Softball America: 2024 Lafayette Regional HQ

Welcome to Lafayette. Can the Ragin’ Cajuns make it back to Oklahoma City for the first time since 2014?

Lafayette Regional Schedule

Broadcast team: Clay Matvick, Natasha Watley
*All times Eastern

• Friday, May 17
  • No. 13 seed Louisiana 8, Princeton 0 (F/5)
    • The Ragin’ Cajuns came out hot. Louisiana put up a four-spot in the first inning. Denali Loecker hit a three-run home run and pitched two scoreless innings.
  • Baylor 3, Ole Miss 1
    • Baylor’s wins aren’t flashy but a win is a win. The stars on offense stood out. Emily Hott opened with a leadoff homer and Shaylon Govan powered a two-run homer. Aliyah Binford was nearly flawless in the circle. Aside from a solo home run from Delaney Rummell, the rest of the Rebels’ lineup was held hitless.
• Saturday, May 18
  • Baylor 8, Louisiana 0 (F/5)
    • Baylor hasn’t scored seven runs in a few series this year. When the Bears put up a seven-spot in the second it was a bit shocking. Baylor collected a few hits and tried playing small ball with a few bunts but it kept the inning going. Aliyah Binford showed she can do damage with her bat too. She capped off the big inning with a grand slam. Shaylon Govan hit a homer in the fifth to put the run-rule in effect. RyLee Crandall tossed a two-hitter.
  • Princeton 4, Ole Miss 2 (Ole Miss eliminated) 
    • The Tigers decided to break the scoreless tie in the fifth. Sonia Zhang and Lauren Sablone drove in three runs to put Princeton up. Ole Miss finally got on the board in the sixth to pull within one, but Zhang answered back with an insurance run in the seventh. Brielle Wright went on to pick up her 10th save of the season.
  • Louisiana 2, Princeton 1 (F/8) (Princeton eliminated)
    • Princeton made Louisiana earn its spot in the regional final. The teams traded runs in the third but after that, it seemed impossible to cross home plate. Brielle Wright did all she could to leave Ragin’ Cajun runners stranded. Louisiana went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Alexa Langeliers led off the eighth inning by dropping a ball down the right-field line for a triple. Cecilia Vasquez hit it far enough to left for the go-ahead sacrifice fly. Chloe Riassetto closed out her eight-inning complete game with a win.
• Sunday, May 19
  • Louisiana 13, Baylor 0 (F/5)
    • The Ragin’ Cajuns decided to return the run-rule favor. Brooke Ellestad was an RBI machine in the Sun Belt Conference and was one on Sunday. She had RBI singles in the first and third innings. Ellestad highlighted Louisiana’s 10-run fourth with a grand slam to help push the regional to the final game.
  • Baylor 4, Louisiana 3 (Baylor advances to Super Regionals) 
    • The Bears certainly have grit. The wins aren’t flashy but they all count the same. That statement stood true on Sunday. Shaylon Govan and Aliyah Binford came through on offense when needed. Govan tied the game in the fifth with a sacrifice fly and Binford poked the go-ahead single into the outfield. Baylor would not be moving on without center fielder Taylor Strain. She tossed a perfect ball into Sydney Collazos at home to prevent the tying run in the sixth. RyLee Crandall bore down to throw the complete game and strand eight Louisiana runners. This is Baylor’s first Super Regional appearance since 2017.

Lafayette Regional Stats

Lafayette Regional Stars

No. 13 Louisiana (Sun Belt Regular Season Champs)

• CF Mihyia Davis
• LF Maddie Hayden
• 3B Brooke Ellestad
• RHP Sam Landry

2-seed Baylor (Big 12 At-Large Bid)

• 1B Shaylon Govan
• LF Emily Hott
• RHP/UTL Aliyah Binford
• RHP RyLee Crandall

3-seed Ole Miss (SEC At-Large Bid)

• CF Jalia Lassiter
• LF Jaden Pone
• C Lexie Brady
• RHP Grace Sparks

4-seed Princeton (Ivy League Regular Season Tournament Champs)

• 3B Sonia Zhang
• CF Lauren Sablone
• C Julia Dumais
• LHP Brielle Wright