand and officially began Sun Belt play with a series against UTA at Lamson Park. Haley Hayden's two-run triple in the fourth inning gave the Cajuns a 5-3 lead in the opener, then after UTA pulled into a 5-all tie in the seventh Aleah Craighton hit a walkoff solo homer in the bottom half for the win. Alyssa Denham struck out a season-high eight and Daniella Chavez provided the lead with a three-run homer as the Cajuns claimed the series win with a 6-2 win in Saturday's nightcap. Powered by two home runs and seven RBI from DJ Sanders, Louisiana finished the sweep with an 11-2 (6 inn.) win on Sunday.
EYES ON THE CIRCLE
One constant throughout the years is Louisiana and South Alabama sitting atop the Sun Belt Conference's pitching rankings. The Jaguars (1.75 ERA) and Ragin' Cajuns (1.88 ERA) rank second and third, respectively, in earned run average this season. Both staffs have made the opposition work for what they earn, as Louisiana has limited opponents to a .201 average and South Alabama's foes hitting a mere .208.
EYES ON THE CIRCLE (Part 2)
The Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff is anchored by reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Alex Stewart (37 H, 46.1 IP) and freshman Alyssa Denham (47 H, 70.1 IP) who have both yielded fewer hits than innings pitched. Stewart has allowed two earned runs or less in all but one start, while Denham has surrendered no more than four earned runs in any of her 11 starts. The Jaguars counter with a pair of nine-game winners in Devin Brown (9-4, 1.20 ERA) and Destin Vicknair (9-4, 2.10 ERA) who both rank Top 10 in the SBC in ERA.
MOVING UP THE LADDER
Now at 217 career runs scored, Haley Hayden is closing in on the school's all-time career record of 243 scored by Nerissa Myers from 2010-13. The odds are in her favor: in her previous three seasons she reached 60 runs. With two more runs, she will surpass Holly Tankersley (218 runs) for third place on the list with only Jerie Alexander (230) and Myers (243) remaining to catch.
Career Runs Top 5
1) 243 - Nerissa Myers (2010-13)
2) 230 - Jerie Alexander (1999-02)
3) 218 - Holly Tankersley (2004, 06-08)
4) 217 - Haley Hayden (2014-pres.)
5) 216 - Alana Addison (1999-02)
WHATEVER IT TAKES
Haley Hayden showed last weekend she's willing to play whatever role necessary to see the Cajuns succeed. She played at both her customary position of first base and in right field in the UTA series. The time spent in right field allowed Corin Voinchè to be inserted into the lineup. Whether it was helping mentor the pitchers and turning key double plays at first base or delivering an outfield assist, Hayden's versatility proved to be a valuable asset.
SIZZLING SANDERS
DJ Sanders has quickly put a slow start to the season behind her and is steadily building a player of the year resume. Starting with the Alabama series (Feb. 18-19), Sanders pieced together three consecutive strong weekends hitting 20-for-44 (.455) with 25 runs scored, nine home runs and 17 RBI. Recently, she added a home run vs. Baylor and two more in the series finale vs. UTA to push her season total to 13 home runs. The seven RBI in the UTA finale, produced by a grand slam and three-run homer, vaulted her into the team lead with 30 RBI.
SIZZLING SANDERS (Part 2)
DJ Sanders has risen to No. 1 in the nation in home runs per game (0.52), No. 2 in total home runs (13), ranks Top 10 (8th) with a .936 slugging percentage and has the 10th-most total bases (73).
LOUISIANA-SOUTH ALABAMA SERIES
Series Record: Louisiana leads 24-11
Sun Belt Games: Louisiana leads 21-7
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads 15-2
In Mobile, Ala.: Louisiana leads 8-6
Neutral Site: South Alabama leads 3-1
Current Streak: Louisiana won 2
Last Meeting: 3/13/16 at Lamson Park
(Louisiana 10, South Alabama 6)
Last 10 Series Meetings
4/13/14 LA 5, USA 1 Lamson Park
5/9/14 USA 4, LA 2 Lamson Park (Sun Belt Tournament)
5/10/14 LA 4, USA 1 Lamson Park (Sun Belt Tournament)
3/7/15 LA 3, USA 2 Mobile, Ala.
3/7/15 LA 9, USA 3 Mobile, Ala.
3/8/15 USA 8, LA 5 Mobile, Ala.
