The Cajuns Softball team is hoping to stay hot as they travel to San Marcos to face the Bobcats Set for a Sun Belt Clash. The weekend series features the league’s top two frontrunners. Louisiana is No. 21 in the Country coming in 27-13 overall and 12-0 in Conference play, while Texas State is hoping to play catch up three games back at 32-10 overall and 9-3 in conference play. the series begins on friday with first potch at 6 PM, Saturday at 2 PM start, and Sunday a noon showdown.

This is the 10th SBC series, overall, and 5th in San Marcos since Texas State joined the conference (2014). The Ragin’ Cajuns won each previous series and hold a 22-5 edge in SBC regular season games. UL’s current six-game series win streak began with back-to-back wins in the 2022 SBC Tournament in Mobile. The Cajuns swept the 2023 series at Lamson Park; in SBC rivalry, UL has never swept back-to-back years. UL sports a 18-4 record in Gerry Glasco’s tenure. the two programs met for SBC Tournament championship each year from 2016-18, sparking a newfound rivalry in the league. the series began with a doubleheader at Lamson Park in February 1986. UL went on to win first 12 matchups through April 2000.

The Cajuns have won 85 consecutive SBC series dating back to 2013. UL ranks No. 1 in the nation in double plays turned. The 32 DPs are the most in Glasco era and highest since 2002 (when 25 were turned). In SBC play the Cajuns have six starters batting above .300, of which three are above .400 led by Brooke Ellestad’s .579 mark. UL pitching is limiting foes to .229 hitting in SBC play (68 hits over 83 IP). Brooke Ellestad posted 26 RBI in the first half of SBC play. She’s on pace to become just the third Cajun to reach 40 RBI in SBC play. Chloe Riassetto is coming off her first complete game in SBC play and having held JMU to a .128 average and six hits over 13-2/3 innings. The 10 RBI posted by Brooke Ellestad at App State marked the most by a Cajun in an SBC series since the 2017 season (DJ Sanders at Texas State). UL swept the SBC weekly awards on April 2, Brooke Ellestad (3 HR, 10 RBI) and Sam Landry (2-0, SV, 11 K) rewarded for their efforts at App State. Louisiana is 23-3 when scoring first (scored first 18 of last 21 games). Cajuns pitching sported a sub-3.00 ERA in February against a schedule that included 11 games against Power 5 competition. Chloe Riassetto emerged in the circle vs. Baylor, taking a two-hit shutout to the seventh on Friday and tossing 2-2/3 scoreless relief Sunday. Louisiana was preseason ranked in all four major polls: No. 21 in NFCA, ESPN/USA Softball and D1Softball and No. 23 by Softball America. Louisiana was the unanimous choice as the favorite to win the 2024 Sun Belt Conference softball title in a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches.