The 7th-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun softball team will take on the Idaho St. Bengals three times this weekend in the Mardi Gras Classic, at Lamson Park.

Louisiana will face Idaho St. on Friday at 2:30 pm, on Saturday at 5:30 pm, and once again on Sunday, in the tournament finale, at 12:30.

Idaho St., members of the Big Sky Conference, returns seven starters from last year’s squad that finished with a record of 35-20, which was good enough for their second-consecutive league title.

The Bengals are once again picked to finish atop the Big Sky Conference this year, ahead of Sacramento St., Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, Weber St., Portland St., Montana, and North Dakota.

Last season, Idaho St. finished the season with a 35-20 record, including a 13-4 mark in Big Sky Conference play.

This season, Idaho St. is off to a 1-4 start, with a win over Long Beach St., with losses to UCLA, San Diego St., Cal St.-Fullerton, and Utah.

Offensively, the Bengals are hitting a .213 with 3 home runs and 15 runs batted in, along with 3 stolen bases, after hitting a .342 with 58 homers, 336 RBI's, and 69 stolen bases in 2014.

Junior shortstop Hailey Breakwell, the 2014 Big Sky Conference Player of the Year, led the way for Idaho St. last season, hitting a .367, along with 9 home runs, and 57 runs batted in, while sophomore outfielder Kacie Burnett, the 2014 Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year, hit a .446, along with 3 home runs, 20 RBI’s, and 27 steals.

Last season, Idaho St. out-hit by the opposition, .342/.296, while being out-homered by foes, 68/58, and stealing 69 bases in 80 attempts.

In the circle, the Bengals return junior Jessica Tolmie, who went 8-5 with a 3.84 ERA. in 2014, along with junior Bailey Foster, who went 8-5 with a 5.58 ERA.

Idaho St., who compiled a 4.79 ERA. last season, also relies on junior Sophie Slagle, a transfer from UC-Riverside, and freshman Ashlyn Ames, on a deep pitching staff, which currently has an overall ERA. of 7.00 through five games.

The Cajuns will play Idaho St. on Friday at 2:30 pm, before taking on Mississippi Valley St. at 5 o'clock.

On Saturday, Louisiana plays twice more, facing Mississippi Valley St. at 2:30 pm, before taking on Idaho St. at 5 o'clock.

UL wraps-up play in the tournament on Sunday at 12:30 pm, when they face Idaho 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.

More From 103.3 The GOAT