Lafayette Regional Breakdown
Can anybody stop the Louisiana lineup? From top to bottom, the Ragin’ Cajuns boast a superb group of hitters. Led by senior Christi Orgeron, Louisiana ranks in the top ten nationally in batting average, scoring offense, homeruns and slugging percentage. But this is not just an offense that slugs it out. They do have some speed on the bases as well. As much press as the offense gets, the success or failure of Louisiana will likely come down to the pitching staff. Ashley Brignac is an experienced senior who has been in this situation before. Jordan Wallace, on the other hand, is just a freshman and Louisiana will need her to keep playing as well as she has all season and not let the pressure of the NCAA Tournament get the best of her.
Unfortunately for Louisiana, they got a very, very tough draw. Stanford was on the brink of hosting and Baylor could have just as easily been in the two column instead of the three. The Cardinal performed very well in the tough Pac-12 despite an 11-13 conference mark. With hitters like Hanna Winter, Leah White, Jenna Rich, Ashley Hansen and Jenna Becerra, this is a team that could keep up with Louisiana offensively. The Lady Bears will rely more on their pitching than their bats and in this region, that could be the difference maker. If Courtney Repka and Liz Paul can keep the offense of Louisiana and Stanford under control, they could move on. Mississippi Valley State rounds out the Lafayette Regional after going undefeated in SWAC play. Pitcher Alicia Lorenz will be tested early and often.
See all 2012 Softball World Series Regional Breakdowns
