Sun Belt Conference softball has been a thrilling spectacle throughout the 2021 campaign and in large part it is due to the stuff coming out of the circle. The pitching prowess of Sun Belt aces has kept conference play closely-contested, particularly among the league’s top-four teams in the standings: No. 13 Louisiana, Troy, South Alabama and Texas State. All four programs are ranked in the top 50 in the RPI, used to rank teams based upon a team's wins and losses and its strength of schedule, with the Ragin’ Cajuns pegged at No. 22, the Bobcats at No. 33, the Jags just behind at No. 34 and the Trojans at No. 44, which will be significant for postseason bids.
Pitching staffs across the Sun Belt are producing pitchers with nationally competitive numbers. Four of the league’s top pitchers shared their mentality in the circle, motivation and what it’s been like competing in the Sun Belt.
Sophomore Leanna Johnson picked up where she left off after 2020’s shortened season when she concluded as the national leader in shutouts (7), and also ranked sixth in strikeouts (137) and victories (11).
Motivated by the loss of high school teammate and Mississippi State power hitter Alex Wilcox to ovarian cancer, Johnson has been playing for more than the acclaim she has garnered.
“Moving to college, [Alex] really has been my ‘why’. I do what I do out there for her and for my love of the game,” Johnson said. “I am so grateful that we were friends for such a long time.”
Currently, Johnson, a three-time SBC Pitcher of the Week, paces the conference in nearly every category – ERA (1.58), strikeouts (215), strikeouts looking (60), innings pitched (150.1), wins (20) and opposing batting average (.166) – and ranks among the top third in the league in most categories. Nationally, she sits in eighth in total Ks and is tied for eighth in victories (20), 22nd in strikeouts per seven innings (10.9) and 24th in shutouts (5).
Johnson, whose hometown is just 31 miles from Troy’s campus, has led the Trojans to a 32-10 overall record and second in conference standings (15-3).
"I know that I am well prepared and have teammates behind me,” the Brantley, Alabama, native said. “In tough moments in the circle, I bounce right back, and focus on what I am about to do instead of what just happened.
“I always try to move pitch to pitch and be where my feet are. I know my defense is going to make plays and that my offense is going to score runs.”
Johnson and the Trojans have two critical weekends remaining in the regular season as they face the Bobcats of Texas State (April 30-May 2), who sit in third in the standings before seeing South Alabama (May 7-8). The Trojans downed the Jags, who are currently fourth in the conference standings, 3-0 in a midweek on April 7 in Troy, but will have to finish off the series in Mobile, Alabama.
“Pitching in the Sun Belt Conference has made me work really hard to be the best I can because from top to bottom, everyone is really good,” Johnson said. “I love competing in a conference that makes me better. It’s a fun, competitive conference to play in.”
Four-time Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week Olivia Lackie has quickly made a name for herself in her inaugural collegiate campaign – that also happens when you down the No. 1 team in the nation. Lackie led South Alabama to its first-ever win against Alabama, keeping the Crimson Tide scoreless and interrupting its 19-game win streak.
“My mindset when going out onto the field is to compete, no matter the situation,” Lackie said. “I enjoy what I do on the mound.”
She co-leads the conference in saves (3) and shutouts (5). Her shutout total is tied for 24th in the nation. The newcomer has the second-best ERA (1.81) and opposing batter average (.178) in the league, striking out 186 batters in 139.0 innings of work – both second in conference.
“The competition in the Sun Belt is great, so it’s always fun to go out and compete in a conference series to see what my team and I are capable of,” Lackie said.
With Lackie in the circle, USA (25-13, 12-5) is on pace for its first 30-win season in four years and its first winning season since 2018. The Walker, Louisiana, native is currently chasing multiple freshman records for the Jags and picking up notable recognition while doing it. In addition to her Sun Belt honors, she was named DI Softball Freshman of the Week (March 8) and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week (March 9). She has also picked up a pair of Louisville Slugger/Wilson NFCA DI Top Performance selections.
The path to 30 wins will be challenging with Georgia Southern and Troy remaining for the Jags, but Lackie welcomes the challenge.
