2017 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns softball team

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2017 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns softball
Baton Rouge Regionals appearance
Sun Belt Conference tournament champions
Sun Belt Conference regular-season champions
Mardi Gras Invitational Champions
Ragin' Cajun Invitational Champions
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 19
Record47-8 (23-1 SBC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Chris Malveaux
  • Kate Malveaux
Home stadiumLamson Park
Seasons
← 2016
2018 →
2017 Sun Belt Conference softball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 19 Louisiana–Lafayette  ‍†‍‡‍y 23 – 1   .958 47 – 8   .855
RV Texas State ‍‍‍y 18 – 8   .692 42 – 17   .712
Georgia State ‍‍‍y 18 – 9   .667 36 – 25   .590
South Alabama  ‍‍‍ 15 – 12   .556 35 – 20   .636
UT Arlington  ‍‍‍ 14 – 13   .519 32 – 28   .533
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍ 12 – 15   .444 24 – 29   .453
Louisiana-Monroe  ‍‍‍ 11 – 16   .407 33 – 30   .524
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍ 10 – 16   .385 32 – 23   .582
Troy  ‍‍‍ 8 – 19   .296 20 – 34   .370
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍ 2 – 22   .083 14 – 34   .292
‡ – Tournament champion
As of March 4, 2019[1]
Rankings from NFCA


The 2017 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns softball team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2017 NCAA Division I softball season. The Ragin' Cajuns play their home games at Lamson Park. This would also be the last season that a Lotief would be the head coach of the Ragin' Cajuns. This came after the university fired Lotief, both Malveauxs, Director of Operations Kelsey Vincent, and one manager, Sara Corbello on November 1, 2017 due to allegations of physically and verbal abuse to his players and for laying a finger on the university's strength coach. The Ragin' Cajuns softball players strongly disagreed with his firing. Several even transferred schools with most making a pack that "if they couldn't play with Lotief, they wouldn't play at all." However, most of the team remained and competed in 2018. Nearly a year later, Lotief filed a lawsuit against the university claiming that they fired him over retaliation from Lotief claiming that the university violated NCAA Title IX laws which state that women's sports must be treated the same as their male counterpart. In the lawsuit, Lotief called University President Joseph E. Savoie, Athletic Director Bryan Maggard, and Assistant Athletic Director Dr. Jessica Leger as the defendants.[2][3][4]

Preseason[edit]

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll[edit]

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 30, 2017. Louisiana-Lafayette was picked to finish first in the Sun Belt Conference with 100 votes and 10 first place votes, every first place vote available.[5]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Louisiana-Lafayette 100 (10)
2 Texas State 87
3 South Alabama 80
4 Georgia State 68
5 Georgia Southern 55
6 Troy 44
7 UT Arlington 41
8 Coastal Carolina 32
9 Louisiana-Monroe 30
10 Appalachian State 13

Preseason All-Sun Belt team[edit]

  • Ivie Drake (GSU, JR, Catcher)
  • Mandy Blackwell (GSU, SR, 1st Base)
  • Haley Hayden (ULL, SR, 2nd Base)
  • Kaleigh Todd (USA, JR, 2nd Base)
  • Sandra Mendoza (UTA, JR, 2nd Base)
  • DJ Sanders (ULL, JR, Shortstop)
  • Corrina Liscano (TXST, SR, 3rd Base)
  • Taty Forbes (CCU, SO, Outfield)
  • Aleah Craighton (ULL, JR, Outfield)
  • Rochelle Roberts (ULM, SR, Outfield)
  • Megan Litumbe (GSU, R-JR, Designated Player)
  • Dixie Raley (GASO, SO, Pitcher)
  • Alex Stewart (ULL, SR, Pitcher)
  • Devin Brown (USA, JR, Pitcher)
  • Randi Rupp (TXST, JR, Pitcher)

Preseason Player of the Year[edit]

  • Aleah Craighton (ULL, JR, Outfield)'