5/8/15 LA 6, USA 3 San Marcos, Texas (Sun Belt Tournament)
5/9/15 USA 2, LA 0 San Marcos, Texas (Sun Belt Tournament)
3/13/16 LA 3, USA 2 Lamson Park
3/13/16 LA 10, USA 6 Lamson Park
Series Notes
Series began when South Alabama launched its program in 2007 and joined the Sun Belt...11th series overall between the two programs (Cajuns hold 21-7 edge in SBC regular season play)...Cajuns have won seven of the previous 10 series (split in 2007, USA won in 2009 and 2013)...This weekend marks the sixth series at Jaguar Field in Mobile (adding to 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)...Louisiana has won seven of the last 10 games in Mobile (dates back to 2009 finale)...Tightly contested series in recent years with a 9-8 Cajuns edge over last 17 meetings after the Cajuns held a commanding 15-3 series lead following the 2012 series...Teams met for SBC Tournament championship in 2012, 2014 and 2015...South Alabama was the last school to claim a Sun Belt series from the Cajuns (took 2-of-3 in Mobile in March 2013).
Last Series (March 12-13, 2016 - Lamson Park)
Rain washed away play on Saturday and the series was reduced to a Sunday doubleheader. Trailing 2-0 in Game 1 after the Jaguars scored twice in the first inning, the Cajuns drew even in the fourth inning on solo home runs by Lexie Elkins and Aleah Craighton. Shellie Landry provided the game-winning RBI in the fifth inning. Alex Stewart held USA scoreless over the final six innings as Louisiana won 3-2. In Game 2 South Alabama scored in the first inning again, this time plating three runs, and the visitors eventually built a 6-2 lead after five complete. Louisiana stormed back in the bottom half of the sixth inning, erupting for eight runs capped off by a three-run homer from Craighton to snatch the victory from the Jaguars.
Last Series in Mobile (March 7-8, 2015)
A Saturday doubleheader sweep clinched the series victory for Louisiana in Mobile in 2015. USA avoided the sweep with an 8-5 win on Sunday. In the series opener, Leandra Maly paced the Cajuns going 3-for-3 at the plate and Kelsey Vincent posted two RBI in a 3-2 victory. Jordan Wallace held the Jaguars to one hit over the first five innings. In Saturday's nightcap, Vincent went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and Christina Hamilton tossed a complete game in a 9-3 win. On Sunday, Kaitlyn Griffith hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to give USA a 7-3 lead and the hosts held off a seventh-inning rally by the Cajuns to avoid the sweep.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2 - Haley Hayden needs two runs to move past Holly Tankersley (218 runs) into third place on the career runs scored list
10 - Louisiana has hit multiple home runs in 10 of the past 11 games (dates back to Feb. 26 vs. MVSU)
14 - Alyssa Denham struck out 14 vs. UTA, recording her highest strikeout tallies of the year (season-high 8 on Saturday; 6 more Sunday)
22-1 - Alex Stewart's career Sun Belt Conference record. The reigning SBC Pitcher of the Year posted a 16-1 record and 0.66 ERA in league play in 2016
25 - Aleah Craighton has an active reached base streak of 25 games (all games this season). She's drawn a walk in all but two games
151 - Louisiana has drawn 151 walks which ranks third nationally. Only Auburn (164) and Alabama (153) have coerced more walks than the Ragin' Cajuns
STARTING TO CLICK
Kara Gremillion is beginning to settle into – and become more comfortable with – her new role as leadoff hitter (hit No. 8 in 2016). Her numbers since the start of March provide the proof. Since the month began, Gremillion is hitting a team-best .433 (13-of-30) which has brought her season average from .229 at the start of the month to her present average of .308. She's reached base 23 times in the past 40 plate appearances and struck out only twice. In March, Gremillion has scored 16 runs, posted four home runs and collected nine RBI.
DANDY DEBUT
In her first career Sun Belt Conference series, freshman pitcher Alyssa Denham yielded just seven hits, allowed only four runs (three earned) and struck out 14 batters in 13 innings of work against UTA. She recorded her top two strikeout performances of the season, tallying a season-high eight (8) in Game 2 on Saturday and an additional six (6) on Sunday.
STEWART'S STEADY
All-American pitcher Alex Stewart has surrendered five hits or less in all but two of her nine starts. She's allowed just 14 earned runs through 46-1/3 innings pitched, yielding more than two just once. Free bases continue to be rare for the senior hurler, with only 11 walks issued overall and just five in her last 28-1/3 innings of work.
THE POWER OF "US"
All nine of the starters in the Ragin' Cajuns batting order have posted at least 15 hits and eight of the nine had already generated double digit RBI totals by the fourth weekend of the season.
TRAFFIC CONTROL
The Cajuns pitching staff has limited foes to 115 hits and surrendered only 44 walks through 156 innings pitched. Opponents are batting a mere .201 off of the Cajuns' hurlers. Through the first 25 games, the opposition has surpassed five hits just eight times and obtained more than two walks only eight times.
