UL Softball Preview: Memphis Tigers

The 20th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team will take on the Memphis Tigers in their fourth game of the 2014 Ragin' Cajun Invitational on Saturday at 4:30 pm at Lamson Park.

Memphis will come into the tournament with a record of 3-1.

Last week, at the Troy Subway Invitational in Troy, Alabama, the Tigers defeated Middle Tennessee, 3-2, while suffering losses to Kennesaw St. (4-3), Troy (9-0), and North Florida (2-1).

In 2013, Memphis went 24-36, overall, including an 8-16 record in Conference-USA play.

They're not a team that beats you with power, hitting only eight last year, with none through four game this season, but they will run on occasion, swiping 53 bags a season ago.

The leading hitter for the Tigers is senior outfielder Ijiah Hargrove, a slapper, who is hitting a .455 this season, after hitting a .274, which was third on the squad last year.

Pitching-wise, Memphis returns senior right-hander, Ellen Roberts, who is 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA. this season, after going 15-23 with a 3.12 ERA. a season ago.

Now members of the American Athletic Conference, the Tigers aren't the most talented team in the tournament, but they do have enough to where you can't fall asleep on them. Otherwise they'll make you pay.

Memphis will play twice on Friday, against Boston College at 11:30 am and Michigan at 2 o'clock, twice more on Saturday, against Boston College at 11:30 am at Teurlings Catholic high School and Louisiana at 4:30 pm, and once on Sunday against Valparaiso at 11:30 am.

The Louisiana schedule for the tournament is as follows:

Friday:  vs. Michigan—4:30 pm  vs. Valparaiso–7 pm

Saturday:  vs. Michigan–2 pm   vs. Memphis–4:30 pm

Sunday:  vs. Central Arkansas–2 pm

You can hear all the Louisiana games on Sports Radio ESPN 1420 & espn1420.com, beginning with the pre-game show 15 minutes prior to first-pitch.