By: Malcolm Shields / Staff Writer
Since 2000, no other team in the Sun Belt Conference has won more regular season and tournament championships in softball than No. 19 Louisiana-Lafayette.
On April 6, the Golden Panthers will take on the current three-time champions in Lafayette in a three-game series. The series will have major implications in conference tournament seeding.
PAST MEETINGS
Last year, the Golden Panthers won two out of three in the series versus the Ragin’ Cajuns in Miami. In their 2009 series meeting in Lafayette, the Ragin’ Cajuns won two out of three games. At the plate, Kayla Burri 5-for-8, Ashley McClain 6-for-11 with 2 homers, Brie Rojas 3-for-10 and Jessy Alfonso 3-for-10 all had success against the Ragin Cajuns last year.
In the circle, both Jenn Gniadek and McClain made appearances against Louisiana-Lafayette last year. Gniadek started one game, pitching 6.1 innings giving up 7 hits and 3 earned runs in the no decision.
FIU won the game in extra innings.
SCOUTING LOUISIANA
The Ragin’ Cajuns enter the series with a 27-5 record. At home, the Ragin’ Cajuns are a perfect 14-0. Louisiana-Lafayette will be the most balanced lineup the Golden Panthers will have faced as they feature eight batters with .300 averages or better.
The lineup is led by Christi Orgeron and her .467 batting average. She is also second on the team in home runs with 14 and first in the RBI category at 55. Gabriele Bridges enters the series with a .457 average, 15 home runs and 46 RBI. Her impressive 1.123 slugging percentage and 35 walks lead the Ragin’ Cajuns.
In the circle, Ashley Brignac leads the Ragin’ Cajuns pitching staff with a 14-2 record and a stellar 1.29 ERA in over 100 innings pitched.
Christina Hamilton and Shelbee Rodgers round out the pitching staff for Louisiana-Lafayette. Hamilton leads the staff with a 1.08 ERA, but has only made seven appearances on the season.
Rodgers is second on the team in wins with a 7-2 record.
FINAL STRETCH
Louisiana-Lafayette leads the conference standings with a 5-1 record, South Alabama, and FIU are tied for second place in the conference with identical 7-2 records. Florida Atlantic is in fourth with a 6-2 record in conference.
Starting with this series, 15 of the Golden Panthers last 18 regular season games will be in conference; which includes series against South Alabama and Florida Atlantic.
STREAK SNAPPED
In last weekend’s series against Troy, shortstop Kayla Burri went 0-for-2 in the first game to end her hitting streak at 13 games.
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