CRAIGHTON ON TRACK
Junior outfielder Aleah Craighton has hit safely in nine of the last 10 outings heading into the South Alabama series and is hitting .400 (12-for-30) during the timeframe. She's homered in three of the past seven outings. The recent performance raised her season average to .328. She may be hitting her stride at the right time – last season Craighton led the Sun Belt Conference in slugging percentage (1.069), on base percentage (.593), runs (33) and home runs (11) during league play.
STIRRING THE OFFENSE
Slap hitters Kassidy Zeringue and Kelli Martinez, who bat No. 8 and No. 9 in the lineup respectively, have provided the desired result of turning the lineup over. It was clearly evident during the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational (March 3-5) as the duo combined to go 16-for-30 at the plate, combined to reach base 21 times and even combined to produce seven RBI. For the season, the Cajuns table setters have combined for 45 base hits and 16 RBI. Zeringue tops the squad with a .392 average, while Martinez is second at .362.
COMEAUX'S COMFORT ZONE
With each passing weekend, Lexie Comeaux is becoming more comfortable in her role as the Ragin' Cajuns new starting catcher. Starting with the Alabama series, she's caught the vast majority of the innings, is moving quicker behind the plate and has become more aggressive. She's helped control the opponents on the base path, with only 13 attempted steals and five runners thrown out. She's also made huge gains offensively and now ranks fifth on the team with a .333 average and has produced seven home runs and 21 RBI.
INFIELD ROADBLOCK
Ragin' Cajuns pitchers are backed up by one of the nation's stingiest infield defense. There's the quick speed of Haley Hayden (first base) and Kassidy Zeringue (second base) on the right side and the exceptional range of motion by DJ Sanders (shortstop) and quick reflexes of Kara Gremillion (third base) on the left side that make it tough for opposing hitters to get ground balls out of the infield. The group has committed only 13 errors through 411 total chances.
HITTING ALL ANGLES
Given the amount of home run production lost from 2016, it stood to reason that the Ragin' Cajuns would have to find the gaps in the outfield to keep its offense efficient. So far, the squad has as collected 25 doubles, launched 41 home runs and has legged out six triples.
THE DAWN OF DENHAM
Freshman pitcher Alyssa Denham showed in February that she's going to be a dependable arm for the Ragin' Cajuns in the circle. Denham worked 38 innings in the circle over the season's first month, limiting foes to 10 runs (seven earned), 21 hits and a .159 average. The highlight was a complete game, two-hit shutout of No. 4 Alabama that secured the series win for the Ragin' Cajuns and earned her USA Softball National Player of the Week honors.
THE CORE FOUR
Despite losing a heralded group of sluggers from the 2016 team– namely Sara Corbello, Lexie Elkins, Shellie Landry and Kelsey Vincent – to graduation, the Ragin' Cajuns returned the majority of their everyday starters including career .360-hitter Haley Hayden, home run threats Aleah Craighton and DJ Sanders who both clubbed 18 home runs last season and Kara Gremillion, who finished the 2016 season as one of the team's hottest hitters (hit .457 in May).
A PROVEN MEASURE
Lexie Comeaux – who was slotted for first or second base – filling the spot at catcher is a similar situation to former Ragin' Cajuns catchers Joy Webre who was a shortstop and Lana Bowers who was an outfielder before being converted to the position. Webre and Bowers turned out to be four-year starters for Louisiana. Comeaux's arrival at the position was spurned by a season-ending knee injury suffered by Miranda Grotenhuis who had worked her way into the spot during the fall season.
FITTED FOR THE ROLE
Kara Gremillion, last year's nine-hole hitter, has moved to the leadoff spot in the batting order for the 2017 season. Given last season's performance at the plate, it seems like a natural fit. As a freshman in 2016, Gremillion displayed poise at the plate, with 30 walks against 11 strikeouts in 173 plate appearances (.480 on base percentage).
MRS. VERSATILITY
Haley Hayden's move to first base marks the third position she's played in a Ragin' Cajuns uniform. The senior from West Monroe patrolled center field as a freshman in 2014 and covered second base the past two seasons.
THE DYNAMIC DUO
A year ago, the rise of Aleah Craighton and DJ Sanders as prolific hitters was on display as they both hit 18 home runs. Now it's their turn to be the force in the heart of the lineup. Craighton has tallied 20-plus extra base hits the first two years of her career. Of her 109 career base hits, over 50 percent (58) have produced extra bases. Sanders saw a significant increase in power (from four home runs as a freshman to 18) and run production (from 27 RBI as a freshman to 58) during the 2016 season.
