2017 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns softball team

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]

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
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 19
Record	47-8 (23-1 SBC)
Head coach	Michael Lotief (17th season)
Assistant coaches	Chris Malveaux Kate Malveaux
Home stadium	Lamson Park
Seasons ← 2016 2018 →

2017 Sun Belt Conference softball standings

v t e	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

Preseason

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

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

• 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

• Aleah Craighton (ULL, JR, Outfield)'

Roster

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

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

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

Baton Rouge Regional Teams
(1) LSU Tigers	(2) Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns	(3) McNeese State Cowgirls	(4) Fairfield Stags

	First Round					Semi-Finals					Finals
	13	LSU	2
		Fairfield	1
						13	LSU	2
							Louisiana-Lafayette	4
	McNeese State		0
	Louisiana-Lafayette		6
												Louisiana-Lafayette	1	1
											13	LSU	6	5
	Lower round 1					Lower final
						13	LSU	10
	Fairfield		2				McNeese State	1
	McNeese State		6

References

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.