American college softball season
The 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season . The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park and were led by fourth-year head coach Gerry Glasco. They were members of the Sun Belt Conference .
Previous season [ edit ] On March 12, 2020, 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 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 [ edit ] Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll [ edit ] The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2021. Louisiana was picked to finish first in the Sun Belt Conference with 100 votes and 10 first place votes, all first place votes available, for the second year in a row.[3]
Coaches poll Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 Louisiana 100 (10) 2 Troy 87 3 Texas State 72 4 Coastal Carolina 68 4 UT Arlington 68 6 Appalachian State 43 7 Georgia Southern 38 8 South Alabama 36 9 Louisiana-Monroe 22 10 Georgia State 16
Preseason All-Sun Belt team [ edit ] Summer Ellyson (LA, SR, Pitcher) Leanna Johnson (TROY, SO, Pitcher) Alissa Dalton (LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base) Katie Webb (TROY, SR, Infielder/1st Base) Raina O'Neal (LA, JR, Outfielder) Julie Raws (LA, SR, Catcher) Courney Dean (CCU, SR, Outfielder) Mekhia Freeman (GASO, SR, Outfielder) Korie Kreps (ULM, JR, Outfielder)' Kaitlyn Alderink (LA, SR, 2nd Base) Jade Gortarez (LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base) Ciara Bryan (LA, SR, Outfielder) Kelly Horne (TROY, SO, Infielder/2nd Base) Makiya Thomas (CCU, SR, Outfielder/Infielder) Tara Oltmann (TXST, SR, Infielder/Shortstop) Jayden Mount (ULM, SR, Infielder) Katie Lively (TROY, SO, Outfielder) Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year
Alissa Dalton (LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base) Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Summer Ellyson (LA, SR, Pitcher) National Softball Signing Day [ edit ] [4]
Player Position Hometown Previous Team Jacquelyn Adams Infielder Bryan, Texas Bryan HS Jessica Adams Pitcher Bryan, Texas Bryan HS Laney Credeur Infielder Old Mines, Missouri Kingston Kramer Eschete Outfielder Brenham, Texas Brenham HS Kayla Falterman Outfielder The Woodlands, Texas The Woodlands HS Samantha Graeter Outfielder/Utility Spring, Texas Oak Ridge HS Maddie Hayden Outfielder/Utility West Monroe, Louisiana West Monroe HS Elia Hebel Infielder Albany, Texas Albany HS Samantha Landry Pitcher Mont Belvieu, Texas Barbers Hill HS Alexa Langeliers Infielder Keller, Texas Keller HS Tyler Oubre Pitcher Destrehan, Louisiana Destrehan HS McKenzie Wittenberg Outfielder Fort Myers, Florida Riverdale HS
2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns roster Pitchers
7 Karly Heath – sophomore 9 Summer Ellyson – senior 18 Casey Dixon – junior 26 Taylor Snow – freshman 27 Vanessa Foreman – sophomore 53 Kandra Lamb – sophomore 71 Brinson Rogers – freshman Outfielders
2 Raina O'Neal – junior 4 Ciara Bryan – senior 5 Frankie Izard – sophomore 6 Morgan Gray – senior 8 Taylor Roman – freshman 16 Kendall Talley – sophomore 44 Jenna Kean – junior Catchers
19 Sophie Piskos – freshman 23 Julie Rawls – senior Infielders
3 Kyleigh Sand – freshman 10 Justice Milz – senior 15 Kaitlyn Alderink – senior 21 Melissa Mayeux – junior 22 Alissa Dalton – senior 24 Jade Gortarez – senior 28 Carrie Boswell – junior 99 Delaney Enlow – freshman Designated Player
Coaching staff [ edit ] 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns coaching staff Gerry Glasco – Head coach – 4th year Mike Roberts – Associate Head coach – 3rd year Lacy Prejean – Assistant Head coach – 3rd year Kevin Meyers – Volunteer Assistant Coach – 1st year Ashley Pauly – Chief of Staff – 3rd year
Schedule and results [ edit ] Legend Louisiana win Louisiana loss Postponement/Cancellation Bold Louisiana team member
