2021 Georgia Southern Eagles softball team

2021 Georgia Southern Eagles softball
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Record	17–26 (9–14 SBC)
Head coach	Kim Dean (4th season)
Assistant coaches	Brock Van Faussien Dani Price
Home stadium	Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex
Seasons ←  2020 2022  →

2021 Sun Belt Conference softball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 15 Louisiana  ‍†‍‡‍y	21	–	3		.875			47	–	12		.797
Texas State  ‍‍‍y	17	–	6		.739			39	–	14		.736
Troy  ‍‍‍y	17	–	6		.739			37	–	17		.685
South Alabama  ‍‍‍y	13	–	9		.591			31	–	21		.596
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍	8	–	12		.400			27	–	19		.587
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍	9	–	14		.391			17	–	26		.395
UT Arlington  ‍‍‍	9	–	14		.391			17	–	34		.333
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍	9	–	15		.375			21	–	24		.467
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍	6	–	15		.286			17	–	32		.347
Georgia State  ‍‍‍	3	–	18		.143			16	–	30		.348
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of May 23, 2021 [1] Rankings from NFCA

The 2021 Georgia Southern Eagles softball team represented Georgia Southern University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Eagles played their home games at Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex. The Eagles were led by third-year head coach Kim Dean and were members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Preseason

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2021. Georgia Southern was picked to finish seventh in the Sun Belt Conference with 38 votes. ^[2]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Louisiana	100 (10)
2	Troy	87
3	Texas State	72
4	Coastal Carolina	68
4	UT Arlington	68
6	Appalachian State	43
7	Georgia Southern	38
8	South Alabama	36
9	Louisiana-Monroe	22
10	Georgia State	16

Preseason All-Sun Belt team

• Summer Ellyson (LA, SR, Pitcher)
• Leanna Johnson (TROY, SO, Pitcher)
• Allisa Dalton (LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base)
• Katie Webb (TROY, SR, Infielder/1st Base)
• Raina O'Neal (LA, JR, Outfielder)
• Julie Raws (LA, SR, Catcher)
• Courtney Dean (CCU, SR, Outfielder)
• Mekhia Freeman (GASO, SR, Outfielder)
• Korie Kreps (ULM, JR, Outfielder)
• Kaitlyn Alderink (LA, SR, 2nd Base)
• Jade Gortarez (LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base)
• Ciara Bryan (LA, SR, Outfielder)
• Kelly Horne (TROY, SO, Infielder/2nd Base)
• Makiya Thomas (CCU, SR, Outfielder/Infielder)
• Tara Oltmann (TXST, SR, Infielder/Shortstop)
• Jayden Mount (ULM, SR, Infielder)
• Katie Lively (TROY, SO, Outfielder)

National Softball Signing Day

^[3]

Player	Position	Hometown	Previous Team
Sydney Stewart	Infielder/Outfielder	Fortson, Georgia	Harris County HS
Emma Strickland	1st Base/Utility	Colbert, Georgia	Madison County HS
Reign Williams	Catcher/3rd Base	Buckhead, Georgia	George Walton Academy

Roster

2021 Georgia Southern Eagles roster
	Pitchers 4 Jess Mazur - Junior 12 Rylee Waldrep - Senior 17 Anna Feil - Freshman 19 Harlee Rewis - Senior 31 Kyleigh Richardson - Sophomore 77 Aaliyah Garcia - Sophomore Outfielders 6 Mekhia Freeman - Senior 10 Alisha House - Sophomore 15 Ashleigh Duty - Sophomore 25 Mary Grace Howard - Junior 42 Dejah Mills - Freshman 44 Sydney Harris - Freshman 99 Madi Banks - Freshman		Catchers 14 Linzie Lafavor - Sophomore 20 Janai Conklin - Sophomore 91 Allyssah Mullis - Senior Infielders 1 Shayla Smith - Senior 7 Bailee Wilson - Sophomore 22 Ashlynn Gunter - Junior 24 Alia Booth - Senior 26 Jaelyn Darley - Freshman 33 Aniston Johnson - Freshman

Coaching staff

2021 Georgia Southern Eagles coaching staff
Kim Dean – Head Coach – 4th year Dani Price – Assistant Head Coach – 3rd year Brock Van Faussien – Assistant Head Coach – 3rd year Olivia Clark-Kittleson – Graduate Assistant Coach – 3rd year

Schedule and results

Legend
	Georgia Southern win
	Georgia Southern loss
	Postponement/Cancellation/Suspensions
Bold	Georgia Southern team member

