Weekly News and Notes (PDF)
Current Stats
New Orleans - UL Lafayette's Shellie Landry (Senior, OF) and South Alabama's Devin Brown (Sophomore, RHP) have been named as the Community Coffee Sun Belt Softball Student-Athlete and Pitcher of the Week, announced Monday.
The Cajuns (25-2, 7-1 SBC) sit in the No. 1 spot in league standings, after a series sweep of Troy over the weekend. UL Lafayette recorded a total of 27 runs in three games, led by senior Shellie Landry.
Landry has been named as Community Coffee Student-Athlete of the Week after tallying a series-high eight RBI in the cajuns' sweep of the Trojans. The outfileder generated four extra base hits, out of six total. Landry hit .600 (6-for-10), homered in both games of the series-opening doubleheader finishing with three total and posted multiple-RBI all three games of the series. She collected 17 total bases in 10 at bats for a 1.700 slugging percentage. Her eight RBI marked the highest tally by a Cajuns hitter in a weekend series in the 2016 season. She finished the Good Friday doubleheader 5-for-8 with three home runs and six RBI. She also had two home runs in Game 1 of the doubleheader – a solo home run to open the scoring in the first inning and two-run homer in the seventh that triggered a five-run frame that broke open a 6-0 contest. In Saturday’s series finale she capped off the scoring in an eight-run first inning with a two-run triple – her first triple of the season.
Three different Cajun players have been awarded the weekly honor this season (Lexie Elkins, Feb 16; DJ Sanders, March 8; Landry, March 28).
South Alabama sits in second place with a record of 6-2 in Sun Belt play. The Jags extended their current win streak to eight games after defeating UAB in Birmingham last Tuesday and sweeping its three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Appalachian State.
Right-hander Devin Brown (10-6) was key for the Jags yet again last week, going 2-0 with a save and 30 strikeouts in 16 shutout innings. She is the Community Coffee Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row and for the third time this season.She is now ranked third in the NCAA with 11.7 strikeouts per seven innings.
The Mobile, Ala., native fanned three of the six batters she faced in two relief innings at UAB on Tuesday to pick up her second save of the year, twirled a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts in game one at Appalachian State on Friday and threw her second no-hitter in a week in game three versus the Mountaineers with 13 strikeouts on Saturday. On Saturday, Brown was one walk away from pocketing her second perfect game this year, after recording the feat versus Louisiana-Monroe last Sunday. Brown has not allowed a run in the last 30 2/3 innings, dating back to the first win in USA’s streak, a 5-1 victory over Southern Miss, and she has given up only two hits in the last 26 innings.
The Sun Belt softball has had huge success at the plate this season, topping the NCAA in almost every offensive category. Three of the five highest batting averages in the nation belong to Sun Belt student-athletes: No. 1 Lexie Elkins (UL Lafayette, 0.533), No. 2 Rochelle Roberts (UL Monroe, 0.525), and No. 4 Emily Messer (USA, 0.505). Elkins tops the NCAA in batting average, home runs per game (0.63), slugging percentage (1.307), and on base percentage (0.644).
Community Coffee Pitcher of the Week
Devin Brown, South Alabama, Sophomore
Right-hander Devin Brown (10-6) was key for the Jags yet again last week, going 2-0 with a save and 30 strikeouts in 16 shutout innings. She is the Community Coffee Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row and for the third time this season.She is now ranked third in the NCAA with 11.7 strikeouts per seven innings. The Mobile, Ala., native fanned three of the six batters she faced in two relief innings at UAB on Tuesday to pick up her second save of the year, twirled a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts in game one at Appalachian State on Friday and threw her second no-hitter in a week in game three versus the Mountaineers with 13 strikeouts on Saturday. On Saturday, Brown was one walk away from pocketing her second perfect game this year, after recording the feat versus Louisiana-Monroe last Sunday. Brown has not allowed a run in the last 30 2/3 innings, dating back to the first win in USA’s streak, a 5-1 victory over Southern Miss, and she has given up only two hits in the last 26 innings.
