Returning all five starter 87 percent scoring 91 percent Rebounding (90% offensive, 91% defensive) RAGIN’ CAJUNS SOFTBALL 6 WCWS APPEARANCES One of only nine schools in each NCAA Tournament every year since 2000 1993, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2008, 2014 18 straight NCAA Tournament appearances (1999-pres.) w 26 appearances last 27 years 7 NCAA SUPER REGIONALS Three-time defending Sun Belt champions (2014-16) w 14 titles in 16 years of competition 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 No. 12 in final 2016 polls w Five straight seasons in Top 15 (2012-16) 51 NFCA ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS 1,543 wins in 36 seasons w Eleven (11), 50-win seasons w 116 All-Sun Belt selections Sports Info Contact: Matt Hebert s Office:337-482-6330 s Cell: 337-288-6023 s E-mail: [email protected] 2017 SCHEDULE/RESULTS presented by DoubleTree February (6-3) GAMES 10-15 Mardi Gras Invitational (Lamson Park) 31st Annual Louisiana Classics (Feb. 12-14) 10 DePaul W, 9-1 (6) Drake BULLDOGS Last Meeting Feb. 23 10 Iowa State W, 9-1 2017 Record: 7-4 (0-0 MVC) DU 2, LA 1 4:30 p.m. 11 DePaul W, 4-3 Head Coach: Rich Calvert (3/5/10) Lamson Park 11 Ball State W, 7-4 Series: Louisiana leads 2-1 Fayetteville, Ark. 12 Southern Miss L, 3-4 Bowling Green FALCONS Last Meeting Feb. 23 12 Southern Miss L, 3-5 LA 4, BG 1 18 #4 Alabama L, 0-3 2017 Record: 6-3 (0-0 MAC) 6:45 p.m. Head Coach: Sarah Willis (3/12/99) Lamson Park 18 #4 Alabama W, 11-2 (6) Lamson Park 19 #4 Alabama W, 7-0 Series: Louisiana leads 3-0 Mardi Gras Invitational presented by DoubleTree (Feb. 23-26) Dartmouth BIG GREEN Last Meeting Feb. 24 23 Drake 4:30 p.m. 2017 Record: 0-0 (0-0 Ivy) 3:45 p.m. 23 Bowling Green 6:45 p.m. Head Coach: Shannon Doepking Lamson Park 24 Dartmouth 3:45 p.m. Series: First Meeting 25 Maryland 3 p.m. 26 Bradley 11:15 a.m. Maryland TERRAPINS Last Meeting Feb. 25 26 Mississippi Valley 1:30 p.m. 2017 Record: 1-8 (0-0 ACC) LA 9, UMD 0 3 p.m. Head Coach: Julie Wright (3/28/97) Lamson Park March (0-0) Series: Louisiana leads 1-0 Marietta, Ga. Ragin' Cajuns Invitational (Mar. 3-5) Last Meeting 3 Alcorn State 4 p.m. Bradley BRAVES Feb. 26 LA 9, BRAD 0 3 North Dakota State 6 p.m. 2017 Record: 4-6 11:15 a.m. (2/14/10) 4 North Dakota State 2 p.m. Head Coach: Amy Hayes Lamson Park Lamson Park 4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4:30 p.m. Series: Louisiana leads 2-0 5 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 11:30 a.m. Miss. Valley DEVILETTES Last Meeting Feb. 26 5 Alcorn State 1:45 p.m. 2017 Record: 1-8 (0-0 SWAC) LA 20, MVSU 0 1:30 p.m. 7 #23 Baylor (DH) 4 p.m. Head Coach: Lee Smith (2/14/15) Lamson Park 11 Appalachian State* (DH) 12 p.m. (CST) Series: Louisiana leads 11-0 Lamson Park 12 Appalachian State* 11 a.m. (CDT) 18 UT Arlington* (DH) 2 p.m. FOR STARTERS 19 UT Arlington* 1 p.m. No. 16 Louisiana (6-3) remains at Lamson Park this week for the Mardi Gras Invitational presented 25 South Alabama* (DH) 1 p.m. by DoubleTree scheduled for Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 23-26. The tournament, which continues a 26 South Alabama* 1 p.m. season-opening 23-game homestand for the Ragin' Cajuns, also includes Bowling Green, Bradley, Dartmouth, Drake, Maryland and Mississippi Valley. Louisiana will play six games, facing each April (0-0) participant once throughout the weekend. 1 at Georgia Southern* (DH) 12 p.m. (CDT) 2 at Georgia Southern* 12 p.m. (CDT) REBOUNDING IN STYLE 8 Troy* (DH) 2 p.m. The Ragin' Cajuns quickly put the disappointment of dropping the final two games of the 9 Troy* 12 p.m. Louisiana Classics to Southern Miss behind them by claiming a series victory over then-No. 4 11 Southeastern Louisiana 6 p.m. Alabama at Lamson Park last weekend. Louisiana bounced back from a 3-0 loss in the series 14 at Texas State* (DH) 5 p.m. opener by claiming Game 2 of the Saturday doubleheader 11-2 (6 inn.) powered by Lexie Comeaux 15 at Texas State* 2 p.m. and Beth Ashley who combined to go 5-for-6 at the plate with 6 RBI. The Cajuns captured the 19 at #17 Texas A&M 6:30 p.m. series on Sunday with a 7-0 win led by two home runs from DJ Sanders and a complete game two- 22 Georgia State* (DH) 2 p.m. hit shutout from freshman Alyssa Denham. 23 Georgia State* 1 p.m. 29 Coastal Carolina* (DH) 2 p.m. THE DAWN OF DENHAM 30 Coastal Carolina* 1 p.m. Alyssa Denham worked 12 innings in the circle and held then-No. 4 Alabama to two runs (one earned) and five hits. The highlight was her two-hit shutout on Sunday that secured the series win. May (0-0) The Pearland (Texas) High product is quickly developing into a solid choice for the No. 2 spot in 6 at ULM* (DH) 1 p.m. the pitching rotation behind Alex Stewart. 