NEW ORLEANS-After a week of play against tough competition, including three nationally-ranked opponents, two Louisiana softball players were rewarded with Sun Belt Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively. Senior outfielder Karli Hubbard was recognized for her work at the plate while sophomore Ashley Brignac excelled in the circle.  It was the first time this season that either student-athlete has received the award.

Hubbard earned the accolades after batting .542 for the week to lead her team with 13 hits in 24 at-bats. The senior provided consistent production, recording at least one hit in each of the Cajuns’ seven games on the week, including base hits against No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 10 Michigan and No. 24 Fresno State. She went a perfect 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts on her way to scoring five runs for her team, and she added a pair of RBI to put runs on the scoreboard.

Hubbard racked up multiple hits in five of the seven games she played for the week, including contests against Louisiana Tech and Nebraska. Her 3-for-4 performance at the plate against No. 24 Fresno State, along with a run and an RBI, helped push the Cajuns to a shutout victory. She also notched two hits and two runs as part of the run-rule victory over New Mexico on Sunday.

Brignac posted a 2-0 record for the week through three nearly flawless appearances, including a complete-game shutout win over No. 24 Fresno State. She did not allow a single earned run in 19.0 innings pitched, completing the week with a perfect 0.00 ERA and 36 strikeouts. The sophomore hurler started the week with a career-high 16 strikeouts in seven innings against Louisiana Tech. She fanned 13 batters and gave up just two hits in the shutout of Fresno State, and recorded another complete-game shutout against New Mexico with seven strikeouts and four hits. Brignac held opponents to a .159 batting average for the week.

The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team returns home to Alfred and Helen Lamson Softball Park as they play a single game against Tulsa on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

-www.RaginCajuns.com-