Elkins Named Top 26 Finalist For USA Softball Award

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball junior catcher Lexie Elkins was one of the 26 finalists named for the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced on Wednesday.

Due to a tie in the voting, the typical list of 25 has been extended to 26 this season. Click here for the complete list of the Top 26 Finalists for the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award.

Elkins is one of 11 juniors on the list, which also includes 12 seniors, two sophomores and one freshman.

She is the lone representative from the Sun Belt Conference. A total of nine athletic conferences have student-athletes on the list led by eight from the SEC and seven from the Pac-12.

Just prior to the start of postseason play on May 6 the list will be narrowed to the Top 10 Finalists. The Top 3 Finalists will be announced May 20, while the winner of the 2015 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be revealed on May 26 prior to the start of the NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.

It's the first time in her career that Elkins was selected as a finalist for the award. She's the first Ragin' Cajuns player since Christi Orgeron in 2012 to make the cut.

The Victoria, Texas, native is the present national leader in home runs, having hit 19 through the season's first 35 games.

During the month of March, Elkins hit .532 (25-for-47) with three doubles, 11 home runs and 27 RBI. She struck out only twice in 62 plate appearances.

The success in March, which continued with two more home runs and seven RBI in the Georgia State series, has vaulted her into the team lead with a .420 average, 19 home runs, 48 RBI and 1.030 slugging percentage.

Elkins and No. 10 Louisiana (30-5) host No. 14 Baylor (27-7) at Lamson Park Friday-Saturday, April 10-11. The series opens with a 6 p.m., single game on Friday and concludes with a 1 p.m., doubleheader on Saturday.

The Ragin' Cajuns senior class is being honored prior to the start of Saturday's doubleheader. The games are being televised locally on MyKLAF-TV and streamed nationwide on WatchESPN.com.

For info and updates on Ragin' Cajuns softball follow the team on twitter @RaginCajunSB.

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Players Mentioned

Lexie Elkins