DIAMOND NOTES
#RivalsCollide: More times than not, the Louisiana-South Alabama series has been a "swing" series in the race for the Sun Belt championship. The two programs have battled for the league title often, finishing 1-2 in the standings the past three seasons and five times in the past six seasons (since 2011). The two programs met in either the winner's bracket final or championship game of the SBC Tournament in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.
#PatienceIsAVirtue: The Ragin' Cajuns hitters have turned patience and strong plate discipline into 151 walks, a tally which ranks third nationally trailing only Auburn's 164 and Alabama's 153. Louisiana has drawn five or more walks in 18 of 25 games.
#LivingOnTheBases: Aleah Craighton has already drawn 32 walks over 99 plate appearances. She's already surpassed her personal single-season high walks total (27 in 2016) and may challenge the school's single-season record 61 set by Lacey Bertucci (2007) and Gabriele Bridges (2011).
#DaniellasDrive: Daniella Chavez has produced 21 RBI over the past month. That's moved her to Top 50 nationally in RBI and third in the Sun Belt. Being a run producer is nothing new for the Kansas transfer, as she piled up 122 RBI over her two-year stay with the Jayhawks.
#HummingAlong: Leading the Cajuns with 29 hits, senior Haley Hayden is on pace for a potential fourth season of 60-plus hits. Hayden is nearing the program's all-time Top 5 career hits list. With 238 career hits she stands 38 shy of fifth place (Jana Mower, 276).
#FamilyTies: Sisters Kara and Kourtney Gremillion are following in the footsteps of their aunts, Stacie Gremillion and Sandy Percle, who donned the Cajuns uniform in the mid-1980s. Chelsea Lotief, daughter of head coach Michael Lotief, is suiting up for the Ragin' Cajuns like her mother, Stefni (Whitton) Lotief, did from 1987-90.
#SisterAct: Alyssa Denham is the fourth daughter of Steven and Kathy Denhman to play collegiate softball. All three of her elder sisters played softball at McNeese and were All-Southland Conference selections: Stephenie (shortstop, 2001-03), Jessica (pitcher, 2003-06) and Tiffany (pitcher, 2009-12).
#AmongTheBest: Louisiana has an active streak of 61 consecutive weeks ranked in the national polls dating back to April 2013 and has finished ranked in one of the national polls each of the past nine seasons (2008-16) and 24 times in the past 27 seasons (1990-2016).
Saturday, Mar. 25 (DH) • 11 a.m. (CDT) • Jaguar Field (1,050) • Mobile, Ala.
Sunday, Mar. 26 • 1 p.m. (CDT) • Jaguar Field (1,050) • Mobile, Ala.
PARKING ADVISORY
With South Alabama also hosting a baseball series, all parking near Jaguar Field is reserved. The USA Athletics Department recommends softball fans park at the Mitchell Center parking lot for easy access to Jaguar Field.
To view a map with locations of all available general public parking, click here.
Game Notes (PDF): Louisiana | South Alabama
Radio: ESPN 1420-AM • Talent: Steve Peloquin, PxP
TV: None
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Live Video (FREE): JagNation TV
Rosters: Louisiana | South Alabama
Schedules: Louisiana | South Alabama
Season Stats: Louisiana | South Alabama
Ragin' Cajuns Twitter: @ULRaginCajuns | @RaginCajunsSB
Opponents Twitter: @USAJagsSoftball
THE COACHES
Louisiana: Michael Lotief (Louisiana, 1985)
Career Record: 704-173-1 (15th season) Record at Louisiana: Same
South Alabama: Becky Clark (Mobile, 1995)
Career Record: 522-236-2 (14th season) Record at USA: 366-203-1 (11th season)
5 THINGS TO KNOW
1 - The Ragin' Cajuns begin the road portion of their 2017 schedule, which was delayed when the original road opener at App State (Mar. 11-12) was canceled by severe weather concerns.
2 - The Louisiana-South Alabama series has been a tightly contested in recent years. The Cajuns hold a slim 9-8 edge over the past 17 meetings, and rallied from early deficits to win both games last season at Lamson Park.
3 - Louisiana seeks to extend its school and Sun Belt Conference record streak of 30 consecutive league series won. The streak dates back to March 2013.
4 - The Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff has held opponents to five runs or less in all 25 games. The staff's 1.88 ERA ranks No. 28 in the NCAA statistical rankings.
5 - DJ Sanders tops the nation in home runs per game (0.52), has hit 13 total home runs and leads the team with 30 RBI. She has continued to become stronger defensively, making tough plays at shortstop, with only four errors in 70 chances.
