Softball: Louisiana Duo O’™Neal and Lamb Sweep Sun Belt Awards
Tandem helped guide No. 13 Louisiana Softball to a clean sweep of Ragin’ Cajuns Classic
LAFAYETTE – 13th-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball swept the first weekly awards of the 2019 season handed out by the Sun Belt Conference on Tuesday.
Raina O’Neal, a driving force behind the offensive explosion with a .632 average and nine RBI, was named the Community Coffee Sun Belt Softball Player of the Week.
Tossing back-to-back no-hitters in her collegiate debut, Australia native Kandra Lamb was the recipient of the Community Coffee Sun Belt Softball Pitcher of the Week.
O’Neal produced at least one RBI in each of the first five games, generated a 1.105 slugging percentage and struck out only twice in 20 plate appearances. She delivered the decisive blow in the season-opening win over Fordham, launching a two-run homer in the third inning, and snapped a scoreless tie in Game 1 of Monday’s doubleheader vs. Cal with a three-run homer in the third inning.
Lamb faced only three batters over the minimum and struck out 16 over 10 innings in the circle. She faced only one batter over the minimum vs. Incarnate Word and followed up by striking out 11 of the 17 batters faced vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Louisiana extended its string of receiving at least one SBC Player and Pitcher of the Week award, a streak which dates back to the inception of the league in 2000. The Ragin’ Cajuns now own 89 player of the week awards and 82 pitcher of the week awards.
Louisiana opened the 2019 season, the second campaign under Gerry Glasco‘s guidance, last weekend with dominant pitching performances and powerful swings in outscoring foes 65-4 in the Ragin’ Cajuns Classic at Lamson Park.
No. 13 Louisiana returns to Lamson Park on Friday in the opening round of the 33rd Annual Louisiana Classics facing Jackson State at 4 p.m. and Austin Peay at 6:30 p.m. Both games will air on SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM and be streamed live at RaginCajuns.com/Watch.
The tournament, which begins with round robin before bracket play starts Saturday afternoon, closes out the Ragin’ Cajuns’ season-opening, 11-game homestand.
SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
• Season tickets, beginning at $100, are available online at RaginCajuns.com using Account Manager, by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 265-2170 or by visiting the ticket office in person Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and extended hours during Ragin’ Cajuns basketball events.
• Fans who purchase season tickets receive priority access for any potential NCAA postseason games held at Lamson Park.
• For information on premium seating and parking at Lamson Park, contact the Ragin’ Cajuns Athletic Foundation (RCAF) at (337) 851-2903. General admission parking at Cajun Field will be free for all games during the 2019 season.
Matt Hebert
Assistant Director of Athletics Communications
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns®
201 Reinhardt Dr.
Room 167
Lafayette, LA 70506
desk (337) 482-6330
cell (337) 288-6023
email matth@louisiana.edu
twitter @mattlhebert
