LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced that 10 Ragin’ Cajuns softball players have earned NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honors for their success in the classroom during the 2013-14 academic year.
 
The NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete award is given to student-athletes that have maintained a 3.5 grade-point average or higher for the entire academic year.  
 
Earning the honor for the Cajuns were Sarah Arceneaux (Business Management), Aleah Craighton (Biology), Haley Hayden (Exercise Science), Marie Hoag (Chemical Engineering), Leandra Maly (Sports Management), Lexi Rouse (Health Administration), Macey Smith (Exercise Science), Alex Stewart (Petroleum Engineering), Jordan Wallace (Marketing) and Kassidy Zeringue (Exercise Science). It was the second time Wallace and Hoag picked up the accolade after earning the honor back in 2012. For the 2013-14 academic year, Hoag posted a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
 
"These kids are truly all-American scholar athletes who are committed to excellence both on the field and in the classroom," said head coach Michael Lotief. "It is always impressive to me how our team puts in the hard work on the softball field to compete at the highest level and still maintain high grade-point averages in very tough majors and curriculums. "Winning" in the classroom is our No. 1 goal every year. Congratulations to all our kids for their hard work and discipline and time management."
 
"Also, we are blessed at this University to have professors and an academic support staff who invest into our students’ academic journey for excellence," Lotief said. "These awards are awesome achievements for these scholar-athletes and the softball program."
 
Louisiana hosts its first fall exhibition Saturday when the Cajuns take on Galveston College in a 1 p.m. contest at Lamson Park. Fans are encouraged to wear pink as the team will sport pink Ragin’ Cajuns jerseys as part of their Breast Cancer Awareness Game. A pink jersey will also be auctioned off and pink Ragin’ Cajuns softball t-shirts will be on sale for those in attendance.