FOR STARTERS
17th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball (20-5, 3-0 Sun Belt) heads out on the road for the first time in the 2017 season when the squad visits South Alabama (19-9, 2-4 Sun Belt) for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series Saturday-Sunday, March 25-26 at Jaguar Field in Mobile, Ala. It's the first of two straight weekends on the road for the Ragin' Cajuns after beginning the season with 25 consecutive home games. Next weekend, Louisiana travels to Statesboro, Ga., to face Georgia Southern (April 1-2).
DELAYED ROAD DEBUT
Louisiana was originally scheduled to take in its first road games of the season March 11-12 at Appalachian State. However, the series was canceled because of severe weather concerns.
COACH LOTIEF ON FIRST ROAD TRIP
"We scheduled this way to give our team the comfort of being at home," Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball head coach Michael Lotief said. "Now we're ready. It's time.
"Championship teams are built on the road," Lotief added. "It's built through adversity and overcoming things that get put in front of you. We need the adversity. We need to get on the road to face the next test to see what this team is made of."
SUN BELT SERIES STREAK
Louisiana has won 30 consecutive Sun Belt Conference series (school and SBC record streak). The streak began in March 2013 with a three-game sweep of FIU. The last school to claim a SBC series from the Cajuns: South Alabama (March 2013).
FALLING INTO PLACE
The 2017 version of the Ragin' Cajuns offense is beginning to fit the mold of its recent predecessors. Louisiana has produced multiple home runs in 10 of the past 11 games and is the present national leader in home runs per game (1.64). The Ragin' Cajuns have produced 34 home runs since Feb. 23 (span of 16 games).
RISING TO THE TOP
Beginning with explosive numbers over the last two tournaments, the Ragin' Cajuns offense has found its way to the top of the NCAA statistical rankings. Louisiana has climbed to No. 1 in home runs per game (1.64), No. 1 in scoring (8.36), No. 3 in slugging percentage (.568), No. 5 in on base percentage (.453) and No. 22 in batting average (.389) in the latest rankings.
QUIETLY DOING THEIR JOB
While much attention entering the season was focused on how the offense would replace the lost power and run production – and the group has made recent strides – it shouldn't go unnoticed the precision and performance that the Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff has displayed. The pitching unit has yielded no more than five runs in a single game through the first 25 games, tossed seven shutouts and ranks 29th nationally with a 1.88 ERA (one of only 31 staffs with a sub-2.00 ERA).
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Louisiana closed out a season-opening, 25-game homestand and officially began Sun Belt play with a series against UTA at Lamson Park. Haley Hayden's two-run triple in the fourth inning gave the Cajuns a 5-3 lead in the opener, then after UTA pulled into a 5-all tie in the seventh Aleah Craighton hit a walkoff solo homer in the bottom half for the win. Alyssa Denham struck out a season-high eight and Daniella Chavez provided the lead with a three-run homer as the Cajuns claimed the series win with a 6-2 win in Saturday's nightcap. Powered by two home runs and seven RBI from DJ Sanders, Louisiana finished the sweep with an 11-2 (6 inn.) win on Sunday.
EYES ON THE CIRCLE
One constant throughout the years is Louisiana and South Alabama sitting atop the Sun Belt Conference's pitching rankings. The Jaguars (1.75 ERA) and Ragin' Cajuns (1.88 ERA) rank second and third, respectively, in earned run average this season. Both staffs have made the opposition work for what they earn, as Louisiana has limited opponents to a .201 average and South Alabama's foes hitting a mere .208.
EYES ON THE CIRCLE (Part 2)
The Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff is anchored by reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Alex Stewart (37 H, 46.1 IP) and freshman Alyssa Denham (47 H, 70.1 IP) who have both yielded fewer hits than innings pitched. Stewart has allowed two earned runs or less in all but one start, while Denham has surrendered no more than four earned runs in any of her 11 starts. The Jaguars counter with a pair of nine-game winners in Devin Brown (9-4, 1.20 ERA) and Destin Vicknair (9-4, 2.10 ERA) who both rank Top 10 in the SBC in ERA.
MOVING UP THE LADDER
Now at 217 career runs scored, Haley Hayden is closing in on the school's all-time career record of 243 scored by Nerissa Myers from 2010-13. The odds are in her favor: in her previous three seasons she reached 60 runs. With two more runs, she will surpass Holly Tankersley (218 runs) for third place on the list with only Jerie Alexander (230) and Myers (243) remaining to catch.
Career Runs Top 5
1) 243 - Nerissa Myers (2010-13)
2) 230 - Jerie Alexander (1999-02)
3) 218 - Holly Tankersley (2004, 06-08)
4) 217 - Haley Hayden (2014-pres.)
