Blue Raiders vs Ragin'Cajuns

The Cajuns (17-5) return to Murfreesboro,Tenn to face Middle Tenneessee (7-12, 2-1 SBC) in a Sun Belt Conference opening series. The Cajuns want to set the tone early in Sun Belt Conference that once again the championship runs through Louisiana.

The Cajuns start Sun Belt play this week end at Middle Tennessee State University. The Blue Raiders were one game away from getting into the 2007 championship game. Meanwhile the Cajuns were jolted into a rude reality that they would need to improve a lot if they were to regain their lofty status as Queen Bees of the Sun Belt softball programs.

No doubt the signing of the ESPN Player of the Year Ashley Brignac,and Donna Bourgeios all district, all state and both winning their respective high school titles brought tears of joy to most Cajun fans. The Cajuns not only added help for Brittny Cuevas they added bats, and fielding. Outstanding senior transfer Brooke Broadhead All Southland Conference, and All-South Region along with San Diego native Vanessa Soto brought quality experience to the young team.

Other outstanding freshman talent coming in features red shirt freshman Jessica Dupont the 2006 Class 3A MVP, hard hitting first baseman "Gabby" Bridges a all state team-mate of Brignac at John Curtis, Katie Smith all state selection and state champion out of Ruston. Joining the other freshman is Paige Comier out of Turling Catholic another all state player, and state champion. Other outstanding freshman include Christi Orgeron, Laura Hagle, and Katey Stanford.

The Cajun fans are watching senior Holly Tankersley tee off and having a great start to her final season in the Vermilion.Tankersley has started her season HOT, HOT, HOT. In 2008 the prolific right fielder has belted 9 homers, 2 doubles, 2 triples, on 29 hits with 29 runs batted in. Holly has also been walked 11 times and scored a team leading 22 times.

The ladies have also garnered honors Tankersley has been name MOP of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, she was joined on the all tournament team by freshman teammate Katie Smith. Brignac and Melissa Verde have both been named pitcher and player of the week in the Sun Belt for their performances in the Aggie Classic and the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

For the Cajuns to WIN: Brignac, Cuevas, and Bourgeios will need to contain the bats and walks that MTSU offers. Middle finds ways to walk and freshman sensation Brignac has had a tendency to walk people, if she can keep her walks to under 3 per game she should have an outstanding weekend. Cuevas recovering from a shoulder injury seems to be rounding into top form, and Bourgeios will compete with anybody.The Cajuns will need to keep their overall great fielding in order . 974 vs the Blue Raiders .955 . The Cajun bats need to stay hot, while the base runners avoid costly mistakes that have plagued them recently.

For the Blue Raider to Win: They will have to play within their capabilities and hope the Ragin'Cajuns are off.The Cajuns should sweep the Raiders In Murfreesboro this week-end.

The games have been pushed back to 1:00 PM on Saturday.


The Then and Now of Blue Raiders Softball

Middle Tennessee State University was rocked in their one run loss that prevented them from going into the Sun-Belts championship game. MTSU athletic director Chris Massaro lost little time in finding the person he believes will be the coach who can get Middle to the championship game, and beyond. On August 23, 2007 Sue Nevar was named head coach of the Middle Tennessee Softball Program. Naver feels that MTSU offers the student athlete everything they could want in a college experience, a great program , and an outstanding education at a beautiful campus. Nevar says that the Blude Raiders will aggressively compete for athletes with the Big Ten, and SEC in the Mid-State area. Nevar feels that there are enough quality athletes in the area to become a top 10 program. To get those athletes she recognizes that 'you have to put the student before the athlete.'

Nevar has a long history of being on the right side of things in the softball wars. She began her softball career as a hitting champ of the Big Ten while a junior at Indiana. She lead IU to runner up of the AIAW College World Series as a Senior. After her playing days she was an assistant at Texas A&M. While with the Aggies TAMU went to three IAW CWS 1982-83, and 1984. The Aggies won the title in 1982, and 83 while finishing as runner up in 1984. Nevar became a head coach at at Kent State University in 1986. Again she experienced success by finishing 7th in the CSWS 1990 with the Golden Flashes.

The Blue Raiders just like all softball teams look to their pitching staff to provide the first line of defense in the college softball world. Last year the Raider struggled with a 30/30 season, but did well in conference at 14-9 behind ACE Lindsey Vander Lugt. Vander Lugt was named to the Sun Belt All Tournament team, other highlights include holding high scoring LSU to 2 runs, and 273 innings of work posting a 2.79 ERA while compiling 146 strike outs. In 2008 Vander Lugt has improved her ERA to 2.68 and has a 5-1 strike out vs walk ratio. The young pitcher is still struggling to get wins as her record stands at 4-7.

The Blue Raiders power comes from martha Davis. Davis has 3 round trippers, 2 doubles, and 14 hits while driving in 9 runs.

If the raiders are to improve on 2007 they will have to improve on a very average defense that is fielding .955 at this time. The Raiders have been able to get on base with 54 walks vs their opponents 19.There is a weakness in the Raiders batting average when compared to it's opponents, MTSU is hitting at .255 vs .304, but that is offset by it's on base percentage of .338 vs .330 of the opposition.

If MTSU is to progress beyond 2007 and get into the championship game the team will have to improve on all of it's key statistics. The fans of the Raiders know they have a coach who knows how to win, the question is when is that knowledge going to transform the team into the type of competitors that can go on to the CSWS.