‍TROY, Ala. — The 2025 season for Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball came to a close Friday morning with a 6-1 loss to Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The result ended a season of adversity, transition, and unexpected challenges for a program that entered the year under new leadership and with a dramatically reshaped roster.

Coastal Carolina (40-17) used a five-run fourth inning to break open what had been a competitive contest early. Louisiana (29-25) managed just one run on four hits against Chanticleers ace Nicolette Picone, who went the distance, striking out four while walking two in a 90-pitch effort.

A New Era Under Fire

The 2025 season marked the beginning of the Alyson Habetz era in Lafayette, following the offseason departure of longtime head coach Gerry Glasco, who left to take over at Texas Tech. His exit triggered a mass exodus of veteran players from the program, leaving Habetz with the daunting task of rebuilding on the fly.

Despite the instability, Habetz—an accomplished coach with deep Louisiana ties—earned the respect of her players and the Sun Belt community by guiding a young, reshuffled squad to a winning season and a spot in the conference tournament. Her leadership through a turbulent transition year provided stability and hope for the program's future.

Game Recap: CCU Takes Control in the Middle Innings

After three quiet innings from both teams, Coastal struck first in the top of the third with an RBI single from Keirstin Roose. The floodgates opened an inning later as the Chanticleers strung together six hits—highlighted by a triple from Clara Hudgens and RBI knocks from Reese Collier and Maddy Jennings—to plate five runs and chase Cajuns starter Mallory Wheeler from the circle.

Louisiana answered with its lone run in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Mia Liscano singled and eventually came around to score on an RBI single from third baseman Sam Roe. Liscano, who also made a defensive impact at shortstop, was a bright spot in the Cajuns' lineup during the tournament.

The Cajuns had opportunities but couldn’t capitalize, hitting into a double play in the fourth and stranding runners in the sixth.

Season Reflections and the Road Ahead

For key contributors like Roe, Liscano, and Emily Smith—who batted .364 on the season—the tournament was both a learning experience and a glimpse into what could be a promising future for Louisiana softball. Freshman pitcher Mallory Wheeler gained valuable reps under pressure, and her development will be critical to the program’s rebuilding trajectory.

The 2025 season might not be measured in championships, but it was a testament to resilience. Coach Habetz inherited a fractured roster and helped mold it into a cohesive, competitive group that finished above .500 and fought to the end in a strong Sun Belt field.

While the Cajuns’ tournament run may have ended sooner than fans hoped, the foundation for the next chapter in Louisiana softball has been laid—with grit, growth, and a coach ready to lead the way.

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