Roster[edit]

2017 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns roster
 

Pitchers

  • 5 Kirsten Pruett - Freshman
  • 9 Summer Ellyson - Redshirt Freshman
  • 10 Alison Deville - Sophomore
  • 11 Kylee Jo Trahan - Junior
  • 12 Makenzie Carpenter - Freshman
  • 16 Alyssa Denham - Freshman
  • 18 Alex Stewart - Senior
  • 22 Samantha Bradley - Freshman
  • 24 Macey Smith - Senior
  • 32 Victoria Brown - Senior

Catchers

  • 19 Lexie Comeaux - Sophomore
  • 23 Brittany Nollkamper - Sophomore
  • 26 Allie Medlin - Sophomore
  • 33 Shae Schreckengost - Freshman
  • 34 Miranda Grotenhuis - Sophomore

Designated Players

  • 99 Daniella Chavez - Junior
  

Infielders

  • 4 Kassidy Zeringue - Senior
  • 7 Alaina Guarino - Redshirt Freshman
  • 31 Corin Voinche - Senior
  • 35 Haley Hayden - Senior
  • 37 DJ Sanders - Junior
  • 39 Kara Gremillion - Sophomore
  • 44 Kourtney Gremillion - Freshman

Outfielders

  • 1 Chelsea Lotief - Redshirt Freshman
  • 2 Jaime Landry - Sophomore
  • 3 Taylor Terrio - Senior
  • 6 Shannon Theriot - Redshirt Freshman
  • 8 Aleah Craighton - Junior
  • 15 Aeriyl Mass - Freshman
  • 20 Kendall Smith - Senior
  • 27 Sarah Arceneaux - Senior
  • 29 Beth Ashley - Redshirt Freshman
  • 30 Kelly Martinez - Junior
  • 42 Abby Sterling - Sophomore

Coaching staff[edit]

2017 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns coaching staff
  • Michael Lotief – Head coach – 17th year
  • Chris Malveaux – Assistant head coach – 5th year
  • Kate Malveaux – Assistant head coach & video director – 1st year
  • Kelsey Vincent – Director of operations (pre-firing) – 1st year
  • Denee Simon – Director of operations (post-firing) – 1st year
  • Shellie Landry – Manager

Schedule and results[edit]

