2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team

2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball
NCAA RPI National Champions
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 8
Record	18–6 (2–1 SBC)
Head coach	Gerry Glasco (3rd season)
Assistant coaches	Mike Roberts Lacy Prejean
Home stadium	Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park
Seasons ←  2019 2021  →

2020 Sun Belt Conference softball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 8 Louisiana  ‍‍‍	2	–	1		.667			18	–	6		.750
Texas State  ‍‍‍	2	–	1		.667			15	–	9		.625
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍	2	–	1		.667			14	–	10		.583
UT Arlington  ‍‍‍	2	–	1		.667			12	–	13		.480
South Alabama  ‍‍‍	2	–	1		.667			8	–	17		.320
Troy  ‍‍‍	1	–	2		.333			16	–	6		.727
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍	1	–	2		.333			13	–	8		.619
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍	1	–	2		.333			13	–	9		.591
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍	1	–	2		.333			10	–	14		.417
Georgia State  ‍‍‍	1	–	2		.333			7	–	16		.304
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of March 13, 2020 [1] Rankings from NFCA

The 2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2020 NCAA Division I softball season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park. The Cajuns were led by third year head coach Gerry Glasco.

On March 12, the Sun Belt Conference announced the indefinite suspension of all spring athletics, including softball, due to the increasing risk of the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[2] On March 13, Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order banning gatherings of over 250 people until as early as April 18, thus ending all possible future 2020 home or in-state games until that time if the season were to restart. ^[3] On March 16, the Sun Belt formally announced the cancelation of all spring sports, thus ending their season definitely.

The Cajuns finished the abbreviated season 1st in the only-released RPI in the NCAA, thus making them the claimed "RPI National Champions".

Preseason

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 29, 2020. Louisiana was picked to finish first in the Sun Belt Conference with 100 votes and 10 first place votes, all first place votes available. ^[4]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Louisiana	100 (10)
2	Troy	85
3	UT Arlington	77
4	Texas State	74
5	Coastal Carolina	56
6	Appalachian State	47
7	Georgia Southern	36
8	South Alabama	31
9	Louisiana-Monroe	26
10	Georgia State	18

Preseason All-Sun Belt team

• Summer Ellyson (LA, SR, Pitcher)
• Megan Kleist (LA, SR, Pitcher)
• Julie Rawls (LA, SR, Catcher)
• Reagan Wright (UTA, SR, Catcher)
• Katie Webb (TROY, SR, 1st Base)
• Kaitlyn Alderink (LA, SR, 2nd Base)
• Hailey Mackay (TXST, SR, 3rd Base)
• Alissa Dalton (LA, SR, Shortstop)
• Jayden Mount (ULM, SR, Shortstop)
• Whitney Walton (UTA, SR, Shortstop)
• Tara Oltmann (TXST, JR, Shortstop)
• Courtney Dean (CCU, JR, Outfield)
• Mekhia Freeman (GASO, SR, Outfield)
• Sarah Hudek (LA, SR, Outfield)
• Raina O'Neal (LA, JR, Outfield)
• Bailey Curry (LA, JR, Designated Player/1st Base)

Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year

• Alissa Dalton (LA, SR, Shortstop)

Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year

• Summer Ellyson (LA, SR, Pitcher)

National Softball Signing Day

^[5]

Player	Position	Hometown	Previous Team
Mia Cantu	Infielder	Spring, Texas	Klein Collins HS
Delaney Enlow	Infielder	Versailles, Kentucky	Woodford County HS
Addie Lightner	Infielder	Blue Springs, Missouri	Blue Springs South HS
Hannah Nalley	Outfielder	Marion, Illinois	Marion HS
Sophie Piskos	Catcher	Paris, Tennessee	The Baylor School
Kyleigh Sand	Shortstop	Chino, California	Norco HS
Taylor Snow	Pitcher	Columbia, Louisiana	LaSalle HS

