The Louisiana Christian University softball team will host several Top 25 NAIA teams in the program's first tournament following the school's recent name change. This Louisiana Christian Invitational will open the 2022-2023 season for this year's Wildcats.
"This is a great opportunity because we want to be the best, so we have to play the best," said junior outfielder Lexie Marks.
"There are a number of reasons for setting up such a challenging event," said LCU softball coach Barry Roberts. "And we are excited, along with LSU-Alexandria, to be hosting some of the nation's best NAIA teams. These teams will challenge us to be better. We always want to play competition early that will help us get ready for the strong field we will face from The Red River Athletic Conference. This will certainly do that, along with getting us exposure on a national level and hopefully prepare us for a run deep into post season. "
The Cats finished last season with their first appearance in a conference tournament since the 2018-19 season, even though they dropped both games they played. It was LCU's first season in its return to the NAIA, and for the Wildcats, there seemed to be immediate benefit from the move. In 2021, LCU finished 12-25 overall and 6-18 in the American Southwest Conference, compared to 2022 where they finished 27-22 overall and 16-11 in conference play.
"Playing in the NAIA compared to [the NCAA's] Division III was a major adjustment, especially considering the fact that our season was extended by about 20 games," senior first baseman Desiree Squires said. "Playing so many more games provided the opportunity to see more competition at varying different levels."
Squires is one of the last remaining players from LCU's Division III era.
Roberts said he is confident his team could make a run at national tournament berth. The Wildcats return most of their 2022 team and have brought in many strong freshman and transfers to add to their already talented roster.
"But I think all the pieces are in place to do that this year and hopefully get ourselves into the NAIA national tournament at the end," Roberts said.
Marks says the team is working to make their name known.
"We want to be the team that everyone wants to play," she said. "We want to be on the list… we want to be the team everyone strives to beat."
You can catch the Lady Wildcats this weekend at Champions Park in Alexandria on Friday and Saturday. Visit www.lcwildcats.net
