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Lot of stuff happening good and bad in college softball this week… here are some of the latest that have crossed our desks.
If you have something noteworthy, email to: [email protected].
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Extra Inning Softball learned last night that one of the top DI college players in the nation suffered a broken wrist and is out indefinitely.
It hasn’t been released officially by the school so we will not release the player’s name, but let’s just say, if you follow college softball you will know her.
Always sad to see injuries of some of the sport’s best, like freshman infielder Bailey Dowling of Alabama who injured her knee in March and is out for the year.
Doubly tough as these athletes work so hard and had 2020 impacted because of COVID and now their 2021 seasons are hit by the injury bug. Not fun.
Speaking of which…
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Steve Peloquin of ESPN1420 Radio (KPEL) reported this week that that “the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns will have to continue to add to their current softball win streak without the services of one of their top players, at least in the near future.”
Louisiana head coach Gerry Glasco announced on Monday that shortstop Alissa Dalton recently suffered a hand injury that will require surgery.
The injury will keep Dalton out for an indefinite period of time with no timetable for her return.
A senior from Cypress, Texas, Dalton is a two-time preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.
This season, Dalton is hitting .378, second on the team, to go along three home runs, 21 runs batted in, and eight stolen bases, after hitting .290 with a homer and ten RBI’s last season.
A first-team All-Sun Belt Conference selection in both 2018 and 2019, Dalton has appeared in 169 career games at UL, hitting .365, to go along with 11 homers, 106 runs batted in, and 42 stolen bases.
Earlier this season, the Ragin’ Cajuns lost starting centerfielder Raina O’Neal to a broken arm (should be back this season) and starting first baseman Taylor Roman (out for the year) to a torn ACL.
The 14th-ranked team is currently 29-6 on the season and has a 14-game win streak going, despite all the injuries.
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The series of the weekend has to be #2 UCLA versus #3 Oregon…. What a great showdown in the Pac-12!
No spectators will be allowed in person because of COVID restrictions, but all four games will be televised.
Here’s the schedule:
Friday, April 9
5 p.m.
No. 2 UCLA at No. 3 Oregon
Eugene, Ore.
Jane Sanders Stadium
TV: Pac-12 Networks National, Los Angeles and Oregon
Live Stats
Saturday, April 10
1 p.m. Doubleheader
No. 2 UCLA at No. 3 Oregon
Eugene, Ore.
Jane Sanders Stadium
TV: ESPN2 (Game 1)/Pac-12 Networks National, Los Angeles and Oregon (Game 2)
Live Stats Game 1
Live Stats Game 2
Sunday, April 11
12 p.m.
No. 2 UCLA at No. 3 Oregon
Eugene, Ore.
Jane Sanders Stadium
TV: Pac-12 Networks National, Los Angeles and Oregon
Live Stats
Our player to watch this weekend: Rachel Garcia (perhaps you’ve heard of her?)…
The senior takes a miniscule 0.29 ERA into this weekend’s series, having allowed only one run in 24 innings with 49 strikeouts.
She was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week following the Arizona State series, where she won twice and fanned 21 in 13.2 innings, including 14 in eight on March 19, which tied a season high.
Of her 15 outs in game one of a March 12 doubleheader against UNLV, Garcia struck out 14 in a one-hit shutout.
She homered in her first at-bat of the season against Fresno State (Feb. 12) and has hits in all 12 of her games.
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Some top programs are having their conference schedule impacted with cancellations and postponements… for example:
OU-Baylor Series Postponed
In accordance with Big 12 Conference softball game interruption guidelines, OU softball’s three-game series at Baylor this weekend has been postponed.
The postponement comes as a result of COVID-19 concerns within the Baylor program.
The conference will work with the two programs to reschedule the series for a later date.
You have to hand it to the Sooners, though, for being creative in trying to find someone—anyone—to play this weekend:
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲⁉️
We’re now looking for teams to play this weekend. Willing to host or travel, our DMs are open! Serious inquiries only 📩 pic.twitter.com/ChsRTjbnUm
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 7, 2021
*** Scroll down to see who else will be sitting this week, which team just added a Top 5 team and another country to its weekend schedule and what milestone Gabbie Plain is about to hit!