PRESS RELEASE
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball head coach Gerry Glasco announced on Wednesday the addition of Santa Ana College infielder Tiana Patrick and Australian pitcher Kandra Lamb to the roster for the 2019 season.
Patrick, a California native who prepped at Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, Calif., posted a team-high 19 stolen bases, picked up 45 hits on a .354 average and collected 14 RBI in her collegiate debut season at Santa Ana College.
She played in 39 games for the Dons, competing at catcher, shortstop and second base. Lamb was named to the All-Orange Empire Conference first team.
Patrick, who will have three seasons of eligibility remaining with the Ragin’ Cajuns, played travel ball for the Ohana Tigers which has produced many outstanding college softball players.
“Tiana is an extremely versatile player on the defensive side of the ball and on the offensive side she can hit from both sides,” Glasco stated. “Much like Alissa Dalton, she is very comfortable slapping and hitting from the left side.
“She will switch around to the right-hand side if in a position to impact the game with power in RBI situations,” Glasco added. “She is very fast and an extremely good baserunner whose speed will impact our lineup as well.”
Lamb is a 6-foot-2 pitcher who has competed for Australia’s New South Wales U19 Women’s team, helping lead the team to a national championship, and was chosen to pitch in the 2017 Junior Women’s World Championship. At the World Championship, she limited foes to four hits, struck out 11 and finished with a 1.17 ERA over two appearances.
A three-year varsity starter for International Community School, Lamb will be launching her collegiate career at Louisiana.
“Australia has a history of producing top players that have excelled in college softball and we believe Kandra has a chance to make a huge impact on our program with her pitching and hitting,” Glasco remarked. “She is a tall and powerful athlete. She has hit some tremendously long home runs and will try to make our line up both as a power hitter and pitcher.
“Kandra has the potential to develop into an elite college pitcher over the course of her career due to her ability to spin the ball and throw with good velocity,” Glasco added. “She has had the opportunity to work with top pitching and hitting coaches in the Australian national team program.”
The Ragin’ Cajuns (41-16, 21-6 Sun Belt) recently completed their first season under Gerry Glasco’s guidance, earning the program’s 20th consecutive NCAA Tournament bid and advancing to the championship game of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. Louisiana reached 40 wins for the 20th straight season and was ranked in both major national Top 25 polls the entire season.