Softball: Aleah Craighton Collects Player of the Week Accolades

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball redshirt freshman outfielder Aleah Craighton received Player of the Week honors from both the Sun Belt Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association on Monday for her performance in the sweep of ULM which clinched the 2015 Sun Belt Conference championship.
 
Craighton completed the regular-season ending series at the ULM Softball Complex posting team-bests with a .700 average, four home runs and nine RBI.  
 
She homered twice in each game of Saturday’s doubleheader collecting her second and third multi-home run games of the season. She set a career-high with six RBI in Game 2, which upped her doubleheader total to nine RBI.
 
As a result, the Prairieville, La., native and Dutchtown High product received her first career player of the week honor from both the SBC and LSWA.
 
"Everybody can see her athleticism, but she has worked extremely hard getting her skill set better and understanding the game," Louisiana softball head coach Michael Lotief said. "She’s done that through her work ethic, attitude and effort.
 
"She’s never taken a day off," Lotief added. "When she had success earlier in the season, it didn’t stop her. She showed up early every day to improve."
 
Her two home runs in Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader played a pivotal role in the Cajuns 9-3 win. The first was a solo shot that broke a 3-all tie in the fourth inning. She homered in her next at bat, a two-run blast in the fifth inning, to increase the Cajuns’ lead to 6-3.
 
In Game 2, both home runs produced multiple runs. She launched a two-run homer in the third inning and in her next at bat hit her first career grand slam in the fourth inning to extend the lead into double digits at 13-0 in the championship clincher.
 
Craighton was hit by a pitch in two of her four at bats in the series finale, but managed to go 2-for-2 with two stolen bases as Louisiana completed the sweep of ULM.
 
It’s the sixth time a Cajuns player receives a weekly Sun Belt honor this season, adding to a combined three SBC Pitcher of the Week awards claimed by the combination of Jordan Wallace (Feb. 16, Mar. 16) and Christina Hamilton (Feb. 23) and a pair of SBC Player of the Week honors for Lexie Elkins (Mar. 23, Apr. 20).
 
It’s also the sixth time a Cajuns player is chosen for one of the two weekly honors from the LSWA.
 
"The awards are a product of the whole team culture," Lotief stated. "All of the hitters push each other every day to improve. It’s all about these kids pushing each other, holding each other accountable and helping each other even when they struggle."
 
The 10th-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns begin postseason play this week in San Marcos, Texas, at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament being held Wednesday-Saturday, May 6-9. Louisiana, seeded No. 1, received a bye in the quarterfinal round and opens tournament play on Thursday, May 7 at 2 p.m., against the survivor of single-elimination games between Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Troy on Wednesday.
 
2015 RAGIN’ CAJUNS SUN BELT PLAYER/PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Feb. 16 – Jordan Wallace (Pitcher of the Week)
Feb. 23 – Christina Hamilton (Pitcher of the Week)
Mar. 16 – Jordan Wallace (Pitcher of the Week)
Mar. 23 – Lexie Elkins (Player of the Week)
Apr. 20 – Lexie Elkins (Player of the Week)
May 4 – Aleah Craighton (Player of the Week)
 
2015 RAGIN’ CAJUNS LSWA PLAYER/PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Mar. 23 – Christina Hamilton (Pitcher of the Week)
Mar. 30 – Lexie Elkins (Player of the Week)
Mar. 30 – Alex Stewart (Pitcher of the Week)
Apr. 13 – Jordan Wallace (Pitcher of the Week)
Apr. 20 – Lexie Elkins (Player of the Week)
May 4 – Aleah Craighton (Player of the Week)