5) 216 - Alana Addison (1999-02)
WHATEVER IT TAKES
Haley Hayden showed last weekend she's willing to play whatever role necessary to see the Cajuns succeed. She played at both her customary position of first base and in right field in the UTA series. The time spent in right field allowed Corin Voinchè to be inserted into the lineup. Whether it was helping mentor the pitchers and turning key double plays at first base or delivering an outfield assist, Hayden's versatility proved to be a valuable asset.
SIZZLING SANDERS
DJ Sanders has quickly put a slow start to the season behind her and is steadily building a player of the year resume. Starting with the Alabama series (Feb. 18-19), Sanders pieced together three consecutive strong weekends hitting 20-for-44 (.455) with 25 runs scored, nine home runs and 17 RBI. Recently, she added a home run vs. Baylor and two more in the series finale vs. UTA to push her season total to 13 home runs. The seven RBI in the UTA finale, produced by a grand slam and three-run homer, vaulted her into the team lead with 30 RBI.
SIZZLING SANDERS (Part 2)
DJ Sanders has risen to No. 1 in the nation in home runs per game (0.52), No. 2 in total home runs (13), ranks Top 10 (8th) with a .936 slugging percentage and has the 10th-most total bases (73).
LOUISIANA-SOUTH ALABAMA SERIES
Series Record: Louisiana leads 24-11
Sun Belt Games: Louisiana leads 21-7
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads 15-2
In Mobile, Ala.: Louisiana leads 8-6
Neutral Site: South Alabama leads 3-1
Current Streak: Louisiana won 2
Last Meeting: 3/13/16 at Lamson Park
(Louisiana 10, South Alabama 6)
Last 10 Series Meetings
4/13/14 LA 5, USA 1 Lamson Park
5/9/14 USA 4, LA 2 Lamson Park (Sun Belt Tournament)
5/10/14 LA 4, USA 1 Lamson Park (Sun Belt Tournament)
3/7/15 LA 3, USA 2 Mobile, Ala.
3/7/15 LA 9, USA 3 Mobile, Ala.
3/8/15 USA 8, LA 5 Mobile, Ala.
5/8/15 LA 6, USA 3 San Marcos, Texas (Sun Belt Tournament)
5/9/15 USA 2, LA 0 San Marcos, Texas (Sun Belt Tournament)
3/13/16 LA 3, USA 2 Lamson Park
3/13/16 LA 10, USA 6 Lamson Park
Series Notes
Series began when South Alabama launched its program in 2007 and joined the Sun Belt...11th series overall between the two programs (Cajuns hold 21-7 edge in SBC regular season play)...Cajuns have won seven of the previous 10 series (split in 2007, USA won in 2009 and 2013)...This weekend marks the sixth series at Jaguar Field in Mobile (adding to 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015)...Louisiana has won seven of the last 10 games in Mobile (dates back to 2009 finale)...Tightly contested series in recent years with a 9-8 Cajuns edge over last 17 meetings after the Cajuns held a commanding 15-3 series lead following the 2012 series...Teams met for SBC Tournament championship in 2012, 2014 and 2015...South Alabama was the last school to claim a Sun Belt series from the Cajuns (took 2-of-3 in Mobile in March 2013).
Last Series (March 12-13, 2016 - Lamson Park)
Rain washed away play on Saturday and the series was reduced to a Sunday doubleheader. Trailing 2-0 in Game 1 after the Jaguars scored twice in the first inning, the Cajuns drew even in the fourth inning on solo home runs by Lexie Elkins and Aleah Craighton. Shellie Landry provided the game-winning RBI in the fifth inning. Alex Stewart held USA scoreless over the final six innings as Louisiana won 3-2. In Game 2 South Alabama scored in the first inning again, this time plating three runs, and the visitors eventually built a 6-2 lead after five complete. Louisiana stormed back in the bottom half of the sixth inning, erupting for eight runs capped off by a three-run homer from Craighton to snatch the victory from the Jaguars.
