MOBILE, Ala. — No. 24 South Alabama softball opens its Sun Belt Conference schedule this weekend by hosting No. 7 Louisiana-Lafayette in a three-game series at Jaguar Field.
The Jaguars enter the series with a 15-3 record. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 15-2.
A Familiar Rivalry
The two programs have split their last 12 meetings, and they have played for the Sun Belt Conference’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid twice in the last three seasons.
Louisiana-Lafayette arrives in Mobile for its second straight weekend in the state of Alabama against a ranked opponent. The Cajuns played No. 4 Alabama in Tuscaloosa last weekend.
Pitching Matchup
Both teams bring strong pitching into the series. Louisiana-Lafayette features Christina Hamilton, the reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year, along with Jordan Wallace, a first-team All-Sun Belt selection in 2012 and 2013.
South Alabama counters with Farish Beard, a 2014 first-team All-Sun Belt pick, and freshman Devin Brown, who has twice been named Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week this season.
Through the early part of the season, the Cajuns’ pitching staff has held opponents to a .147 batting average and allowed 16 runs in 106 2/3 innings. South Alabama’s staff has limited opponents to a .176 average while allowing 41 runs in 120 innings.
Schedule
- Saturday: Doubleheader, Game 1 at noon, Game 2 at 2 p.m.
- Sunday: Series finale at 1 p.m.
All three games will be played at Jaguar Field on the South Alabama campus.