“I think the best thing about competing in the Sun Belt is that every team is solid and every matchup within the conference is always going to be a good, competitive game.”
When your name is listed alongside Sun Belt legendary ace Randi Rupp, you’re doing something special. That’s the case for freshman thrower Jessica Mullins, who tossed a seven-inning no-hitter in her collegiate debut against Abilene Christian to claim the Sun Belt’s Pitcher of the Week. Mullins became the first Bobcat freshman pitcher to throw a seven-inning no-hitter since Rupp did so at ULM in 2015 and is the lone player in the conference to throw a no-no so far this season.
Since that hot start, Mullins has made her way to the top-10 in multiple statistical categories in the league. Her 1.85 ERA ranks third in the league, while her 15 wins is tied for third in the conference and 25th in the nation.
The Tarkington, Texas, native is also the lone conference pitcher to get a game off conference leader No. 13 Louisiana. Mullins held the Ragin’ Cajuns to just one run as the Bobcats clipped the reigning conference champion’s 17-game win streak. In tandem with Meagan King, who is tied 19th nationally in saves (3), 20th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.71) and eighth in walks allowed per seven innings (0.68), which pace the conference, the Bobcats are a strong contender for postseason play.
"Every time I take the circle, I have the mindset that nobody is going to beat me and that I need to be dominant every single appearance and every single pitch,” Mullins said. “Something Coach (Paige) McDuffee and I talk about every single time is how I need to give 100 percent every pitch during every appearance and that gives me the mentality of dominating every single pitch."
The Bobcats have picked up three wins against top-25 teams this season (No. 16 Mississippi State, No. 25 Texas A&M) and a series win against Texas Tech, which was receiving votes at the time. The Bobcats have also fallen just shy of downing powerhouse and No. 9 Texas twice this season in late-inning, one-run decisions.
“I like to treat every opponent the same. I feel I need to bring my dominance to every single team equally,” she said.
Behind Mullins, Texas State also made its first appearance in the top 25 on every major poll since 2018. The Bobcats currently sit in third in league standings, but still have to see current runner-up Troy and UTA.
"The biggest thing for me this season is 1. learning how to be a team player and 2. constantly improving every single game because there's always something in some area I can learn from and improve in,” Mullins said.
The reigning Sun Belt 2019 Pitcher of the Year and 2021 Preseason Pitcher of Year Summer Ellyson knows how to win. The senior ace has anchored the No. 13 Louisiana (35-19, 16-2) defense since her freshman campaign and has been one of the league’s most lethal pitchers since. Ellyson’s 16 victories this season ranks second in the conference and is tied for 18th in the nation as the Ragin' Cajuns set their sights on postseason play. Ellyson and Louisiana’s No. 2 pitcher Kandra Lamb, have faced stout competition all season, with seven of the Cajuns’ just nine losses coming against top-15 opponents (No. 5 Alabama, No. 8 Oklahoma State, No. 10 Texas, No. 11 LSU). The Ragin’ Cajuns have also managed upsets against the Cowgirls and Longhorns through the stretch.
The senior has fanned 128 batters, which ranks fifth in the league in 128.1 innings of work, the third most in the conference. The Lafayette, Louisiana, native, who got married last fall to Collin Summers – her name is now Summer Summers – has the ninth-best ERA (2.40) in the Sun Belt and co-leads the league in saves (3).
Ellyson is the most experienced of the Sun Belt’s top pitchers earning a postseason bid every year of her collegiate career. She led the nation in victories in 2019 with 39, the second-most in a single season in UL softball history.
“My mindset when pitching is to throw one pitch at a time, and to win that pitch. To do my best in that moment, and by winning that pitch I am helping my team win,” Ellyson said.
The right-hander picked up her 12th career Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week honor on April 20 after helping the Ragin’ Cajuns to critical series wins over Troy and Texas State, who are hovering near the top of the conference standings.
Louisiana is five wins away from a 40-win season and hopes to conclude the season with a two-loss conference record as the Ragin' Cajuns face Coastal Carolina (May 1-2) and ULM (May 6-8) to finish off the regular season.