Softball:Ragin’ Cajuns Among Top 20 in Final Softball Polls

LAFAYETTE – For the 10th consecutive season, and 25th overall in the past 28 seasons dating back to 1990, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball finished the season ranked in the major national polls.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns (47-8, 23-1 Sun Belt) were slotted at No. 19 in the final edition of the 2017 polls in both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball listing.
 
USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll
ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll
 
Louisiana, preseason ranked No. 11 in both polls, spent the entire 2017 season inside the Top 20. The Ragin’ Cajuns won 28 of 29 games prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament, climbing as high as No. 14 in both polls – the highest mark since the preseason ranking.
 
It’s the program’s sixth consecutive season (2012-17) with at least a Top 20 finish. In head coach Michael Lotief‘s 15-year tenure, the Ragin’ Cajuns have been among the Top 20 grouping 12 times: 2003 (No. 8), 2004 (No. 10), 2005 (No. 19), 2006 (No. 16), 2008 (No. 6), 2010 (No. 16), 2012 (No. 12), 2013 (No. 12), 2014 (No. 8), 2015 (No. 11), 2016 (No. 12), 2017 (No. 19).
 
With the final ranking Louisiana maintains its active streak of consecutive appearances in the Top 25 polls. Dating back to April 2013, the Ragin’ Cajuns have been ranked in every release of the polls – a span of 70 consecutive polls.
 
During the 2017 season, the Ragin’ Cajuns extended the program’s string of 40-win seasons to 19 straight and established a new Sun Belt Conference record for conference victories. Louisiana claimed its fourth straight Sun Belt championship – 15th overall in the 17 years of league competition since 2001 – and repeated as the league’s postseason tournament champion.
 
The 2017 squad secured Louisiana’s 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and had the program competing for an NCAA Regional championship for the 10th consecutive year.
 
For more information on Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball, as well as all of Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball),Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsSoftball).
 
RAGIN’ CAJUNS IN THE 2017 POLLS
Week                       NFCA       ESPN/USA
Preseason                11                  11
Feb. 13-19                 18                  18
Feb. 20-26                 16                  16
Feb. 27-Mar. 5          18                  19
Mar. 6-12                   18                  18
Mar. 13-19                 18                  19
Mar. 20-26                 17                  20
Mar. 27-Apr. 2           17                  20
Apr. 3-9                     16                  19
Apr. 10-16                 17                  18
Apr. 17-23                 17                  18
Apr. 24-30                 16                  16
May 1-7                     15                  16
May 8-14                   14                  15
May 15-21                 14                  14
FINAL                        19                  19
 
10 STRAIGHT YEARS IN FINAL RANKINGS (2008-17)
Season             NFCA    ESPN/USA
2008                       6                 6
2009                     25                 –
2010                     16               17
2011                     23               25
2012                     12                9
2013                     12               15
2014                       8                 8
2015                     11               11
2016                     12               14
2017                     19               19