# 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.

## 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.
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)'

## 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 |
| 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 | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | 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 | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | 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 | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | Series cancelled due to inclement weather | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |

## Baton Rouge Regional

Baton Rouge Regional Teams :
| (1) LSU Tigers | (2) Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns | (3) McNeese State Cowgirls | (4) Fairfield Stags |
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 13 | LSU | 2 | | | | | | | |
| | Fairfield | 1 | | | | | | | |
| | Fairfield | 1 | 13 | LSU | 2 | | | | |
| | | | | Louisiana-Lafayette | 4 | | | | |
| McNeese State | McNeese State | 0 | | Louisiana-Lafayette | 4 | | | | |
| Louisiana-Lafayette | Louisiana-Lafayette | 6 | | | | | | | |
| Louisiana-Lafayette | Louisiana-Lafayette | 6 | | | | | Louisiana-Lafayette | 1 | 1 |
| | | | | | | 13 | LSU | 6 | 5 |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | 13 | LSU | 6 | 5 |
| | | | 13 | LSU | 10 | | | | |
| Fairfield | Fairfield | 2 | | McNeese State | 1 | | | | |
| McNeese State | McNeese State | 6 | | | | | | | |