7 at ULM* 12 p.m. 10-13 Sun Belt Championship (Troy, Ala.) 19-21 NCAA Regionals (Campus Sites) SUDDENLY SANDERS DJ Sanders appears to be hitting her stride after a slow start on season-opening weekend. She 25-28 NCAA Super Regionals (Campus Sites) posted team-highs of four runs, four hits and four RBI in last weekend's Alabama series. Sanders June (0-0) hit .444, had a 1.111 slugging percentage, struck out only once in 11 plate appearances and hit .500 1-7 NCAA Women’s CWS (Oklahoma City, Okla.) with runners in scoring position. She finished the series with back-to-back multiple-hit games, going 4-for-7 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI in the two Ragin’ Cajuns wins. * Sun Belt Conference Game CLUTCH IN THE STRETCH The Ragin' Cajuns have shown that they can come through with the clutch at bats in the late stages of the game. Of the 53 runs scored so far this season, a total of 29 have come over the final two innings. Louisiana holds a 29-9 advantage in runs over the sixth and seventh innings. @RaginCajunsSB 1 /RaginCajunSoftball 2017 SOFTBALL QUICK FACTS CAJUNS TO WATCH School ____________ University of Louisiana at Lafayette Location/ZIP ____________________Lafayette, La./70506 DJ SANDERS ALYSSA DENHAM Founded ______________________________________1898 Had a strong weekend In her first apperance at the plate vs. Alabama. Enrollment _________________________19,188 (Fall 2016) vs. a Top 25 team, held Closed with back-to- Alabama to five hits over Affiliation _________________________ NCAA Division I back multi-hit games Conference ________________________________ Sun Belt 12 innings. The highlight highlighted by two was a two-hit shutout on Nickname ____________________________ Ragin’ Cajuns homers on Sunday. Hit Sunday. For the season, School Colors __________ Vermilion (PMS 193) and White .500 w/RSIP and struck has yielded just 11 hits President ________________________ Dr. E. Joseph Savoie out only once. over 24 innings of work. Director of Athletics _______________Dr. Bryan Maggard Deputy AD/SWA ___________________ Dr. Jessica Leger Faculty Athletics Representative __ Dr. Anita Hazelwood LEADING OFF: STORYLINES TO KNOW Ticket Office Phone ____________________ (337) 265-2100 The weekend gets started a day early this week for the Ragin' Cajuns as the LOUISIANA SOFTBALL HISTORY 1 Mardi Gras Invitational opens on Thursday. Louisiana faces Drake at 4:30 p.m. and First Season ___________________________________1981 Bowling Green at 6:45 p.m. Seasons Played __________________________37th season Louisiana plays six games in a tournament for the second time. On season- All-Time Record ____________________1,549-445-1 (.777) opening weekend, the Cajuns went 4-2 over six games in the Louisiana Classics. Sun Belt Regular Season Titles _____________________14 2 __________________________2001-06, 2008-12, 2014-16 Keep an eye on the continued tweaks to the Ragin' Cajuns' offensive approach. All-Time Sun Belt Record (2001-pres.) ______286-48 (.856) The style change comes after the departure of key sluggers from the 2016 team. Sun Belt Tournament Titles ________________________13 3 _______________________ 2001-06, 2008-12, 2014, 2016 The Ragin' Cajuns seek to build on the momentum gained from claiming a Top 25 All-Time Sun Belt Tournament Record _______53-8 (.869) weekend series from then-No. 4 Alabama. NCAA Regional Appearances _____________________ 26 4 _____________________________ 1990-1997, 1999-2016 The Cajuns faithful has turned out in full force this season. Crowds have NCAA Regional Record __________________ 59-32 (.648) exceeded 2,000 in each of the five playing dates thus far. NCAA Super Regional Appearances ________________ 7 5 _______________________________ 2008, 2010, 2012-16 The Ragin’ Cajuns are continuing their season-opening, 23-game homestand at NCAA Super Regional Record _____________ 6-11 (.353) 6 Lamson Park. The squad will enjoy the comforts of home through March 7. WCWS Appearances_______________________________6 Haley Hayden five runs shy of her recording the 200th ___________________ 1993, 1995-1996, 2003, 2008, 2014 Senior second baseman is run scored of her career. WCWS Record ____________________________6-12 (.333) 7 Overall NCAA Tournament Record _________71-55 (.563) The field of teams for the Mardi Gras Invitational includes ACC-member Maryland which last weekend knocked off then-No.