Roster

2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns roster
	Pitchers 5 Madison Garay - Freshman 9 Summer Ellyson - Senior 11 Megan Kleist - Senior 18 Casey Dixon - Junior 28 Carrie Boswell - Junior 53 Kandra Lamb - Sophomore Taylor Snow - Freshman Outfielders 2 Raina O'Neal - Junior 6 Morgan Gray - Senior 16 Kendall Talley - Sophomore 19 Brittni Rufus - Freshman 24 Callie Martin - Junior 31 Taylor Fawcett - Freshman 35 Sarah Hudek - Senior 42 Kylie Neel - Freshman Hannah Nalley - Freshman		Catchers 13 Geana Torres - Sophomore 23 Julie Rawls - Senior Sophie Piskos - Freshman Infielders 7 Alaina Guarino - Senior 8 Taylor Roman - Freshman 12 Brittany Holland - Sophomore 17 Bailey Curry - Junior 21 Melissa Mayeux - Junior 22 Alissa Dalton - Senior 27 Mia Camuso - Junior 44 Kourtney Gremillion - Junior 99 Sydnee Hebert - Freshman Mia Cantu - Freshman Delaney Enlow - Freshman Addie Lightner - Freshman Kyleigh Sand - Freshman Utility 3 Jolie Readeaux - Junior

Coaching staff

2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns coaching staff

Gerry Glasco – Head Coach – 3rd year Mike Roberts – Associate head coach – 2nd year Lacy Prejean – Assistant Head Coach – 2nd year Taran Alvelo – Volunteer Assistant Coach – 1st year Ashley Pauly – Chief of Staff – 2nd year Collin Hopkins – Manager Zeph Delatte – Manager Tambria Bradford – Academic Counselor Connor Stanton – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Brittany Roberts – Assistant Director of Athletic Training Matthew Frakes – Associate Director of Sports Nutrition Denee Simon – Office Manager

Schedule and results

Legend
	Louisiana win
	Louisiana loss
	Postponement/Cancellation/Suspensions
Bold	Louisiana team member

