Softball: Elkins and Stewart Receive Honors From LSWA

LAFAYETTE – Lexie Elkins and Alex Stewart were named Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player and Pitcher of the Week for their efforts in the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team’s series win at Texas State. The organization announced the honors on Monday.
 
This is the first player and pitcher of the week award from the LSWA for both Elkins and Stewart this season, increasing the Ragin’ Cajuns total to three.
 
It’s the second straight week a Cajun takes home the pitcher of the week honors. Christina Hamilton was the recipient last week.
 
Elkins hit .667 with five home runs and eight RBI during the series at Texas State. Five of her six hits in the series were home runs, resulting in a 2.333 slugging percentage.
 
"Lexie’s performance this past weekend was incredible to witness," Louisiana softball associate head coach T.J. Hubbard said. "Her ability to ignite an offense that combined for 13 homeruns on the weekend was apparent in each of her first at-bats – homering all 3 times and providing a lead right from the start."  
 
The junior catcher hit two home runs in each game of Saturday’s doubleheader and finished the day 5-for-8 with four home runs and seven RBI. Saturday’s efforts marked her fourth and fifth multiple-home run games of 2015.
 
"Lexie and her teammates are fierce competitors," Hubbard added. "And this past weekend it was even more evident how focused and passionate they are about the game."
 
Stewart delivered two wins for Louisiana, in her first career starts in Sun Belt play, allowing the Ragin’ Cajuns to claim the series over Texas State. She held the Bobcats to two runs off six hits and struck out 16 in 10 innings of work spanning the two starts.
 
She settled down a Bobcats lineup that had produced 14 runs utilizing a 12-hit attack in the series opener and brought the momentum back to the Cajuns’ dugout.
 
In game two on Saturday, the Zionsville, Ind., native retired Texas State in order each of the first two innings, including striking out the side in the second inning. As she slowed down the Bobcats’ attack after a 14-run showing in game one, the Cajuns’ offense built an 11-0 lead.
 
On Sunday, Stewart tossed a complete game shutout with a career-high 11 strikeouts in guiding Louisiana to a 4-0 win that claimed the series.
 
"Alex’s two successful starts came at the perfect time," Hubbard noted. "She proved to herself and her teammates that she can be a dominating figure in the circle.  Her game three performance gives all of us confidence that she can be a tough competitor in the circle down the stretch."
 
No. 9 Louisiana (27-5, 12-3 Sun Belt) returns to Lamson Park on Good Friday (April 3) to begin a three-game Sun Belt series with Georgia State (23-10, 5-4 Sun Belt). Friday’s single game is set for 5 p.m., and the series-closing doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m., on Saturday.