Another big-name player has announced that she is transferring from Louisiana-Lafayette. Slugging outfielder Aleah Craighton announced on social media Monday evening that she intends to transfer to the University of Arizona.
Craighton was a first-team all-American center fielder in 2017, her second all-American award following a second-team nod in 2016. The Prairieville, Louisiana native hit eighteen home runs and recorded fifty-three RBI to go along with a .345 batting average in her junior campaign.
After sitting out the 2014 season with a redshirt, Craighton burst onto the scene in 2015 with a .371 batting average and twelve home runs. She recorded forty-eight longballs over her three seasons in a Cajun uniform and recorded a .794 career slugging percentage.
During her time as a Cajun, Craighton was named to the all-state team three times, including an honorable mention honor in 2015 and two first-team nods. She earned all-Sun Belt conference honors in each of her final two seasons as a Cajun.
Craighton is the third Cajuns star to transfer due to the offseason turmoil surrounding Michael Lotief’s controversial firing as the Ragin Cajuns’ head coach. Sophomore pitcher Alyssa Denham will join Craighton at Arizona, while shortstop DJ Sanders announced that she will transfer to Oregon.
At Arizona, Craighton joins an offense that is seeking something of a new identify following the departure of one-third of the team’s batting order from a season ago, including all-time PAC-12 home run queen Katiyana Mauga, infielder Mo Mercado, and outfielder Mandie Perez.
