Softball: UL’s Wallace named to USA Softball Top 50 Watch List

Daily Advertiser, Jan. 30, 2014

After posting 32 wins and 382 strikeouts in 2013, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns pitcher Jordan Wallace has been named to the Top 50 "Watch List" for the 2014 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, as announced by USA Softball on Wednesday.

Wallace is one of two Sun Belt players on the list, joining South Alabama pitcher, Hannah Campbell. Wallace is one of 20 juniors on the list with six sophomores and 24 seniors.

"That is a very prestigious honor for Jordan," head coach Michael Lotief said. "She is a very deserving player who works extremely hard and we are very proud of her. The success she has had is because of how hard she works and what kind of a young lady she is in and out of the classroom. It’s a great honor for her to be recognized on national level, because she pursues excellence every day."

Wallace, a junior from Weatherford, Texas, was the backbone of the Cajuns’ postseason run in 2013, throwing three-straight shutouts in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional, including two against host and top seed LSU. She finished the season 32-9 with a 1.70 ERA and 382 strikeouts in 255.1 innings.

She finished the season ranked 3rd in the nation in strikeouts, sixth in strikeouts per seven innings, seventh in wins, 10th in hits allowed per seven innings and 11th in shutouts.

Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, given by the National Governing Body for softball in the United States, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country.

The Top 25 Finalists for the 2014 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 9. While an athlete does not have to be on the "Watch List" to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 7 and the Top 3 Finalists will be announced May 21. On May 27 prior to the start of the 2014 NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS) in Oklahoma City, the 2014 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed.

The Ragin’ Cajuns open their 2014 season on Feb. 7 at Lamson Park, when they take on Northern Illinois in their first game of the 2014 Louisiana Classics.