From Ragin' Cajuns Athletics:
LAFAYETTE – After a commanding weekend in the circle in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball right-hander Bethaney Noble has been named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday (Feb. 24, 2026).
Noble allowed just one run over 15 innings across her three appearances the weekend of February 20-22 in the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge and McNeese Cajun AC Louisiana Clash, collecting two wins and a save.
She held opponents to 11 hits and a .204 batting average, struck out nine and walked only two over 57 batters faced.
Noble started off the weekend with a complete-game shutout of Howard in the Purple and Gold Challenge, scattering six hits over seven innings. She struck out four and walked only one in a 99-pitch effort, recording her second shutout in as many starts to begin the season.
The following day, Noble worked in relief in a rematch against Howard. After Louisiana rallied to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning, she entered and recorded the final six outs, tossing two scoreless innings to earn the save.
She closed the weekend with another poised outing on Sunday against Missouri. After surrendering a first-inning run, Noble settled in and blanked the Tigers over the final five frames in a 9-1, six-inning win in Lake Charles. She gave up five hits, struck out five and walked one over 112 pitches.
The strong weekend improved Noble to 3-0 on the young season and continued an impressive start in the circle. Through the first 20 innings of her senior season, Noble has yielded just the one run, struck out 12 and surrendered four walks.
Louisiana has received at least one SBC Pitcher of the Week award since the inception of the league in 2000. Noble’s recognition marks the 102nd time in which the program has had a player earn the award.
Noble and her Ragin’ Cajuns teammates are back in the Hub City on Tuesday to meet Northern Iowa in a 5:00 p.m. weekday contest at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park before returning to the road for a series of 12 consecutive games that starts Friday-Sunday, February 27-March 1 at the Texas A&M Invitational in Bryan-College Station, Texas.
Here's the Conference release:
NEW ORLEANS – Troy junior utility player Makaley Boswell and Louisiana senior right-handed pitcher Bethaney Noble secured the Sun Belt Conference’s weekly softball awards following the season’s third week of competition.
Player of the Week
Makaley Boswell, Troy
[Jr. | UTIL | Geneva, Ala.]
Boswell recorded five multi-hit games in a 4-1 week for the Trojans, batting 11-for-16 (.688) overall and slugging 1.188 with 10 RBIs, six runs scored and three stolen bases. She tallied five extra-base hits, including three doubles, one home run and one triple. While extending her hitting streak to 12 games, Boswell started the week going 2-for-3 with a bases-clearing triple in a 10-1 win over Alabama State on Feb. 18. The Geneva, Ala., native went 2-for-2 with one RBI in an 11-2 win over Furman on Feb. 20 and 2-for-4 against Nicholls later that same day. Boswell went 2-for-3 with a double in a 2-0 win over Omaha the next day before closing the week going 3-for-4 a double, a home run and six RBI in a 12-4 victory over Furman on Feb. 22.
Pitcher of the Week
Bethaney Noble, Louisiana
[Sr. | RHP | Amarillo, Texas]
Noble recorded a 2-0 record with one save and a 0.47 ERA in three appearances, holding the opposition to a single run scored with nine strikeouts in 15 innings of work. She limited foes to 11 hits on a .204 average while surrendering just two walks against 57 batters faced. Noble opened the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge with a complete-game shutout of Howard on Feb. 20, scattering six hits, with four punchouts and one walk in the 99-pitch effort. The very next day, Noble secured the final six outs in a rematch against Howard for a save, tossing two perfect innings of relief after the Ragin’ Cajuns rallied to claim the lead in the top of the sixth inning. On Feb. 22, Noble spun a six-inning, complete-game win in a 9-1 triumph over Missouri in Lake Charles, La. The Amarillo, Texas native held the Tigers to five hits, struck out five and walked only one over 112 pitches in the run-rule victory.
2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Players of the Week
Week 1 – Chloe Hatcher, DP, Georgia State
Week 2 – Brie Normandin, SS, Coastal Carolina
Week 3 – Makaley Boswell, UTIL, Troy
2026 Sun Belt Conference Softball Pitchers of the Week
Week 1 – Ryley Harrison, RHP, South Alabama
Week 2 – Madison Azua, LHP, Texas State
Week 3 – Bethaney Noble, RHP, Louisiana