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
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 19
2017 record47-8 (23-1 SBC)
Head coach
  • Michael Lotief (17th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Chris Malveaux
  • Kate Malveaux
Home stadiumLamson Park
2017 Sun Belt Conference softball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW 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)
1Louisiana-Lafayette100 (10)
2Texas State87
3South Alabama80
4Georgia State68
5Georgia Southern55
6Troy44
7UT Arlington41
8Coastal Carolina32
9Louisiana-Monroe30
10Appalachian State13

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
BoldLouisiana 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. 10DePaulNo. 11Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 9-1 (6 inn)Stewart (1-0)Landwehrmier (0-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1-0
Feb. 10Iowa StateNo. 11Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 9-1Denham (1-0)Sanders (0-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,0222-0
Feb. 11DePaulNo. 11Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 4-3Stewart (2-0)Garcia (1-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network3-0
Feb. 11Ball StateNo. 11Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 7-4Smith (1-0)Miles (0-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,2374-0
Feb. 12Southern MissNo. 11Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAL 3-4Johnson (1-0)Denham (1-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network4-1
Feb. 12Southern MissNo. 11Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAL 3-5Crowson (3-0)Stewart (2-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,1754-2
Feb. 18No. 4 AlabamaNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAL 0-3Osorio (4-0)Smith (1-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network4-3
Feb. 18No. 4 AlabamaNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 11-2 (6 inn)Stewart (3-1)Moore (1-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,2105-3
Feb. 19No. 4 AlabamaNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 7-0Denham (2-1)Osorio (4-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,0796-3
Mardi Gras Invitational
Feb. 23DrakeNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 9-3Denham (3-1)Newman (5-3)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network7-3
Feb. 23Bowling GreenNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 14-2 (5 inn)Stewart (4-1)Combs (1-2)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,0248-3
Feb. 24DartmouthNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 12-5Ellyson (1-0)Ethridge (0-1)Smith (1)Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network1,9179-3
Feb. 25MarylandNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 3-0Denham (4-1)Martin (1-3)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,93910-3
Feb. 26BradleyNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAL 1-2Hull (5-1)Stewart (4-2)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network10-4
Feb. 26Mississippi Valley StateNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 19-0 (5 inn)Smith (2-1)Ellis (0-1)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,01011-4
March (12-1)
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SBC Record
Ragin' Cajuns Invitational
Mar. 3Alcorn StateNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 8-0 (5 inn)Smith (3-1)Castillo (1-3)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network12-4
Mar. 3North Dakota StateNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 8-2Denham (5-1)Sertic (3-9)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,84113-4
Mar. 4North Dakota StateNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 15-0 (5 inn)Stewart (5-2)Leddy (1-4)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network14-4
Mar. 4Texas A&M-Corpus ChristiNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 8-0 (6 inn)Stewart (6-2)Carter (4-6)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,91515-4
Mar. 5Texas A&M-Corpus ChristiNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 18-0 (5 inn)Denham (6-1)Carter (4-7)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network16-4
Mar. 5Alcorn StateNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 14-4 (5 inn)Stewart (7-2)Dorsey (0-4)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,79917-4
Mar. 9No. 15 BaylorNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAL 4-5Selman (11-2)Stewart (7-3)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,86117-5
Mar. 11at Appalachian StateNo. 18Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NCSeries cancelled due to inclement weather
Mar. 11at Appalachian StateNo. 18Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NCSeries cancelled due to inclement weather
Mar. 12at Appalachian StateNo. 18Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NCSeries cancelled due to inclement weather
Mar. 18UT ArlingtonNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 6-5Stewart (8-3)Clakley (11-6)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network18-51-0
Mar. 18UT ArlingtonNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 6-2Denham (7-1)Denson (1-6)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,06119-52-0
Mar. 19UT ArlingtonNo. 18Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 11-2 (6 inn)Denham (8-1)Clakley (11-7)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,90820-53-0
