2020 Sun Belt Softball News and Notes:
Standings | Composite Schedule | Stats | Records Book
 
AROUND #SUNBELTSB
• The 2020 season for Sun Belt Conference softball was canceled on March 12 due to concerns surrounding the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The season ended with only one full weekend of conference play completed.
 
• Sun Belt softball teams are set for be featured in the NCAA Division I Softball Championship re-airs scheduled throughout the month of May on Facebook.com/NCAASoftball – Texas State vs. Texas State from 2017 on Thursday, May 14 at 4 p.m. CT, Louisiana vs. LSU from 2017 on Friday, May 15 at Noon CT, South Alabama vs. Florida State from 2013 on Sunday, May 17 at Noon CT, Louisiana vs. Michigan from 2013 on Friday, May 22 at 8 p.m. CT, Louisiana vs. Florida from the 2008 Women's College World Series on Thursday, May 28 11 a.m. CT and Louisiana vs. Texas from the 2003 WCWS on Friday, May 29 at 2 p.m. CT.
 
• Louisiana (18-6, 2-1 Sun Belt) closed the shortened season ranked in the top 10 in two major national polls – eighth in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 and ninth in the ESPN.com/USA Softball and Softball America Top 25. The Ragin' Cajuns were ranked in the both USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls every week this season. Louisiana entered the 2020 season as a consensus top 10 pick among the six national preseason polls.
 
• Louisiana scored ranked wins over LSU, Oklahoma, Texas and Florida (twice) in addition to two victories over Ole Miss. The Ragin' Cajuns had extended their NCAA Division I-leading total of consecutive conference series won to 56 straight the weekend prior to the season being canceled.
 
• UTA (11-13, 2-1) ended the season on a three-game winning streak, highlighted by its March 3 win over No. 21/18 Baylor in Waco, Texas, behind a complete-game shutout from freshman pitcher Kenedy Hines. The Mavericks closed with a .974 fielding percentage, tying the program's single-season record set back in 2008.
 
• ULM (10-13, 1-2) led the Sun Belt in hits (187) and triples (8). The Warhawks boasted the conference leaders in hits in sophomore outfielder Korie Kreps (32) and RBI in senior designated player/outfielder Ana Hogan (26).
 
• Louisiana senior pitcher Summer Ellyson capped off her storied career among the NCAA Division I active career leaders in strikeouts (3rd, 677), wins (3rd, 74), earned run average (6th, 1.43) and innings pitched (7th, 606.2). Her career ERA sits fifth in Sun Belt history. This season, Ellyson was tied for sixth in the nation in victories (11).
 
• Troy sophomore pitcher Leanna Johnson tied for the Division I lead in shutouts (7) and ranked sixth nationally in strikeouts (137) and tied for 11th in wins (6) this season.
 
• South Alabama junior catcher Kamdyn Kvistad closed the season having reached base safely in a career-best 13-straight games. Kvistad led the Jaguars and tied for seventh in the Sun Belt with 18 RBI.

• Coastal Carolina junior outfielder Courtney Green and UTA senior shortstop Whitney Walton were named the 2020 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, as selected by CoSIDA.

• Coastal Carolina head coach Kelley Green earned her 700th career win and the Chanticleers' first-ever win over a top 10-ranked opponent in their March 6 victory over Louisiana. Coastal Carolina's last win over a ranked opponent was on March 10, 2018, over a No. 22-ranked Ragin' Cajuns squad. Green has led the Chanticleers to a winning record in eight of her last nine seasons in Conway.
 
• UTA head coach Peejay Brun picked up her 200th career coaching victory in the Mavericks' win over Abilene Christian on Feb. 9 to capture the Aggie Classic title in College Station, Texas.
 
• Louisiana head coach Gerry Glasco earned his 100th career coaching victory in the Ragin' Cajuns' upset win over then-No. 7 LSU on Feb. 15.
 
• Ellyson, Louisiana senior pitcher Megan Kleist and UTA senior shortstop Whitney Walton were among the initial candidates on the Top 50 watch list for the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.
 
• Kleist (11th) and Ellyson (15th) were ranked among the best 25 Division I players entering the 2020 season by ESPN.com.
 
• Appalachian State senior third base Keri White was one of 30 initial candidates under consideration for the 2020 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate softball.
 
• Louisiana topped the Sun Belt preseason accolades, picked as the unanimous preseason favorite to win the regular-season title with senior shortstop Alissa Dalton selected as Preseason Player of the Year and Ellyson tabbed as Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
 
2020 Weekly Award Winners
Player
February 11: Avery Grimes, UTA
February 18: Kimber Cortemelia, UTA
February 25: Korie Kreps, ULM
March 3: Raina O'Neal, Louisiana
March 10: ArieAnn Bell, Texas State
 
Pitcher
February 11: Allie Gardiner, UTA
February 18: Summer Ellyson, Louisiana
February 25: Raelee Brabham, Coastal Carolina
March 3: Leanna Johnson, Troy
March 10: Dalilah Barrera, Texas State