Community Coffee Student-Athlete of the Week
Shellie Landry, UL Lafayette, Senior, OF
Landry has been named as Community Coffee Student-Athlete of the Week after tallying a series-high eight RBI in the cajuns' sweep of the Trojans. The outfileder generated four extra base hits, out of six total. Landry hit .600 (6-for-10), homered in both games of the series-opening doubleheader finishing with three total and posted multiple-RBI all three games of the series. She collected 17 total bases in 10 at bats for a 1.700 slugging percentage. Her eight RBI marked the highest tally by a Cajuns hitter in a weekend series in the 2016 season. She finished the Good Friday doubleheader 5-for-8 with three home runs and six RBI. She also had two home runs in Game 1 of the doubleheader – a solo home run to open the scoring in the first inning and two-run homer in the seventh that triggered a five-run frame that broke open a 6-0 contest. In Saturday’s series finale she capped off the scoring in an eight-run first inning with a two-run triple – her first triple of the season.
Upcoming Schedule
March 29
Kennesaw State at Troy Troy, Ala. 3:00 PM
UL Monroe at HBU Houston, Texas 3:00 PM
UL Lafayette at Baylor Waco, Texas 5:00 PM
Kennesaw State at Troy Troy, Ala. 5:00 PM
UL Lafayette at Baylor Waco, Texas 7:00 PM
March 30
Georgia State at Furman Greenville, S.C. 2:00 PM
UL Monroe at SHSU Huntsville, Texas 3:00 PM
Jacksonville at GS Statesboro, Ga. 4:00 PM
Georgia State at Furman Greenville, S.C. 4:00 PM
UL Monroe at SHSU Huntsville, Texas 5:00 PM
Jacksonville at GS Statesboro, Ga. 6:00 PM
McNeese at USA Mobile, Ala. 6:00 PM
Texas State at Texas Austin, Texas TBA
April 2
Georgia State at USA* Mobile, Ala. 1:00 PM
Appalachian State at UTA* Arlington, Texas 1:00 PM
G. Southern at UL Monroe* Monroe, La. 1:00 PM
Texas State at UL-L* Lafayette, La. 2:00 PM
Georgia State at USA* Mobile, Ala. 3:00 PM
Appalachian State at UTA* Arlington, Texas 3:00 PM
Georgia Southern at ULM* Monroe, La. 3:00 PM
Texas State at UL-L* Lafayette, La. 4:00 PM
Troy at South Carolina Columbia, S.C. TBA
Troy at South Carolina Columbia, S.C. TBA
April 3
Georgia State at USA* Mobile, Ala. 12:00 PM
Appalachian State at UTA* Arlington, Texas 12:00 PM
Georgia Southern at ULM* Monroe, La. 12:00 PM
Texas State at UL-L* Lafayette, La. 1:00 PM
Troy at South Carolina Columbia, S.C. TBA
Recent Results
March 22
South Alabama at UAB W, 3-1
App State at Morehead State W, 4-2
App State vs Morehead State L, 7-0
March 23
Auburn at Georgia State L, 8-4
G. Southern at Georgia L, 9-0
UIW at Texas State L, 9-4
NSU at UL Monroe W, 5-4
March 25
UL M at Texas State* TXST, 3-2
USA at App State* USA, 2-0
UL Lafayette at Troy* ULL, 11-0
UL M at Texas State* ULM, 3-2
USA at App State* USA, 7-2
UTA at G. Southern* UTA, 13-4
UL Lafayette at Troy* ULL, 8-1
UTA at G. Southern* GS, 3-0
March 26
UTA at G. Southern* GS, 7-2
UL Lafayette at Troy* ULL, 8-0
UL M at Texas State* TXST, 8-0
USA at App State* USA, 6-0
AROUND THE #FUNBELT
South Alabama Extends Winning Streak
University of South Alabama softball extended its current win streak to eight games after defeating UAB in Birmingham last Tuesday and sweeping its three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Appalachian State. The Jags batted .333 in the four road victories, outhitting their opponents, 39-12, and outscoring them, 18-3. Right-hander Devin Brown (10-6) was key for the Jags yet again last week, going 2-0 with a save and 30 strikeouts in 16 shutout innings. The Mobile, Ala., native fanned three of the six batters she faced in two relief innings at UAB on Tuesday to pick up her second save of the year, twirled a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts in game one at Appalachian State on Friday and threw her second no-hitter in a week in game three versus the Mountaineers with 13 strikeouts on Saturday. On Saturday, Brown was one walk away from pocketing her second perfect game this year, after recording the feat versus Louisiana-Monroe last Sunday. Brown has not allowed a run in the last 30 2/3 innings, dating back to the first win in USA’s streak, a 5-1 victory over Southern Miss, and she has given up only two hits in the last 26 innings. Destin Vicknair picked up two wins to improve to 8-3, after scattering three hits and allowing only one run versus the Blazers in five innings and striking out six against no walks and allowing only two runs versus App State. Kaleigh Todd led the Jaguars at the plate last week, batting .500 with a team-high eight hits and four runs scored. Todd slugged .500 with a .529 on-base percentage and stole five bases in as many attempts. The Bessemer, Ala., native tied her career high in hits with three apiece in games two and three at Appalachian State over the weekend. South Alabama hosts McNeese State on Wednesday for a midweek, non-conference clash before welcoming Georgia State for a three-game league set on Saturday and Sunday.
Ragin’ Cajuns Build Early Lead, Complete Sweep of Troy
The Ragin’ Cajuns hit multiple home runs for the 16th time in 27 games this season…DJ Sanders joined Lexie Elkins in double digits in home runs, collecting her 10th of the season in the first inning…Louisiana scored in the first inning all three games of the series in Troy…Alex Stewart’s shutout marked the 20th time in 27 games that the pitching staff held the opposition to two runs or less (20-0 record)…The three home runs in the series hit by Sara Corbello increased her season total to five which is her highest total since hitting eight as a freshman in 2013 and sophomore in 2014...Shellie Landry’s two-run triple in the first inning upped her series-high RBI total to eight…Landry finished the series 6-for-10 at the plate with a triple, three home runs and eight RBI…The win allowed the Ragin’ Cajuns to remain one game ahead of South Alabama (6-2 Sun Belt) for first place in the Sun Belt standings…Louisiana improved to 31-5 all-time against Troy (26-5 in SBC games)…The Cajuns now hold a 13-3 edge in meetings held at the Troy Softball Complex.
GSU’s Upset Bid Comes up Short Versus Third-Ranked Auburn
Hosting the third-ranked Auburn Tigers for a midweek game Wednesday, Georgia State’s softball team scored four runs on 10 hits, but gave up a four-run sixth inning to lose 8-4 at the Bob Heck Softball Complex. “I thought we competed real hard for five innings,” head coach Roger Kincaid said. “We showed that we are right there, but we have to finish strong. That’s something we are constantly preaching to the team; finish strong.” Georgia State looked to be in trouble early as Auburn scored three in the first frame. The Panthers responded in the bottom half, however, by loading the bases with no outs. Georgia State ended up scoring just one run in the inning, but evened the score in the second with and RBI-groundout from Ivie Drake and an error by the Tiger defense. Auburn retook the lead in the third, but Drake stepped up to the plate in the home half of the fourth and belted a line drive that hit the scoreboard in right-center field. Drake’s team-leading eighth home run of the season tied the game up at 4-4 through 4. Both teams were quiet in the fifth, but the Tigers took advantage of walks and hit batters to score four runs on just two hits in the top of the sixth to take the lead for good. Drake, Taylor Anderson and Morgan Brown each recorded a pair of hits for the Panthers, who finished with 10 while Auburn tallied 11. Georgia State slips to 18-14 on the season with the loss and has the weekend off before visiting Furman on March 30 for a doubleheader. This was GSU’s seventh game against a top-25 opponent.
ULM Goes 2-2
ULM went 2-2 this past weekend, picking up wins against Northwestern State and Texas State but falling to the Bobcats in two of three games. Sophomore Paige Porter picked up an impressive win in relief against the Lady Demons, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. She also earned a no decision in game one against Texas State after allowing just one earned run thru 6.2 innings of work. Junior Melanie Coyne went the distance in ULM’s 3-2 win over Texas State. She allowed just two earned runs and scattered five hits in the complete-game effort. Junior left fielder Rochelle Roberts led the squad batting .462 with four stolen bases (4-4) and also scored a team-best three runs. Senior Faith Bohack hit .357 and drove in a team-high three runs which included a two-run homer off of Bobcat ace Randi Rupp. The Warhawks were powered by homers this past weekend as the 3-2 win over Texas State came by two freshman bats. Youngsters Rachel Tadlock and Brie Wrobel each hit their first career homers to lift ULM to victory.