LAFAYETTE — The Louisiana-Lafayette softball team is adding and not subtracting from its roster.

After having three All-Sun Belt Conference players opt to transfer out of the program in the past few weeks, the Ragin’ Cajuns announced on Sunday the addition of a star player from another team. Lamar outfielder Brittany Rodriguez has transferred to play for Louisiana-Lafayette and will be eligible to play in the 2018 season.

The Cypress, Texas, native was a two-time first team All-Southland Conference performer at Lamar and is coming off back-to-back seasons where she hit at least .380. In her two seasons with the Cardinals, Rodriguez hit .390, scored 81 runs, stole 30 bases and recorded 24 outfield assists. Rodriguez also set a Lamar single-season record with 70 hits and also had a 20-game hitting streak. 

Prior to her two seasons at Lamar, Rodriguez earned first-team all-conference honors at Galveston College, where she batted .348 with 19 RBIs, 42 runs scored and 42 stolen bases. 

“I am very familiar with type of athlete Brittany is, having watched her play in travel ball and at Galveston College and Lamar while I was at Texas A&M,” Cajuns coach Gerry Glasco said in a statement. “She will bring swagger and talent to our team on both offense and defense with her speed, intensity and athleticism.

“She is a fast and talented athlete that plays the game hard,” Glasco added. “We are very excited to welcome Brittany to the University of Louisiana and Ragin’ Cajuns Softball.”

The addition of Rodriguez will help ease the recent departures of three star players in the wake of the firing of longtime coach Michael Lotief, who was dismissed by the university on Nov. 1 for allegedly subjecting “student-athletes and co-workers to violent, vulgar language and verbal and physical assault, creating a hostile learning and working environment,” the university claimed following a lengthy investigation.

In the past three weeks, senior shortstop and All-American D.J. Sanders transferred to Oregon, and Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Alyssa Denham and All-American outfielder Aleah Craighton both announced their transfers to the University of Arizona. 

Louisiana-Lafayette opens the 2018 season at Lamson Park on Feb. 8 against Stamford in the annual Mardi Gras Classic.