Legend
  Louisiana-Lafayette win
  Louisiana-Lafayette loss
  Postponement/Cancellation
Bold Louisiana team member
2017 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Softball Game Log
Regular season (42-6)
February (11-4)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Louisiana Classics
Feb. 10 DePaul No. 11 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-1 (6 inn) Stewart (1-0) Landwehrmier (0-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1-0
Feb. 10 Iowa State No. 11 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-1 Denham (1-0) Sanders (0-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,022 2-0
Feb. 11 DePaul No. 11 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 4-3 Stewart (2-0) Garcia (1-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 3-0
Feb. 11 Ball State No. 11 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-4 Smith (1-0) Miles (0-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,237 4-0
Feb. 12 Southern Miss No. 11 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 3-4 Johnson (1-0) Denham (1-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 4-1
Feb. 12 Southern Miss No. 11 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 3-5 Crowson (3-0) Stewart (2-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,175 4-2
Feb. 18 No. 4 Alabama No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 0-3 Osorio (4-0) Smith (1-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 4-3
Feb. 18 No. 4 Alabama No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 11-2 (6 inn) Stewart (3-1) Moore (1-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,210 5-3
Feb. 19 No. 4 Alabama No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-0 Denham (2-1) Osorio (4-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,079 6-3
Mardi Gras Invitational
Feb. 23 Drake No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-3 Denham (3-1) Newman (5-3) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 7-3
Feb. 23 Bowling Green No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 14-2 (5 inn) Stewart (4-1) Combs (1-2) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,024 8-3
Feb. 24 Dartmouth No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 12-5 Ellyson (1-0) Ethridge (0-1) Smith (1) Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,917 9-3
Feb. 25 Maryland No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 3-0 Denham (4-1) Martin (1-3) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,939 10-3
Feb. 26 Bradley No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 1-2 Hull (5-1) Stewart (4-2) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 10-4
Feb. 26 Mississippi Valley State No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 19-0 (5 inn) Smith (2-1) Ellis (0-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,010 11-4
March (12-1)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Ragin' Cajuns Invitational
Mar. 3 Alcorn State No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 8-0 (5 inn) Smith (3-1) Castillo (1-3) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 12-4
Mar. 3 North Dakota State No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 8-2 Denham (5-1) Sertic (3-9) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,841 13-4
Mar. 4 North Dakota State No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 15-0 (5 inn) Stewart (5-2) Leddy (1-4) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 14-4
Mar. 4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 8-0 (6 inn) Stewart (6-2) Carter (4-6) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,915 15-4
Mar. 5 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 18-0 (5 inn) Denham (6-1) Carter (4-7) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 16-4
Mar. 5 Alcorn State No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 14-4 (5 inn) Stewart (7-2) Dorsey (0-4) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,799 17-4
Mar. 9 No. 15 Baylor No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 4-5 Selman (11-2) Stewart (7-3) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,861 17-5
Mar. 11 at Appalachian State No. 18 Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC Series cancelled due to inclement weather
Mar. 11 at Appalachian State No. 18 Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC Series cancelled due to inclement weather
Mar. 12 at Appalachian State No. 18 Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC Series cancelled due to inclement weather
Mar. 18 UT Arlington No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 6-5 Stewart (8-3) Clakley (11-6) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 18-5 1-0
Mar. 18 UT Arlington No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 6-2 Denham (7-1) Denson (1-6) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,061 19-5 2-0
Mar. 19 UT Arlington No. 18 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 11-2 (6 inn) Denham (8-1) Clakley (11-7) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,908 20-5 3-0
Mar. 25 at South Alabama No. 17 Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL W 8-3 Denham (9-1) Brown (9-5) None None 21-5 4-0
Mar. 25 at South Alabama No. 17 Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL W 4-2 Stewart (9-3) Vicknair (9-5) None None 687 22-5 5-0
Mar. 26 at South Alabama No. 17 Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL W 9-4 Stewart (10-3) Brown (9-6) None None 591 23-5 6-0
April (16-1)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Apr. 1 at Georgia Southern No. 17 Eagles Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 15-0 (5 inn) Stewart (11-3) Raley (9-12) None None 24-5 7-0
Apr. 1 at Georgia Southern No. 17 Eagles Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 10-2 (6 inn) Denham (10-1) Camp (5-6) None None 137 25-5 8-0