2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball Game Log Regular season (40-10) February (9-3) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Louisiana Classics Feb. 13 Missouri State No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Lafayette Feb. 13 No. 22 Baylor No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Lafayette Feb. 14 Missouri State No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Lafayette Feb. 14 No. 22 Baylor No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Lafayette Feb. 16 at Lamar No. 9 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX Game postponed due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Beaumont Feb. 16 at Lamar No. 9 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX Game postponed due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Beaumont UAB Green & Gold Classic Feb. 20 vs. Jacksonville State No. 9 Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL W 8-2 Lamb (1-0) Watkins (0-1) None 97 1-0 Feb. 20 at UAB No. 9 Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL W 1-0 Ellyson (1-0) Woodham (0-2) None CUSA.TV 261 2-0 Feb. 21 vs. Southeastern Louisiana No. 9 Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL W 9-1 (6 inn) Lamb (2-0) Hannabas (0-1) None 55 3-0 Feb. 21 at UAB No. 9 Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL W 8-2 Ellyson (2-0) Woodham (0-3) None CUSA.TV 226 4-0 Feb. 23 Eastern Illinois No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-0 (5 inn) Dixon (1-0) Montgomery (2-1) None 309 5-0 Feb. 24 McNeese State No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 8-7 (8 inn) Ellyson (3-0) Tate (0-3) None 244 6-0 Louisiana-LSU Crossover Feb. 25 No. 11 LSU No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 0-4 Gorsuch (1-0) Ellyson (3-1) None ESPN+ 318 6-1 Feb. 26 Buffalo No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-0 Lamb (3-0) Marcano (0-3) None 243 7-1 Feb. 26 Buffalo No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 16-0 (5 inn) Dixon (2-0) Hickingbottom (0-1) None 243 8-1 Feb. 27 vs. No. 10 Oklahoma State No. 9 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA W 7-1 Ellyson (4-1) Simunek (1-1) None 245 9-1 Feb. 27 at No. 11 LSU No. 9 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA L 2-3 Gorsuch (2-0) Ellyson (4-2) Kiponen (1) SECN+ 456 9-2 Feb. 28 No. 10 Oklahoma State No. 9 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 3-5 (9 inn) Eberle (5-0) Lamb (3-1) None 266 9-3
March (13-3) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Mar. 3 at McNeese State No. 12 Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 5-4 Dixon (3-0) Tate (0-5) Ellyson (1) 219 10-3 Mar. 4 Baylor No. 12 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 1-8 Rodoni (2-2) Ellyson (4-3) None ESPN+ 262 10-4 Mar. 6 at Memphis No. 12 Tigers Softball Complex • Memphis, TN W 7-2 Lamb (4-1) Johnson (0-1) None 11-4 Mar. 6 at Memphis No. 12 Tigers Softball Complex • Memphis, TN W 9-0 (5 inns) Heath (1-0) Ellett (0-5) None 326 12-4 Mar. 7 at Memphis No. 12 Tigers Softball Complex • Memphis, TN W 11-7 Lamb (5-1) Nichols (1-3) None 147 13-4 Mar. 13 Georgia Southern No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game postponed due to threat of severe weather in Lafayette Mar. 13 Georgia Southern No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game postponed due to threat of severe weather in Lafayette Mar. 14 Georgia Southern No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game postponed due to threat of severe weather in Lafayette Mar. 18 at No. 10 Texas No. 15 Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX L 0-4 O'Leary (3-0) Lamb (5-2) None LHN 434 13-5 Mar. 18 at No. 10 Texas No. 15 Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX W 10-9 Ellyson (5-3) Jacobsen (6-2) None LHN 434 14-5 Mar. 19 at UT Arlington No. 15 Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX W 9-6 Lamb (6-2) Henriksen (0-2) None 156 15-5 1-0 Mar. 20 at UT Arlington No. 15 Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX L 3-8 Gardiner (2-1) Ellyson (5-4) None 156 15-6 1-1 Mar. 21 at UT Arlington No. 15 Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX W 4-2 Lamb (7-2) Gardiner (2-2) None 156 16-6 2-1 Mar. 24 Louisiana Tech No. 16 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game postponed to April 20 due to threat of inclement weather in Lafayette Mar. 26 RV South Alabama No. 16 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 1-0 Ellyson (6-4) Lackie (11-4) None 282 17-6 3-1 Mar. 27 RV South Alabama No. 16 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 1-0 Lamb (8-2) Hughen (3-4) None 291 18-6 4-1 Mar. 28 RV South Alabama No. 16 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 6-0 Lamb (9-2) Lackie (11-5) None 304 19-6 5-1 Mar. 28 Georgia Southern No. 16 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-2 Lamb (10-2) Waldrep (2-3) None 228 20-6 6-1 Mar. 29 Georgia Southern No. 16 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 6-0 Ellyson (7-4) Richardson (2-3) None ESPN+ 219 21-6 7-1 Mar. 29 Georgia Southern No. 16 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-3 Lamb (11-2) Feil (0-4) None ESPN+ 267 22-6 8-1
