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. 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. 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.
Coaches poll 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
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 staffGerry 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/SuspensionsBoldLouisiana team member