A look back at 2019
The 2019 season saw the Ragin’ Cajuns post a 52-6 overall record, including a perfect conference record at 25-0. The Cajuns lost just one game at home on the year, an 11-inning non-conference affair against McNeese.
Starting the season on a 14-0 run, the Cajuns made quick work of most of their early-season, non-conference opponents, including PAC-12 foes California and Oregon State. In a late February tournament in Waco, Texas, the Cajuns recorded victories over Baylor and would-be Conference USA co-champion North Texas, before falling in rematches against both teams later the same weekend. A loss to Oklahoma in Norman by a score of 9-1 marked the first and only run-rule defeat of the Cajuns’ season.
In Sun Belt Conference play, the Cajuns posted a perfect record and moved their conference winning streak to thirty consecutive games, dating back to the end of the 2018 campaign. The Cajuns outscored conference opponents by a combined total of 177-42, and recorded eleven wins by run-rule in league play.
A 3-0 showing in the conference tournament – including a 1-0 defeat of Coastal Carolina in the conference championship game – was not enough to earn the Cajuns a regional hosting berth, as they instead were placed as the #2 seed in the Oxford Regional. After beating host Ole Miss in the first winner’s bracket game, the Cajuns were unable to hold off the Rebels in the regional final, losing back-to-back games to fall just short of advancement in the postseason.
Roster turnover
The Cajuns said goodbye to a trio of impactful seniors after the season, including starting third baseman Kara Gremillion; utility player Lexie Comeaux, who saw significant time in the starting designated player role; and speedy outfielder and former Texas A&M transfer Keeli Milligan. Additionally, Casidy Chaumont, who played in forty-eight games and started most of the season at second base, transferred to Missouri over the summer.
For the second consecutive summer, the Cajuns saw an influx of collegiately-experienced players join the club, including all-American pitcher Megan Kleist, who initially committed to the Cajuns after leaving Oregon prior to the 2019 season, but later elected to finish her degree in Eugene before playing her final season in Lafayette. Other big-name additions include Kleist’s former Oregon teammate Mia Camuso; former Missouri standout Geana Torres; ex-Texas A&M Aggie Kaitlyn Alderink; and French baseball player-turned-softball-slugger Melissa Mayeux. Former all-Southland player Kendall Talley also is eligible following a redshirt year in ’19.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths – The Cajuns have one of the most stacked rosters in the nation, with talent flowing all around the diamond. Head coach Gerry Glasco has no shortage of offensive weapons at his disposal, with the new additions combining with returners like Alissa Dalton and Julie Rawls to form a particularly potent offensive attack. The duo of Summer Ellyson and Megan Kleist in the circle should rightfully cast fear into opposing offenses.
Weaknesses – While proven talent is always a welcome addition, team chemistry can occasionally take a little while to develop with such a roster makeup. Whether or not this is something that will affect the Cajuns remains to be seen. Kleist and Alderink may each need to knock off some rust after individually sitting out the 2019 season. The Cajuns also have one of their tougher non-conference schedules in recent memory, with multiple games against LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Florida all within a two-week stretch at the end of February. In mid-April, the squad also travels to Tallahassee for a midweek pair of games against Florida State, and will take on Alabama in Tuscaloosa on the way back to Lafayette.
2020 outlook
Pitching – Summer Ellyson very nearly got the Cajuns to a Super Regional last season on little-more than sheer willpower and the strength of her right arm. Now, in her senior season, she finally gets to share the load, thanks to the addition of Kleist. For her part, Kleist should be rested and refreshed after a year off, and the pair could be nothing short of lethal as a 1-2 punch in the circle.
Offense – The Ragin’ Cajuns’ starting lineup will likely include some combination of Raina O’Neal; Geana Torres; Kaitlyn Alderink; Bailey Curry; Melissa Mayeux; Alissa Dalton; Julie Rawls; Mia Camuso; Sarah Hudek; Kendall Talley; and Kourtney Gremillion for most games in 2020. Except that’s eleven players, so at least two will have to start every game on the bench. That’s a good problem to have.
Coaching – Gerry Glasco has always been seen as an excellent recruiter, but he has added an element to that label with his ability to recruit top-level transfers to the Bayou. He has a lot of weapons to work with on offense, while associate head coach Mike Roberts might be the happiest guy in the state of Louisiana with how his pitching staff has come together. Former Alabama standout Lacy Prejean and newly-added volunteer assistant & Washington alum Taran Alvelo round out the coaching staff.
Wrap-up
On paper, the Cajuns are a World Series team, but softball isn’t played on paper. This squad oozes talent, but will have to mesh together as a unit quickly and effectively. The early season schedule is a hearty one, with a number of top-of-the-line matchups set in quick succession, though it does the fix the strength of schedule issue that was seen as the team’s largest drawback for a potential Regional-hosting gig a year ago. Win or lose, the Cajuns are sure to be one of the nation’s most exciting teams to watch in 2020.