April (13-3) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Apr. 2 at Georgia State No. 16 Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 10-2 (5 inns) Ellyson (8-4) Doolittle (0-2) None 125 23-6 9-1 Apr. 2 at Georgia State No. 16 Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 4-0 Lamb (12-2) Mooney (4-6) None 125 24-6 10-1 Apr. 3 at Georgia State No. 16 Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 13-1 (5 inns) Ellyson (9-4) Mooney (4-7) None 127 25-6 11-1 Apr. 5 at Lamar No. 16 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX W 18-0 (5 inns) Lamb (13-2) Reyna (1-10) None 119 26-6 Apr. 5 at Lamar No. 16 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX W 10-0 (5 inns) Dixon (4-0) Mixon (1-10) None 119 27-6 Apr. 6 at Sam Houston State No. 14 Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX W 8-3 Ellyson (10-4) Dunn (4-6) None 107 28-6 Apr. 7 at Houston No. 14 Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX W 12-5 Ellyson (11-4) Hertenberger (5-6) None 243 29-6 Apr. 9 at RV Troy No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 5-2 Ellyson (12-4) Johnson (15-4) None ESPN+ 192 30-6 12-1 Apr. 10 at RV Troy No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 8-7 Lamb (14-2) Bailey (3-2) Ellyson (2) ESPN+ 135 31-6 13-1 Apr. 11 at RV Troy No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 10-2 (6 inns) Ellyson (13-4) Baker (4-3) None ESPN+ 81 32-6 14-1 Apr. 13 Southeastern Louisiana No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Lafayette Apr. 17 Texas State No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 1-5 Mullins (14-3) Lamb (14-3) None ESPN+ 289 32-7 14-2 Apr. 17 Texas State No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-3 Ellyson (14-4) Mullins (14-4) None ESPN+ 289 33-7 15-2 Apr. 18 Texas State No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 8-0 (6 inns) Ellyson (15-4) Mullins (14-5) None ESPN+ 283 34-7 16-2 Apr. 20 Louisiana Tech No. 13 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-0 Ellyson (16-4) Pickett (4-10) None ESPN+ 262 35-7 Apr. 24 at No. 5 Alabama No. 13 Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 3-5 Fouts (15-3) Ellyson (16-5) None SECN+ 1,413 35-8 Apr. 25 at No. 5 Alabama No. 13 Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 1-5 Goodman (6-1) Lamb (14-4) Fouts (3) SECN+ 1,596 35-9
May (5-1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 1 at Coastal Carolina No. 13 St. Johns Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC W 7-2 Lamb (15-4) De Jesus (5-7) None ESPN+ 125 36-9 17-2 May 1 at Coastal Carolina No. 13 St. Johns Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC W 7-0 Ellyson (17-5) Beasley-Polko (9-9) None ESPN+ 125 37-9 18-2 May 2 at Coastal Carolina No. 13 St. Johns Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC W 10-2 (5 inns) Ellyson (18-5) Brabham (5-6) None ESPN+ 125 38-9 19-2 May 6 Louisiana–Monroe No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 10-1 (5 inns) Ellyson (19-5) Chavarria (1-10) None 543 39-9 20-2 May 7 Louisiana–Monroe No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 8-6 Ellyson (20-5) Hulett (5-8) None ESPN+ 894 40-9 21-2 May 8 Louisiana–Monroe No. 14 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 1-2 Coons (5-4) Ellyson (20-6) None ESPN+ 961 40-10 21-3