2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball game log
Regular season (18-6)
February (13-5) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Louisiana Classics Feb. 7 Ball State No. 10 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 3-2 Ellyson (1-0) Rothwell (0-1) Kleist (1) Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1-0 Feb. 7 UTSA No. 10 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 8-0 (5 inn) Kleist (1-0) Carpenter (0-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,173 2-0 Feb. 8 North Texas No. 10 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 1-2 Trautwein (1-1) Kleist (1-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2-1 Feb. 8 UTSA No. 10 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 11-1 (5 inn) Ellyson (2-0) Cortez (1-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 2,033 3-1 Feb. 11 Lamar No. 13 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 8-0 (6 inn) Ellyson (3-0) Kyle (0-2) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,875 4-1 Feb. 14 North Dakota No. 13 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-1 (5 inn) Kleist (2-1) Pica (1-1) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 1,904 5-1 Feb. 15 Samford No. 13 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-0 Ellyson (4-0) DeCelles (1-2) None 3,107 6-1 Feb. 15 No. 7 LSU No. 13 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 2-1 Kleist (3-1) Gorsuch (1-1) None CST/ESPN+ 3,107 7-1 Feb. 16 at No. 7 LSU No. 13 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA L 3-4 Kilponen (2-0) Kleist (3-2) None SECN+/ESPN+ 2,246 7-2 UAB Blazer Classics Feb. 21 vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State No. 11 Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL L 0-1 Eberle (4-1) Kleist (3-3) None 174 7-3 Feb. 22 vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State No. 11 Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL W 3-2 Ellyson (5-0) Maxwell (2-3) None 176 8-3 Feb. 22 vs. Ole Miss No. 11 Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL W 5-3 Kleist (4-3) Jacobsen (2-3) Ellyson (1) 194 9-3 Feb. 23 vs. Ole Miss No. 11 Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL W 8-1 Ellyson (6-0) Borgen (2-1) None 308 10-3 Feb. 23 at UAB No. 11 Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL W 7-4 Ellyson (7-0) Woodham (3-3) None C-USA.TV 268 11-3 Feb. 25 at No. 3 Texas No. 10 Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX W 3-2 Kleist (5-3) Elish (7-2) None Longhorn Network 1,036 12-3 Feb. 25 at No. 3 Texas No. 10 Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX L 1-2 O'Leary (4-0) Ellyson (7-1) Elish (1) 1,036 12-4 Feb. 28 at No. 7 Florida No. 10 Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL L 0-6 Chronister (1-0) Kleist (5-4) None SECN+/ESPN+ 1,186 12-5 Feb. 29 at No. 7 Florida No. 10 Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL W 7-5 Ellyson (8-1) Trlicek (7-2) Kleist (2) SECN+/ESPN+ 1,484 13-5
March (5-1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Mar. 1 at No. 7 Florida No. 10 Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL W 7-6 Ellyson (9-1) Lugo (6-2) None SECN+/ESPN+ 1,509 14-5 Mar. 4 Campbell No. 8 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game cancelled due to heavy, continued rains in Lafayette Mar. 6 at Coastal Carolina No. 8 St. John Stadium–Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC L 1-7 Marcano (3-0) Kleist (5-5) None 243 14-6 0-1 Mar. 7 at Coastal Carolina No. 8 St. John Stadium–Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC W 5-0 Ellyson (10-1) BeasleyPolko (4-4) None 356 15-6 1-1 Mar. 8 at Coastal Carolina No. 8 St. John Stadium–Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC W 10-2 (5 inn) Kleist (6-5) BeasleyPolko (4-5) None 342 16-6 2-1 Mar. 11 Sam Houston State No. 8 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 19-0 (5 inn) Ellyson (11-1) Bailey (1-4) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 17-6 ,031 Mar. 11 Sam Houston State No. 8 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 15-0 (5 inn) Kleist (7-5) Sanchez (2-5) None Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network 18-6 2,031 Mar. 13 Appalachian State Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Mar. 14 Appalachian State Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Mar. 15 Appalachian State Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Mar. 18 at McNeese State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Mar. 20 at Georgia State Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Atlanta, GA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Mar. 21 at Georgia State Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Atlanta, GA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Mar. 22 at Georgia State Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Atlanta, GA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Mar. 27 Texas State Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Mar. 28 Texas State Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Mar. 29 Texas State Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic
April (0–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Apr. 1 McNeese State Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 3 South Alabama Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 4 South Alabama Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 5 South Alabama Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 7 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 9 at Troy Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 10 at Troy Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 11 at Troy Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 13 at Florida State JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminoles Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 14 at Florida State JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 15 at Alabama Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 17 Georgia Southern Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 18 Georgia Southern Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 19 Georgia Southern Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 24 at UT Arlington Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 25 at UT Arlington Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 26 at UT Arlington Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 29 Louisiana Tech Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic Apr. 30 Louisiana–Monroe Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic
May (0-0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 1 Louisiana–Monroe Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic May 2 Louisiana–Monroe Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Post-Season (0-0)
SBC tournament (0-0) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 6 TBD Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Atlanta, GA Championship Series canceled to COVID-19 pandemic

Schedule source: ^[6]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

Rankings

Main article: 2020 NCAA Division I softball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	Final
NFCA / USA Today	10	13	11	10	8	8
Softball America [7]	8	18	9	8	5	9
ESPN.com/USA Softball	10	14	10	9	7	8
D1Softball	8	12	10	7	6	7

References

1. "2020 Softball Standings". SunBeltSports.org. Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
2. Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Statement on Spring Sports Competitions". sunbeltsports.org.
3. "Louisiana schools closed until April 13, halts public gatherings over 250 people". KLFY.
4. Rodgers, Scottie (January 28, 2020). "Louisiana, Ragin' Cajuns' Dalton, Ellyson Top Softball Preseason Honors". sunbeltsports.org.
5. "Gerry Glasco Welcomes Seven to Louisiana Softball on Signing Day". Ragin' Cajuns Athletics. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
6. "Louisiana Releases 2019 Softball Schedule" (Press release). UL Department of Athletics. August 7, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
7. "2020 D-I Top 25". SoftballAmerica.com. Baseball America Enterprises. Retrieved January 31, 2020.