LSU-ULL rivalry resumes today

• By WILLIAM WEATHERS AND ROBIN FAMBROUGH
• Advocate sports writers
• Published: May 17, 2008 - Page: 7C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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When two of the nation’s most successful softball programs that are located an hour apart get together, it’s generally not met with so heightened anticipation.

However, the fact that LSU and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have not faced each other in the regular season in seven years only adds to the anticipation when they do get together.

That moment will take place at 1 p.m. today when top-seeded LSU (43-16) clashes with second-seeded UL-Lafayette (47-12) in the winner’s bracket of the NCAA softball regional at Tiger Park.

“As far as the fans, it’s going to be pretty crazy,” LSU sophomore center fielder Rachel Mitchell said. “As far as the team, I assume we’ll be really pumped up and ready to play. Sure (it’s a rivalry). … It’s another Louisiana school, but they are another team. So it’s nothing too different.”

This marks the meeting for two of the nation’s best programs since LSU held on to defeat UL-Lafayette in a pair of regional encounters in 2006 — winning 7-6 in 10 innings before claiming the region’s tournament title with a hard-earned 5-4 victory to advance to super regional play.

LSU advanced to meet UL-Lafayette with a 8-0 win over Mississippi Valley State, while the Cajuns topped East Carolina, 2-1.

“There’s no question that’s the one sport at the school that can compete (against LSU) on a national level,” said LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard, who spent the first 20 years of her career guiding the Cajuns to three World Series appearances. “They have a very good program. There’s a lot of people that are very proud of that team and rightfully so. We need our purple and gold clan to answer the bell here.”

Early evening
LSU senior right fielder Quinlan Duhon, who missed Thursday’s final practice in preparation for regional play because of a stomach virus, was limited to two innings and one at-bat — a pop up to first base — before being replaced by freshman Ashley Applegate for the remainder of the game as a pinch-hitter in the third inning.

Local connection
Redshirt freshman catcher Jessica Dupont, a former Parkview Baptist standout, is the only local player on the UL-Lafayette squad. Dupont has played in 30 games, getting 25 starts. She had a home run and double against Nicholls State on March 4.

Dupont, one of 15 Louisiana players on the Cajuns’ roster, also had multi-hit games against Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss. She did not play on Friday.

Trash to treasure
A year after being left out of the NCAA field when expecting a bid in 2007, East Carolina had no expectations this year.

The Pirates returned from the Conference USA Tournament in Houston late last Saturday and coach Tracey Kee collected all her team’s gear.

Brooke Swann, the starting pitcher in Friday’s 2-1 loss to ULL, threw her cleats in the garbage.