Softball: Trahan Receives Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week Honors

 

LAFAYETTE – A pair of no-hitters, including a perfect game, during last weekend’s Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational has landed Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball pitcher Kylee Jo Trahan Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week honors, the conference office announced Tuesday.

The Burkburnett, Texas, product faced only two over the minimum over the 10 innings she worked during the tournament, and retired the final 19 batters she faced after her second walk of Friday’s Rutgers contest.

The sophomore pitcher posted the first no-hitters of her career, while the perfect game against Alcorn State on Saturday, Feb. 27 was the first by a Cajuns pitcher since Feb. 11, 2011.

Trahan received the first Sun Belt weekly honor of her career and became the first Cajuns pitcher this season to claim the honor. She joins Lexie Elkins, the SBC Student-Athlete of the Week on Feb. 16, as Cajuns named weekly award winners by the SBC in 2016.

"Kylee has been working hard in the bullpen and she’s also been working hard training to transform her body," Louisiana softball head coach Michael Lotief said. "She’s always had good stuff in the bullpen – her spins, speed and movement are good – but to see her to be able to go out in the circle, in that environment, and it all be able to click for her and happen, is a special moment."

Trahan reached at least eight strikeouts for the third and fourth time this season with her 10 strikeouts vs. Rutgers tying her career high and being the most recorded by a Cajuns pitcher this season. She struck out the side three times and record seven innings with multiple strikeouts.

She struck out 19 batters over 10 innings pitched in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational, increasing her season total to 38 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. As of Monday, Feb. 29, Trahan ranked 20th in the NCAA stats for strikeouts per seven innings (9.6).

Her shutouts of Rutgers and Alcorn State pushed her season, team-best total to three, which is ranked No. 2 on the nation’s charts. Trahan has yielded only nine runs and 13 base hits in 27 2/3 innings pitched this season.

"I think this past week’s performance is going to begin to connect the dots for her between all the hard work," Lotief stated. "So that now she can go out there and relax, trust her teammates, her defense and herself. Once a pitcher starts gaining confidence, it’s always a good thing."

The No. 5-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns, who recently finished a 10-game homestand with an eight game win streak, travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a three-game series with Southern Miss set for Saturday-Sunday, March 5-6. The teams square off in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, followed by a 1 p.m. single game on Sunday. The series marks the final non-conference weekend prior to the start of Sun Belt Conference play March 12-13 vs. South Alabama at Lamson Park.

For more information on Ragin’ Cajuns softball, fans can follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball) and Twitter (@RaginCajunSB).

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)

RAGIN’ CAJUNS SOFTBALL SUN BELT PITCHER OF THE WEEK ARCHIVE
2016: Kylee Jo Trahan (3/1)
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)