Softball: Zeringue Represents Cajuns on Academic All-America Team

LAFAYETTE – Ragin’ Cajuns Softball junior Kassidy Zeringue was named to the 2016 Academic All-America^® Division I softball team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization announced on Thursday.
 
Zeringue earned second team honors, becoming the 10th student-athlete in Ragin’ Cajuns Softball program history to earn Academic All-America^® honors and the first since Ashley Brignac in 2012.
 
The honor recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. Three weeks ago, Zeringue earned her first career Academic All-District™ designation, which placed her name on the All-America ballot.
 
Click here to view the complete CoSIDA Academic All-America^® Team.
 
"Kassidy is the embodiment of what each individual on our team ultimately strives for: making sure that they acquire a quality education and do the very best they possibly can in that pursuit," Ragin’ Cajuns Softball head coach Michael Lotief remarked. "We thank our professors and the University’s support staff for pushing them, encouraging them and continuing to expect the very best out of them. We are so proud of our University for the academic opportunities that they provide to our student-athletes."
 
The Lutcher, La., product is an exercise science major (pre-physical therapy) and carried a 3.91 grade point average into the 2016 spring semester.
 
A two-time member of the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List (3.5-4.0 GPA), she has recorded a semester GPA of 3.7 or higher all eight semesters as an undergraduate at UL Lafayette – including five semesters with a 4.0 GPA –earning Dean’s List accolades.
 
Zeringue – along with many of her teammates – is involved with community outreach to local schools through the Reading in Red program and other community service projects. She holds peer tutoring sessions with teammates and belongs to various on campus study groups.
 
The slap-hit specialist, a full-time starter until an injury at Georgia State began to limit her activity, ranks third on the Ragin’ Cajuns roster with a .373 average. She produced eight multiple-hit games from No. 9 spot in the lineup and has recorded 45 putouts playing right field and left field.
 
Zeringue is among the toughest to strikeout at the NCAA Division I level, with only four strikeouts in 96 plate appearances.
 
She is one 12 members of the CoSIDA Division I Academic All-America® Softball Team from 10 of the 16 competing teams in the NCAA Super Regional round which gets underway on Thursday, May 26. Zeringue and the Ragin’ Cajuns (46-7) face Oklahoma (50-7) in the Norman Super Regional on Thursday at 8 p.m. from Martia Hynes Field in Norman, Okla.
 
Zeringue joins a select list of Ragin’ Cajuns to earn the distinction of Academic All-American: Ashley Brignac (2011-12), Lynn Britton (1995-96), Stephanie DeFeo (1995-96), Alyson Habetz (1992, 1994), Brooke Mitchell (2004-05), Melody Mohar (1993-94), Joni (Podhorez) Babineaux (1996-97), Cathy Sconzo (1990) and Stefni (Whitton) Lotief (1990).
 
For more information about the Academic All-America® Teams program please visit www.cosida.com.
 
For more information on Ragin’ Cajuns softball, fans can follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball) and Twitter (@RaginCajunSB).