LAFAYETTE — The Louisiana-Lafayette softball program will be without its most decorated player from the 2017 season.

New Ragin’ Cajuns head coach Gerry Glasco announced Sunday night that senior shortstop D.J. Sanders had transferred out of the program, and more importantly she had been granted her release to be eligible to play elsewhere. Later that night, the University of Oregon announced on its website www.goducks.com that Sanders had transferred there and will be added to the 2018 roster, and will take part in the Ducks’ upcoming international tour of New Zealand.

“During this transition period, we understand each student-athlete has a personal decision to make. We met with senior shortstop DJ Sanders several times during the one-on-one interview process and reiterated the program’s commitment to her and the commitment to competing for a national title,” Glasco said. “We appreciate all she has done for our program and wish her nothing but the best in the future.” 

Sanders is coming off a spectacular junior season for the Ragin’ Cajuns where she led the NCAA in both home runs (29) and RBI (82), and tied the NCAA single-season record of grand slams (6). Sanders also hit a career-high .388 and had a NCAA-best 1.013 slugging percentage. Sanders was one of 10 finalists for the USA Softball National Player of the Year award, was the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year,  and earned first-team NFCA All-America honors.

In three seasons with the Cajuns, the 5-foot-9 native of Mississippi hit 51 home runs with 167 RBI, while starting 164 consecutive games. 

“DJ’s abilities are obvious,” Oregon coach Mike White said in a statement. “With her incredible power numbers, she will add much depth to our lineup. She will also be an excellent fit as a person into our program.”

White and the Ducks know first hand how good of a player Sanders is having seen her in person six times. 

Louisiana-Lafayette played at Oregon in a three-game series during the 2015 season, in which the Ducks swept the Cajuns. In those three games, the then-freshman Sanders went 1-for-6 with two walks. In 2016, Louisiana-Lafayette hosted Oregon in a three-game series with the Cajuns taking two of three from the Ducks. In that series, Sanders went 2-for-8 with two runs scored, one RBI and one walk.

Sanders is the first player that played for former coach Michael Lotief, who was fired on Nov. 1 due to what the university cited as ‘violent, vulgar language’ and ‘assualt’, to have transferred out of the program. Sanders was one of several current players that publicly supported Lotief and stood by the coach during him being placed on administration leave and then being fired. 

In a letter to www.flosoftball.com, Sanders expressed her gratitude to Lotief as she wrote the following:

“A ‘thank you’ simply cannot express the gratitude I have for Coach Mike and his family. Not only did he teach me all-American worthy hitting mechanics, but most importantly he also taught me to be passionate about a sport I had previously played carelessly.

He taught me how to be my most competitive self, how to be compassionate, how to use my voice and platform for good, how to be a strong and confident woman, and to not be afraid to stand out against injustice.

I adore the fact that even while coaching at an elite level he never cared about how we performed as much as he cared about making sure we were developing into women that were ready to conquer life after college. He is the true definition of a player’s coach. He dedicated so much of himself to this program. He went above and beyond so much for us that it became the norm.

Our time together has not been all sunshine and rainbows but I know the tough times has helped shape me into the person I am so proud to be. I will always stand with you.”

No word yet on if any more current Ragin’ Cajun players will decide to follow Sanders’ lead and transfer out of the program.

Louisiana-Lafayette will open the 2018 season at Lamson Park on Feb. 8 against Samford for the annual Mardi Gras Classic.