Special to the American Press

LAFAYETTE — Outfielder Erin Ardoin of Moss Bluff has transferred from McNeese State to Louisiana-Lafayette for her senior season.

Injury limited Ardoin to one game last season, getting one hit in two at-bats. She has appealed to the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility, which could leave her with two years of eligibility at ULL.

“Erin is a fierce competitor who grew up in a highly talented baseball family,” first-year Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Alyson Habetz, who was named head coach on June 25, said in a news release. “Erin is a true triple threat — she creates havoc for the defense with her home run power and speed.”

Ardoin developed into an all-Southland Conference outfielder while at McNeese. After appearing in 41 games as a freshman in 2022, she hit .288 and tracked down 73 fly balls as a sophomore in 2023 and was second-team all-SLC.

Ardoin started 53 games in the 2023 season, finishing fourth on the team in hitting and leading the team in walks (21). She hit almost .300 the entire season, primarily above .270, and registered a .280 average or higher the final 25 games.

In 118 at-bats in her sophomore campaign, Ardoin posted 34 hits, 21 runs scored and stole 18 bases in 22 attempts. She played in all five games of the NCAA Seattle Regional highlighted by three hits collected in the series with host-Washington.

At Sam Houston High School, Ardoin was a three-time all-district selection — a first-team selection as a senior and second-team pick as a freshman and sophomore. As a senior she hit .526, had a .600 on-base percentage to go along with 13 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, three triples and two doubles.

Ardoin comes from a family that’s steeped in baseball tradition. Her father, Danny, was an MLB catcher for five seasons after being a fifth-round selection in the 1995 draft.

All three of her brothers have played Division I baseball: Drew (Lamar), Silas (Texas) and Sam (Texas), an incoming transfer on the Ragin’ Cajuns baseball squad. Both of her parents are McNeese graduates.

The Ragin’ Cajuns were 45-19 last season, including 22-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, winning a fifth consecutive conference regular-season championship. They have appeared in 25 consecutive NCAA Tournaments.

ULL has appeared in six College World Series, eight super regional and 33 regionals, seventh-most in NCAA history.