Softball: Elkins’ Production at App State Results in Honors

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball junior catcher Lexie Elkins received Player of the Week honors from both the Sun Belt Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association on Monday for her offensive showcase during Saturday’s doubleheader at Appalachian State.
 
Elkins finished a combined 8-for-10 at the plate with five home runs, 13 RBI and six runs scored as the No. 9-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns (34-5, 17-3 Sun Belt) swept a doubleheader from the Mountaineers in Boone, N.C.
 
The five home runs increased her season total to 25 and allowed her to reclaim the status of the nation’s leader in home runs. Elkins moved past Longwood’s Megan Baltzell (22 home runs), the leader entering the weekend, for top honors.
 
"Lexie had a special weekend," head coach Michael Lotief said. "She works extremely hard, has incredible hand-eye coordination and is a very smart, intellectual hitter. She feeds off of her teammates."
 
The Victoria, Texas, native picked up her second SBC honor of the 2015 season. She also received the award back on March 23.
 
It’s the fifth time a Cajuns player receives a weekly Sun Belt honor this season, adding to a combined three SBC Pitcher of the Week awards claimed by the combination of Jordan Wallace (Feb. 16, Mar. 16) and Christina Hamilton (Feb. 23).
 
Elkins picked up her fourth career player of the week honor from the Sun Belt Conference. She received the award twice in 2014 (Feb. 10 and Apr. 7).
 
Elkins picked up her second LSWA Player of the Week accolade of the 2015 campaign. She also received the honor from the organization back on March 30.
 
In the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader at App State, Elkins went 4-for-5 with three home runs, six RBI and three runs scored in a 21-5 victory in five innings.
 
She followed her game one performance with a duplicate 4-for-5 showing at the plate in the nightcap that included a pair of home runs, a career-high tying seven RBI and three runs scored in a 23-6 contest.
 
The junior catcher picked up her sixth and seventh multiple-home run contests of the season.
 
She homered twice in the fifth inning of game two to reach 25 home runs on the season, which eclipses her total of 24 hit in 2014 and represents the second-highest total in a single-season in school history.
 
"Good hitters feed off of those around them, and Lexie has incredible teammates around her who help her with her plan, approach and even in the cage when they’re practicing," Lotief added. "It’s a great individual honor for her, but it’s also something that we take a lot of pride in as a team and offensive lineup."
 
Elkins is one of six players nationwide this season to reach 20 home runs. The list also includes: Oklahoma’s Shelby Pendley (23), Longwood’s Baltzell (22), Charleston Southern’s Marci Christian (21), North Carolina’s Kristen Brown (20) and Arizona’s Katiyana Mauga (20).
 
No. 9 Louisiana is set to face No. 1 Oregon in Eugene, Ore., in a three-game series Friday-Saturday, April 24-25. It will be Louisiana’s fourth weekend series against a ranked team and third against a 2014 WCWS participant (Alabama, Baylor, Oregon).
 
After the Oregon series the Ragin’ Cajuns conclude the regular season and Sun Belt Conference play May 2-3 in Monroe at ULM, then travel to San Marcos, Texas for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament May 6-9 at Bobcat Softball Stadium on the campus of Texas State University.
 
2015 RAGIN’ CAJUNS SUN BELT PLAYER/PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Feb. 16 – Jordan Wallace (Pitcher of the Week)
Feb. 23 – Christina Hamilton (Pitcher of the Week)
Mar. 16 – Jordan Wallace (Pitcher of the Week)
Mar. 23 – Lexie Elkins (Player of the Week)
Apr. 20 – Lexie Elkins (Player of the Week)
 
2015 RAGIN’ CAJUNS LSWA PLAYER/PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Mar. 23 – Christina Hamilton (Pitcher of the Week)
Mar. 30 – Lexie Elkins (Player of the Week)
Mar. 30 – Alex Stewart (Pitcher of the Week)
Apr. 13 – Jordan Wallace (Pitcher of the Week)
Apr. 20 – Lexie Elkins (Player of the Week)