Apr. 2 at Georgia Southern No. 17 Eagles Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 6-2 Stewart (12-3) Raley (9-13) Denham (1) None 126 26-5 9-0
Apr. 8 Troy No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 3-1 Denham (11-1) Graves (7-6) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 27-5 10-0
Apr. 8 Troy No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 11-0 (5 inn) Stewart (13-3) Willis (1-2) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,088 28-5 11-0
Apr. 9 Troy No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 11-0 (5 inn) Stewart (14-3) Rigney-Brown (6-13) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,474 29-5 12-0
Apr. 11 Southeastern Louisiana No. 17 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 13-5 (5 inn) Denham (12-1) VanHemelryck (0-3) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,865 30-5
Apr. 14 at Texas State No. 17 Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 8-1 Denham (13-1) Rupp (20-6) None None 31-5 13-0
Apr. 14 at Texas State No. 17 Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 12-4 (6 inn) Stewart (15-3) Williams (5-3) None None 1,013 32-5 14-0
Apr. 15 at Texas State No. 17 Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX L 1-2 (8 inn) Williams (6-3) Denham (13-2) None None 784 32-6 14-1
Apr. 19 at No. 4 Texas A&M No. 17 Aggie Softball Complex • College Station, TX W 11-9 Denham (14-2) Show (14-3) None SEC Network+ 953 33-6
Apr. 22 Georgia State No. 17 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 19-4 (5 inn) Smith (4-1) Worsham (4-2) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 34-6 15-1
Apr. 22 Georgia State No. 17 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-1 Stewart (16-3) Jennings (14-9) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,740 35-6 16-1
Apr. 23 Georgia State No. 17 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 14-6 (5 inn) Stewart (17-3) Jennings (14-10) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,058 36-6 17-1
Apr. 29 Coastal Carolina No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-0 (5 inn) Stewart (18-3) Rahach (12-8) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 37-6 18-1
Apr. 29 Coastal Carolina No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 13-4 (5 inn) Stewart (19-3) Guillette (11-9) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,750 38-6 19-1
Apr. 30 Coastal Carolina No. 16 Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 8-0 (5 inn) Stewart (20-3) Rahach (12-9) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,725 39-6 20-1
May (3-0)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
May 6 at Louisiana-Monroe No. 15 Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 4-0 Stewart (21-3) Porter (6-6) None None 40-6 21-1
May 6 at Louisiana-Monroe No. 15 Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 6-5 Denham (15-2) Wader (1-2) Stewart (1) None 271 41-6 22-1
May 7 at Louisiana-Monroe No. 15 Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 8-0 (6 inn) Stewart (22-3) Coyne (16-13) None None 187 42-6 23-1
Post-Season (5-2)
SBC tournament (3-0)
Date Opponent Seed/rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
May 11 vs. South Alabama (Quarterfinals) No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 6-0 Stewart (23-3) Vicknair (14-11) None ESPN3 476 43-6
May 12 vs. Texas State (Semifinals) No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 5-2 Stewart (43-3) Vicknair (14-11) None ESPN3 570 44-6
May 13 vs. Texas State (Championship) No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 12-0 (5 inn) Stewart (25-3) Williams (6-4) None ESPN3 679 45-6
NCAA tournament (2-2)
Date Opponent Seed/rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Baton Rouge Regionals
May 19 vs. McNeese State No. 14 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA W 6-0 Stewart (26-3) Corbello (11-4) None ESPN3 1,993 46-6
May 20 vs. No. 18 LSU No. 14 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA W 4-2 Stewart (27-3) Walljasper (16-5) None ESPN3 2,358 47-6
May 21 vs. No. 18 LSU No. 14 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA L 1-6 Hoover (13-6) Stewart (27-4) None ESPN3 1,997 47-7
May 22 vs. No. 18 LSU No. 14 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA L 1-5 Hoover (14-6) Stewart (27-5) None ESPN3 2,169 47-8
Schedule Source:[6]

Baton Rouge Regional[edit]

Baton Rouge Regional Teams
(1) LSU Tigers (2) Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (3) McNeese State Cowgirls (4) Fairfield Stags
First RoundSemi-FinalsFinals
13LSU2
Fairfield1
13LSU2
Louisiana-Lafayette4
McNeese State0
Louisiana-Lafayette6
Louisiana-Lafayette11
13LSU65
Lower round 1Lower final
13LSU10
Fairfield2McNeese State1
McNeese State6

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Softball". Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  2. ^ "Breaking News: Former Louisiana Ragin' Cajun' Head Softball Coach Michael Lotief Announces Lawsuit Against University". Extra Inning Softball. September 20, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  3. ^ "Former softball coach Lotief sues UL over defamation, Title IX complaints". The Advertiser. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  4. ^ MYERS, BEN. "UL-Lafayette report: Softball coach sought 'secrecy and authority' over players, abuse alleged". The Advocate. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  5. ^ "Ragin' Cajuns Chosen Preseason Sun Belt Favorite for 2017 - Louisiana Athletics". ragincajuns.com. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "Louisiana Releases 2017 Softball Schedule" (Press release). UL Department of Athletics. August 7, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
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