Mar. 25at South AlabamaNo. 17Jaguar Field • Mobile, ALW 8-3Denham (9-1)Brown (9-5)NoneNone21-54-0
Mar. 25at South AlabamaNo. 17Jaguar Field • Mobile, ALW 4-2Stewart (9-3)Vicknair (9-5)NoneNone68722-55-0
Mar. 26at South AlabamaNo. 17Jaguar Field • Mobile, ALW 9-4Stewart (10-3)Brown (9-6)NoneNone59123-56-0
April (16-1)
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SBC Record
Apr. 1at Georgia SouthernNo. 17Eagles Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GAW 15-0 (5 inn)Stewart (11-3)Raley (9-12)NoneNone24-57-0
Apr. 1at Georgia SouthernNo. 17Eagles Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GAW 10-2 (6 inn)Denham (10-1)Camp (5-6)NoneNone13725-58-0
Apr. 2at Georgia SouthernNo. 17Eagles Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GAW 6-2Stewart (12-3)Raley (9-13)Denham (1)None12626-59-0
Apr. 8TroyNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 3-1Denham (11-1)Graves (7-6)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network27-510-0
Apr. 8TroyNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 11-0 (5 inn)Stewart (13-3)Willis (1-2)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,08828-511-0
Apr. 9TroyNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 11-0 (5 inn)Stewart (14-3)Rigney-Brown (6-13)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,47429-512-0
Apr. 11Southeastern LouisianaNo. 17Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 13-5 (5 inn)Denham (12-1)VanHemelryck (0-3)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,86530-5
Apr. 14at Texas StateNo. 17Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TXW 8-1Denham (13-1)Rupp (20-6)NoneNone31-513-0
Apr. 14at Texas StateNo. 17Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TXW 12-4 (6 inn)Stewart (15-3)Williams (5-3)NoneNone1,01332-514-0
Apr. 15at Texas StateNo. 17Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TXL 1-2 (8 inn)Williams (6-3)Denham (13-2)NoneNone78432-614-1
Apr. 19at No. 4 Texas A&MNo. 17Davis Diamond • College Station, TXW 11-9Denham (14-2)Show (14-3)NoneSEC Network+95333-6
Apr. 22Georgia StateNo. 17Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 19-4 (5 inn)Smith (4-1)Worsham (4-2)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network34-615-1
Apr. 22Georgia StateNo. 17Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 7-1Stewart (16-3)Jennings (14-9)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,74035-616-1
Apr. 23Georgia StateNo. 17Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 14-6 (5 inn)Stewart (17-3)Jennings (14-10)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network2,05836-617-1
Apr. 29Coastal CarolinaNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 9-0 (5 inn)Stewart (18-3)Rahach (12-8)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network37-618-1
Apr. 29Coastal CarolinaNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 13-4 (5 inn)Stewart (19-3)Guillette (11-9)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,75038-619-1
Apr. 30Coastal CarolinaNo. 16Lamson Park • Lafayette, LAW 8-0 (5 inn)Stewart (20-3)Rahach (12-9)NoneRagin' Cajuns Digital Network1,72539-620-1
May (3-0)
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SBC Record
May 6at Louisiana-MonroeNo. 15Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LAW 4-0Stewart (21-3)Porter (6-6)NoneNone40-621-1
May 6at Louisiana-MonroeNo. 15Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LAW 6-5Denham (15-2)Wader (1-2)Stewart (1)None27141-622-1
May 7at Louisiana-MonroeNo. 15Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LAW 8-0 (6 inn)Stewart (22-3)Coyne (16-13)NoneNone18742-623-1
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 11vs. South Alabama (Quarterfinals)No. 14Troy Softball Complex • Troy, ALW 6-0Stewart (23-3)Vicknair (14-11)NoneESPN347643-6
May 12vs. Texas State (Semifinals)No. 14Troy Softball Complex • Troy, ALW 5-2Stewart (43-3)Vicknair (14-11)NoneESPN357044-6
May 13vs. Texas State (Championship)No. 14Troy Softball Complex • Troy, ALW 12-0 (5 inn)Stewart (25-3)Williams (6-4)NoneESPN367945-6
NCAA Tournament (2-2)
Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall Record SBC Record
Baton Rouge Regionals
May 19vs. McNeese StateNo. 14Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LAW 6-0Stewart (26-3)Corbello (11-4)NoneESPN31,99346-6
May 20vs. No. 18 LSUNo. 14Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LAW 4-2Stewart (27-3)Walljasper (16-5)NoneESPN32,35847-6
May 21vs. No. 18 LSUNo. 14Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LAL 1-6Hoover (13-6)Stewart (27-4)NoneESPN31,99747-7
May 22vs. No. 18 LSUNo. 14Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LAL 1-5Hoover (14-6)Stewart (27-5)NoneESPN32,16947-8
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
Fairfield 2  
McNeese State 6  
  13 LSU 10
  McNeese State 1  

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. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  3. "Former softball coach Lotief sues UL over defamation, Title IX complaints". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  4. bmyers@theadvocate.com, BEN MYERS |. "UL-Lafayette report: Softball coach sought 'secrecy and authority' over players, abuse alleged". The Advocate. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  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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