Softball: Stewart’s Strong Week Results in Sun Belt Honors

LAFAYETTE – Alex Stewart was named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday for her efforts in helping lead the No. 4-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team to a 4-1 mark last week.
 
Stewart posted three wins – including one over No. 19 Baylor – and extended her string of consecutive Sun Belt Conference shutouts to five with a pair of blankings of Texas State over the weekend at Lamson Park.
 
The Cajuns hurler finished the week allowing only five runs and limiting foes to 19 hits over 27 innings pitched, and tallied 24 strikeouts.
 
Stewart received the first Sun Belt weekly honor of her career and became the second Cajuns pitcher this season to claim the honor, joining Kylee Jo Trahan who was the recipient of the award on March 1.
 
"Any time a pitcher receives recognition it’s because their defense behind them has done something good, so the spotlight shines on the entire team," Louisiana softball head coach Michael Lotief said. "Also, the fact that she worked with (Lexie) Elkins against Baylor and then a true freshman this weekend, is a testament to her self belief."
 
Stewart picked up her third win of the season over a ranked team with a 4-3 triumph in Game 2 at No. 19 Baylor on Tuesday. She held the Bears scoreless through the first four innings prior to Kelsey Vincent‘s grand slam that gave Louisiana the lead.
 
"Her week began with us asking her to go back-to-back against Baylor – a team that scored 17 runs and 15 runs on Iowa State and was coming off a series win over Texas," Lotief stated. "And she basically neutralized some really good hitters."
 
In 13 innings pitched in the twinbill at Baylor, she shutout the 19th-ranked Bears in 10 of those frames.
 
Stewart pitched 14 innings of scoreless softball and held Texas State to just four hits in collecting two shutouts of the Bobcats in the Sun Belt series at Lamson Park. Her shutouts extended her string of consecutive scoreless innings in league play, which began March 19 at UT Arlington, to 33 innings.
 
The Zionsville, Ind., matched her career high with 11 strikeouts in the series opener, reaching the mark for the second time this season (Mar. 25 at Troy). She wrapped up the Texas State series with a one-hit shutout, striking out six and facing only three over the minimum.
 
"Alex continues to grow because she has become more confident on the mound," Lotief explained. "She is more assertive and has been able to command all of her pitches in all of the outings she’s had in the past few weeks.
 
"She’s been able to keep hitters off balance by being able to use her pitches in any situation and that’s a product of her becoming comfortable and confident in being in the circle."
 
Stewart becomes the fifth different Ragin’ Cajun to be honored with a weekly award by the league this season, joining Lexie Elkins (Student-Athlete of the Week, Feb. 16), Kylee Jo Trahan (Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week, March 1), DJ Sanders (Student-Athlete of the Week, Mar. 8) and Shellie Landry (Student-Athlete of the Week, Mar. 28) as honorees.
 
A 2015 All-Sun Belt second team performer, Stewart becomes the 15th different Ragin’ Cajuns softball pitcher in program history to earn the weekly award from the SBC. Her honor marks the 73rd pitcher of the week honor all-time for Louisiana since the league began bestowing the honor in 2000.
 
Stewart and the No. 4-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns (29-3, 10-1 Sun Belt) return to the road this weekend and start a stretch of seven straight games away from Lamson Park, beginning with a three-game series in Atlanta against Georgia State (19-18, 4-5 Sun Belt) set for Saturday-Sunday, April 9-10. The Ragin’ Cajuns and Panthers open the series with a 12 p.m. (CDT) doubleheader on Saturday.
 
2016 RAGIN’ CAJUNS SUN BELT STUDENT-ATHLETE/PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Feb. 16 – Lexie Elkins (Student-Athlete of the Week)
Mar. 1 – Kylee Jo Trahan (Pitcher of the Week)
Mar. 8 – DJ Sanders (Student-Athlete of the Week)
Mar. 28 – Shellie Landry (Student-Athlete of the Week)
Apr. 4 – Alex Stewart (Pitcher of the Week)
 
RAGIN’ CAJUNS SOFTBALL SUN BELT PITCHER OF THE WEEK ARCHIVE
2016: Kylee Jo Trahan (3/1); Alex Stewart (4/4)
2015: Jordan Wallace (2/16); Christina Hamilton (2/23); Jordan Wallace (3/16)
2014: Christina Hamilton (3/17); Christina Hamilton (4/21)
2013: Jordan Wallace (2/18); Jordan Wallace (4/8); Jordan Wallace (4/15); Jordan Wallace (5/6)
2012: Ashley Brignac (2/27); Jordan Wallace (3/19); Jordan Wallace (4/9); Ashley Brignac (4/16); Jordan Wallace (4/23); Jordan Wallace (4/30)
2011: Ashley Brignac (2/14); Christina Hamilton (2/21); Ashley Brignac (2/28); Ashley Brignac (3/21); Ashley Brignac (3/28); Ashley Brignac (4/18); Ashley Brignac (5/2); Ashley Brignac (5/9)
2010: Donna Bourgeois (2/15); Brittany Cuevas (4/19)
2009: Donna Bourgeois (2/9); Donna Bourgeois (2/16); Ashley Brignac (3/16); Donna Bourgeois (4/20); Donna Bourgeois (4/27)
2008: Ashley Brignac (2/11); Ashley Brignac (3/10); Ashley Brignac (3/17); Brittany Cuevas (3/24); Donna Bourgeois (4/14); Ashley Brignac (4/21); Donna Bourgeois (4/28)
2007: Brittany Cuevas (2/26); Brittany Cuevas (3/12); Brittany Cuevas (4/23); Brittany Cuevas (5/7)
2006: Krystal Lewallen (2/14); Ashley Kirchberg (2/21); Ashley Kirchberg (4/3); Ashley Kirchberg (4/24); Ashley Kirchberg (5/8)
2005: Brooke Mitchell (2/21); Brooke Mitchell (2/28); Brooke Mitchell (3/7); Brooke Mitchell (3/14); Heather Bobbit (4/18); Brooke Mitchell (4/25)
2004: Brooke Mitchell (2/17); Brooke Mitchell (2/24); Brooke Mitchell (3/2); Brooke Mitchell (3/9); Brooke Mitchell (3/22); Brooke Mitchell (4/5); Brooke Mitchell (4/12); Brooke Mitchell (4/19)
2003: Brooke Mitchell (2/18); Brooke Mitchell (2/25); Michael Parrott (3/4); Brooke Mitchell (3/31); Afton Thoms (5/5)
2002: Melissa Coronado (4/8)
2001: Melissa Coronado (3/19); Melissa Coronado (3/26); Micah Barbato (4/16); Melissa Coronado (4/30)
2000: Melissa Coronado (4/10)