May can be a strange and confusing month for college athletes and coaches.

It’s when the games matter more than ever, yet also when the competition on the field can seem pretty insignificant.

The UL Ragin’ Cajun softball team is certainly juggling that paradox these days. The truth, however, is that they’ve almost become pros at it.

On the field, the Cajuns are now ranked No. 5 in the nation with an RPI of 12 with a sparkling record of 44-2 overall and Sun Belt Conference champions with a 19-2 record.

Off the field, the program is fully expecting to be maintaining its 99 percent graduation rate since Michael and Stefni Lotief took over in 2001.

"Academics is always first here, always," UL co-head coach Michael Lotief said.

Lotief said when UL’s seven seniors — Ashley Brignac, Paige Cormier, Callie Philen, Megan Granger, Katie Smith, Christi Orgeron, Erikka Murphy — play their final regular season home games this weekend against UL Monroe, he won’t be sad.

Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. and Sunday’s single game at noon.

"My emotions are going to be pride and joy," Lotief said. "It’s going to be a big weekend for the seniors. We’re going to celebrate their careers."

While some coaches are worried about the focus of their players at this time of the season — such as looking past this weekend to the postseason play — it’s not even a though for the Cajuns.

"These girls understand how fragile the game is with injuries and one game you’re not and the next game you’re not hot," Lotief said. "They understand that the game is so tough that you don’t need to add any distractions to make it tougher."

Thrilled over title

When the Cajuns won their 12th Sun Belt title in the league’s 13-year history with the sweep of Western Kentucky this past weekend, many viewed it as a ho-hum achievement.

Lotief said he didn’t.

"I know what my emotions were," he said. "I know some just look at it as a given, but I don’t. It wasn’t, ‘Oh well’ to me. I stopped and I smiled. I understand all the people it takes to achieve that, I understand the sacrifice, I understand the hours.

"I also understand what it feels like to not win it. I know there are people wanting to fast-forward to what’s coming next, but I’m not."

New SBC teams?

When teams move into new conferences, most of the speculation revolves around the major sports of football and basketball.

Time will tell on how the recent additions of Texas State and Georgia State will impact those sports, but Lotief is convinced the both will quickly enhance the Sun Belt’s softball league race.

Currently, Texas State is 33-15 overall and 16-2 in league play and ranked No. 8 in the unofficial mid-major national poll. Georgia State, meanwhile, is 34-15 overall and 11-6 in league play.