Post-season (7-2) SBC Tournament (4-0) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record May 12 vs. (9) Louisiana–Monroe (1)/No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 7-0 Lamb (16-4) Hulett (6-10) None ESPN+ 173 41-10 1-0 May 13 vs. (4) South Alabama (1)/No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 10-3 Ellyson (21-6) Lackie (17-10) None ESPN+ 167 42-10 2-0 May 14 vs. (2) Texas State (1)/No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 4-3 Ellyson (22-6) King (11-4) None ESPN+ 188 43-10 3-0 May 15 vs. (4) South Alabama (1)/No. 14 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 15-3 (5 inns) Ellyson (23-6) Hardy (4-3) None ESPN+ 279 44-10 4-0
NCAA Division I softball tournament (3-2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record Baton Rouge Regionals May 21 vs. (3) George Washington (2)/No. 15 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA W 1-0 (11 inns) Ellyson (24-6) Lange (21-9) None ESPN3 1,894 45-10 1-0 May 22 vs. (1)/No. 16 LSU (2)/No. 15 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA L 3-10 Sunseri (11-6) Ellyson (24-7) None SECN 2,475 45-11 1-1 May 22 vs. (4) McNeese State (2)/No. 15 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA W 4-0 Ellyson (25-7) Edwards (9-3) Lamb (1) ESPN3 1,920 46-11 2-1 May 23 vs. (1)/No. 16 LSU (2)/No. 15 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA W 2-0 Lamb (17-4) Kilponen (14-8) None SECN 47-11 3-1 May 23 vs. (1)/No. 16 LSU (2)/No. 15 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA L 5-8 Kilponen (15-8) Lamb (17-5) None ESPNU 2,285 47-12 3-2
Schedule Source: [5] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
Baton Rouge Regional [ edit ] Baton Rouge Regional Teams (1) LSU Lady Tigers (2) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (3) George Washington Colonials (4) McNeese State Cowgirls
First Round Semi-Finals Finals 7 LSU 10 McNeese State 2 7 LSU 10 Louisiana 3 George Washington 0 Louisiana 1 7 LSU 0 8 Louisiana 2 5 Lower round 1 Lower final McNeese State 0 McNeese State 12 Louisiana 4 George Washington 0
Postseason [ edit ] Conference accolades [ edit ] Player of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA Pitcher of the Year: Summer Ellyson – LA Freshman of the Year: Sara Vanderford – TXST Newcomer of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco – LA All Conference First Team
Ciara Bryan (LA) Summer Ellyson (LA) Sara Vanderford (TXST) Leanna Johnson (TROY) Jessica Mullins (TXST) Olivia Lackie (USA) Kj Murphy (UTA) Katie Webb (TROY) Jayden Mount (ULM) Kandra Lamb (LA) Kendall Talley (LA) Meredith Keel (USA) Tara Oltmann (TXST) Jade Sinness (TROY) Katie Lively (TROY)
All Conference Second Team
Kelly Horne (TROY) Meagan King (TXST) Mackenzie Brasher (USA) Bailee Wilson (GASO) Makiya Thomas (CCU) Kaitlyn Alderink (LA) Abby Krzywiecki (USA) Kenzie Longanecker (APP) Alissa Dalton (LA) Julie Rawls (LA) Korie Kreps (ULM) Kayla Rosado (CCU) Justice Milz (LA) Gabby Buruato (APP) Arieann Bell (TXST)
References: [6]
Rankings [ edit ] Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final NFCA / USA Today[7] 9 9 9 12 14 15 16 16 14 14 13 13 14 14 15 Softball America[8] 8 9 8 12 16 16 20 17 16 15 14 15 15 17 17 ESPN.com/USA Softball[9] 9 10 7 13 14 15 17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 18 D1Softball[10] 7 8 9 12 16 16 18 16 16 15 15 16 13 14 14
References [ edit ] ^ "2021 Softball Standings" . SunBeltSports.org . Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved February 13, 2021 . ^ Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Statement on Spring Sports Competitions" . sunbeltsports.org . ^ Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Conference Announces Preseason Softball Honors" . sunbeltsports.org . Retrieved February 14, 2021 . ^ "Louisiana Announces Final Additions to 2021 Softball Recruiting Class" . Louisiana Athletics . Retrieved February 14, 2021 . ^ "Louisiana Softball Unveils 2021 Season Schedule" . Louisiana Athletics . Retrieved February 14, 2021 . ^ "Sun Belt Announces 2021 Softball Postseason All-Conference, Individual Awards" . sunbeltsports.org . Retrieved January 5, 2022 . ^ "2020 NCAA Division I Top 25" . www.softballamerica.com . Retrieved February 14, 2021 . ^ "2021 D-I Top 25" . SoftballAmerica.com . Baseball America Enterprises. Retrieved February 13, 2021 . ^ "NCAA College Rankings and Polls - ESPN" . ESPN.com . Retrieved February 14, 2021 . ^ "Top 25 Archives • D1Softball" . D1Softball . Retrieved February 14, 2021 .
Venues Coaches Seasons Women's College World Series appearances in italics