Last Series in Mobile (March 7-8, 2015)
A Saturday doubleheader sweep clinched the series victory for Louisiana in Mobile in 2015. USA avoided the sweep with an 8-5 win on Sunday. In the series opener, Leandra Maly paced the Cajuns going 3-for-3 at the plate and Kelsey Vincent posted two RBI in a 3-2 victory. Jordan Wallace held the Jaguars to one hit over the first five innings. In Saturday's nightcap, Vincent went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and Christina Hamilton tossed a complete game in a 9-3 win. On Sunday, Kaitlyn Griffith hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to give USA a 7-3 lead and the hosts held off a seventh-inning rally by the Cajuns to avoid the sweep.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
2 - Haley Hayden needs two runs to move past Holly Tankersley (218 runs) into third place on the career runs scored list
10 - Louisiana has hit multiple home runs in 10 of the past 11 games (dates back to Feb. 26 vs. MVSU)
14 - Alyssa Denham struck out 14 vs. UTA, recording her highest strikeout tallies of the year (season-high 8 on Saturday; 6 more Sunday)
22-1 - Alex Stewart's career Sun Belt Conference record. The reigning SBC Pitcher of the Year posted a 16-1 record and 0.66 ERA in league play in 2016
25 - Aleah Craighton has an active reached base streak of 25 games (all games this season). She's drawn a walk in all but two games
151 - Louisiana has drawn 151 walks which ranks third nationally. Only Auburn (164) and Alabama (153) have coerced more walks than the Ragin' Cajuns
STARTING TO CLICK
Kara Gremillion is beginning to settle into – and become more comfortable with – her new role as leadoff hitter (hit No. 8 in 2016). Her numbers since the start of March provide the proof. Since the month began, Gremillion is hitting a team-best .433 (13-of-30) which has brought her season average from .229 at the start of the month to her present average of .308. She's reached base 23 times in the past 40 plate appearances and struck out only twice. In March, Gremillion has scored 16 runs, posted four home runs and collected nine RBI.
DANDY DEBUT
In her first career Sun Belt Conference series, freshman pitcher Alyssa Denham yielded just seven hits, allowed only four runs (three earned) and struck out 14 batters in 13 innings of work against UTA. She recorded her top two strikeout performances of the season, tallying a season-high eight (8) in Game 2 on Saturday and an additional six (6) on Sunday.
STEWART'S STEADY
All-American pitcher Alex Stewart has surrendered five hits or less in all but two of her nine starts. She's allowed just 14 earned runs through 46-1/3 innings pitched, yielding more than two just once. Free bases continue to be rare for the senior hurler, with only 11 walks issued overall and just five in her last 28-1/3 innings of work.
THE POWER OF "US"
All nine of the starters in the Ragin' Cajuns batting order have posted at least 15 hits and eight of the nine had already generated double digit RBI totals by the fourth weekend of the season.
TRAFFIC CONTROL
The Cajuns pitching staff has limited foes to 115 hits and surrendered only 44 walks through 156 innings pitched. Opponents are batting a mere .201 off of the Cajuns' hurlers. Through the first 25 games, the opposition has surpassed five hits just eight times and obtained more than two walks only eight times.
CRAIGHTON ON TRACK
Junior outfielder Aleah Craighton has hit safely in nine of the last 10 outings heading into the South Alabama series and is hitting .400 (12-for-30) during the timeframe. She's homered in three of the past seven outings. The recent performance raised her season average to .328. She may be hitting her stride at the right time – last season Craighton led the Sun Belt Conference in slugging percentage (1.069), on base percentage (.593), runs (33) and home runs (11) during league play.
STIRRING THE OFFENSE
Slap hitters Kassidy Zeringue and Kelli Martinez, who bat No. 8 and No. 9 in the lineup respectively, have provided the desired result of turning the lineup over. It was clearly evident during the Ragin' Cajuns Invitational (March 3-5) as the duo combined to go 16-for-30 at the plate, combined to reach base 21 times and even combined to produce seven RBI. For the season, the Cajuns table setters have combined for 45 base hits and 16 RBI. Zeringue tops the squad with a .392 average, while Martinez is second at .362.
COMEAUX'S COMFORT ZONE
With each passing weekend, Lexie Comeaux is becoming more comfortable in her role as the Ragin' Cajuns new starting catcher. Starting with the Alabama series, she's caught the vast majority of the innings, is moving quicker behind the plate and has become more aggressive. She's helped control the opponents on the base path, with only 13 attempted steals and five runners thrown out. She's also made huge gains offensively and now ranks fifth on the team with a .333 average and has produced seven home runs and 21 RBI.
INFIELD ROADBLOCK
Ragin' Cajuns pitchers are backed up by one of the nation's stingiest infield defense. There's the quick speed of Haley Hayden (first base) and Kassidy Zeringue (second base) on the right side and the exceptional range of motion by DJ Sanders (shortstop) and quick reflexes of Kara Gremillion (third base) on the left side that make it tough for opposing hitters to get ground balls out of the infield. The group has committed only 13 errors through 411 total chances.
HITTING ALL ANGLES
Given the amount of home run production lost from 2016, it stood to reason that the Ragin' Cajuns would have to find the gaps in the outfield to keep its offense efficient. So far, the squad has as collected 25 doubles, launched 41 home runs and has legged out six triples.
