UL Softball Preview: Hofstra Pride

The 7th-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun softball team will take on the Hofstra Pride twice this weekend, in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational at Lamson Park.

Louisiana will face Hofstra on Friday at 5 o'clock, and then again on Saturday at 12:30 pm.

Hofstra, members of the Colonial Athletic Association, is currently 2-3 on the young season, with wins over Notre Dame and Central Arkansas, along with setbacks to Central Arkansas and LSU (twice), after going 34-15 in 2014.

Offensively, the Pride is hitting a .167, along with two homers, 11 runs batted in, and five stolen bases, after hitting a .305 with 36 homers, 342 RBI’s, and 57 steals in 62 attempts last season.

At the plate, Hofstra is led by sophomore second baseman Lacey Clark, who is hitting a .273, after hitting a .280 in 2014, along with two home runs and 12 runs batted in, and junior first baseman Danielle Bitts, who is currently batting a .222.

In the circle, the Pride features senior right-hander Morgan Lashley, who is currently 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA., along with 15 strikeouts in 14.0 innings pitched, one season after finishing 17-5 with a 2.35 ERA. in 2014.

Pitching-wise, Hofstra has an overall combined team ERA. of 3.07, after compiling an overall team ERA. of 2.21 a season ago.

The Cajuns will play Iowa on Friday at 2:30 pm, before taking on Hofstra at 5 o’clock.

On Saturday, Louisiana plays twice more, facing Hofstra at 12:30 pm, before taking on Missouri St. at 3 o’clock.

UL wraps-up play in the tournament on Sunday at 2:30 pm, when they face McNeese St.

You can hear all the play-by-play action on Sports Radio ESPN 1420, and espn1420.com, beginning with the pre-game show 15 minutes prior to first-pitch for each game.