THE DAWN OF DENHAM
Freshman pitcher Alyssa Denham showed in February that she's going to be a dependable arm for the Ragin' Cajuns in the circle. Denham worked 38 innings in the circle over the season's first month, limiting foes to 10 runs (seven earned), 21 hits and a .159 average. The highlight was a complete game, two-hit shutout of No. 4 Alabama that secured the series win for the Ragin' Cajuns and earned her USA Softball National Player of the Week honors.
THE CORE FOUR
Despite losing a heralded group of sluggers from the 2016 team– namely Sara Corbello, Lexie Elkins, Shellie Landry and Kelsey Vincent – to graduation, the Ragin' Cajuns returned the majority of their everyday starters including career .360-hitter Haley Hayden, home run threats Aleah Craighton and DJ Sanders who both clubbed 18 home runs last season and Kara Gremillion, who finished the 2016 season as one of the team's hottest hitters (hit .457 in May).
A PROVEN MEASURE
Lexie Comeaux – who was slotted for first or second base – filling the spot at catcher is a similar situation to former Ragin' Cajuns catchers Joy Webre who was a shortstop and Lana Bowers who was an outfielder before being converted to the position. Webre and Bowers turned out to be four-year starters for Louisiana. Comeaux's arrival at the position was spurned by a season-ending knee injury suffered by Miranda Grotenhuis who had worked her way into the spot during the fall season.
FITTED FOR THE ROLE
Kara Gremillion, last year's nine-hole hitter, has moved to the leadoff spot in the batting order for the 2017 season. Given last season's performance at the plate, it seems like a natural fit. As a freshman in 2016, Gremillion displayed poise at the plate, with 30 walks against 11 strikeouts in 173 plate appearances (.480 on base percentage).
MRS. VERSATILITY
Haley Hayden's move to first base marks the third position she's played in a Ragin' Cajuns uniform. The senior from West Monroe patrolled center field as a freshman in 2014 and covered second base the past two seasons.
THE DYNAMIC DUO
A year ago, the rise of Aleah Craighton and DJ Sanders as prolific hitters was on display as they both hit 18 home runs. Now it's their turn to be the force in the heart of the lineup. Craighton has tallied 20-plus extra base hits the first two years of her career. Of her 109 career base hits, over 50 percent (58) have produced extra bases. Sanders saw a significant increase in power (from four home runs as a freshman to 18) and run production (from 27 RBI as a freshman to 58) during the 2016 season.
DIAMOND NOTES
#RivalsCollide: More times than not, the Louisiana-South Alabama series has been a "swing" series in the race for the Sun Belt championship. The two programs have battled for the league title often, finishing 1-2 in the standings the past three seasons and five times in the past six seasons (since 2011). The two programs met in either the winner's bracket final or championship game of the SBC Tournament in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.
#PatienceIsAVirtue: The Ragin' Cajuns hitters have turned patience and strong plate discipline into 151 walks, a tally which ranks third nationally trailing only Auburn's 164 and Alabama's 153. Louisiana has drawn five or more walks in 18 of 25 games.
#LivingOnTheBases: Aleah Craighton has already drawn 32 walks over 99 plate appearances. She's already surpassed her personal single-season high walks total (27 in 2016) and may challenge the school's single-season record 61 set by Lacey Bertucci (2007) and Gabriele Bridges (2011).
#DaniellasDrive: Daniella Chavez has produced 21 RBI over the past month. That's moved her to Top 50 nationally in RBI and third in the Sun Belt. Being a run producer is nothing new for the Kansas transfer, as she piled up 122 RBI over her two-year stay with the Jayhawks.
#HummingAlong: Leading the Cajuns with 29 hits, senior Haley Hayden is on pace for a potential fourth season of 60-plus hits. Hayden is nearing the program's all-time Top 5 career hits list. With 238 career hits she stands 38 shy of fifth place (Jana Mower, 276).
#FamilyTies: Sisters Kara and Kourtney Gremillion are following in the footsteps of their aunts, Stacie Gremillion and Sandy Percle, who donned the Cajuns uniform in the mid-1980s. Chelsea Lotief, daughter of head coach Michael Lotief, is suiting up for the Ragin' Cajuns like her mother, Stefni (Whitton) Lotief, did from 1987-90.
#SisterAct: Alyssa Denham is the fourth daughter of Steven and Kathy Denhman to play collegiate softball. All three of her elder sisters played softball at McNeese and were All-Southland Conference selections: Stephenie (shortstop, 2001-03), Jessica (pitcher, 2003-06) and Tiffany (pitcher, 2009-12).
#AmongTheBest: Louisiana has an active streak of 61 consecutive weeks ranked in the national polls dating back to April 2013 and has finished ranked in one of the national polls each of the past nine seasons (2008-16) and 24 times in the past 27 seasons (1990-2016).
#GeauxCajuns
Players Mentioned
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