2021 Georgia Southern Eagles softball game log
Regular season (17-25)
February (1-7) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Bash in the Boro Feb. 12 Western Kentucky Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro Feb. 13 Western Kentucky Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro Feb. 13 UNC Wilmington Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro Feb. 14 UNC Wilmington Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro UF Bubly Invitational Feb. 19 at No. 6 Florida Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL L 3-8 Lugo (1-0) Garcia (0-1) None 378 0-1 Feb. 20 vs. Charlotte Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL L 4-5 (8 inn) 0-2 Feb. 20 at No. 6 Florida Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL L 1-2 Chronister (3-0) Richardson (0-1) None 0-3 Feb. 21 vs. Charlotte Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL W 13-5 (6 inn) Garcia (1-1) Wright (1-1) None 1-3 Feb. 21 at No. 6 Florida Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL L 0-11 (5 inn) Hightower (3-0) Waldrep (0-1) None 451 1-4 Feb. 26 at North Florida UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL L 4-5 (9 inn) Arends (2-1) Harlee (0-1) None 42 1-5 Feb. 27 at North Florida UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL L 5-6 Clausen (1-2) Waldrep (0-2) Arends (1) 60 1-6 Feb. 27 at North Florida UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL L 2-3 Arends (3-1) Garcia (1-2) None 1-7
March (6-7) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Eagle Round Robin Mar. 5 Winthrop Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 8-2 Waldrep (1-2) Watson (3-6) None 150 2-7 Mar. 5 Winthrop Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 3-2 Rewis (1-1) Weixlmann (4-3) None 150 3-7 Mar. 6 Winthrop Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA L 3-14 Cyzick (1-2) Feil (0-2) None 123 3-8 Mar. 6 College of Charleston Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 2-1 Richardson (1-1) Burke (0-2) None 145 4-8 Mar. 7 College of Charleston Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 2-1 Garcia (2-2) Lemire (1-2) None ESPN+ 145 5-8 Mar. 10 at No. 20 South Carolina Carolina Softball Stadium • Columbia, SC L 1-9 (6 inns) Drotar (1-0) Richardson (1-2) None ESPN+ 400 5-9 Mar. 13 at No. 14 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game postponed due to COVID measures Mar. 13 at No. 14 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game postponed due to COVID measures Mar. 14 at No. 14 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA Game postponed due to COVID measures Mar. 17 at Mercer Sikes Field • Macon, GA Game postponed due to COVID measures Mar. 17 at Mercer Sikes Field • Macon, GA Game postponed due to COVID measures Mar. 20 Louisiana–Monroe Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA L 3-5 Williams (1-4) Garcia (2-3) Hulett (2) ESPN+ 165 5-10 0-1 Mar. 20 Louisiana–Monroe Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA L 9-11 (8 inns) Williams (2-4) Feil (0-3) None ESPN+ 165 5-11 0-2 Mar. 21 Louisiana–Monroe Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA Game cancelled Mar. 24 at No. 17 Georgia Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA Game postponed Mar. 26 FIU Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 5-0 Waldrep (2-2) Linneman (2-2) Feil (1) ESPN+ 135 6-11 Mar. 26 FIU Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 9-7 Richardson (2-2) Dunford (4-8) None ESPN+ 135 7-11 Mar. 28 at No. 16 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 2-9 Lamb (10-2) Waldrep (2-3) None 228 7-12 0-3 Mar. 29 at No. 16 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 0-6 Ellyson (7-4) Richardson (2-3) None ESPN+ 219 7-13 0-4 Mar. 29 at No. 16 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 3-7 Lamb (11-4) Feil (0-4) None ESPN+ 267 7-14 0-5
April (5–12) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Apr. 2 at Troy Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 0-5 Johnson (13-3) Richardson (2-4) None ESPN+ 150 7-15 0-6 Apr. 2 at Troy Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 0-4 Brianna (3-1) Waldrep (2-4) None ESPN+ 114 7-16 0-7 Apr. 3 at Troy Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 0-9 (5 inns) Johnson (13-3) Feil (0-5) None ESPN+ 134 7-17 0-8 Apr. 9 at Coastal Carolina St. Johns Stadium – Charles Webb-John Lott Field • Conway, SC L 3-5 Brabham (2-5) Rewis (1-2) None ESPN+ 125 7-18 0-9 Apr. 10 at Coastal Carolina St. Johns Stadium – Charles Webb-John Lott Field • Conway, SC W 9-1 (6 inns) Richardson (3-4) De Jesus (2-6) None ESPN+ 125 8-18 1-9 Apr. 10 at Coastal Carolina St. Johns Stadium – Charles Webb-John Lott Field • Conway, SC W 7-6 Waldrep (3-4) Brabham (2-5) Rewis (1) ESPN+ 124 9-18 2-9 Apr. 13 Charleston Southern Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA L 7-8 Clark (3-3) Garcia (2-4) None ESPN+ 101 9-19 Apr. 13 Charleston Southern Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA L 1-4 Heinrich (3-5) Richardson (3-5) None ESPN+ 9-20 Apr. 16 Appalachian State Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 11-3 (6 inns) Garcia (3-4) Longanecker (11-4) Richardson (1) ESPN+ 135 10-20 3-9 Apr. 16 Appalachian State Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA L 3-6 Holland (6-4) Waldrep (3-5) Buckner (1) ESPN+ 10-21 3-10 Apr. 17 Appalachian State Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA L 2-5 Holland (7-4) Feil (0-6) None ESPN+ 150 10-22 3-11 Apr. 21 Jacksonville Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 6-0 Garcia (4-4) Seana (6-1) None ESPN+ 124 11-22 Apr. 24 at Texas State Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX L 0-7 Mullins (15-6) Garcia (4-5) None ESPN+ 11-23 3-12 Apr. 24 at Texas State Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX L 0-3 Barrera (2-0) Waldrep (3-6) King (3) ESPN+ 325 11-24 3-13 Apr. 25 at Texas State Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX L 0-1 King (8-2) Garcia (4-6) None ESPN+ 145 11-25 3-14 Apr. 30 South Alabama Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 9-1 (5 inns) Garcia (5-6) Lackie (15-7) None ESPN+ 126 12-25 4-14
May (5-0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 1 South Alabama Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 4-3 (8 inns) Rewis (2-2) Hardy (2-2) None ESPN+ 165 13-25 5-14 May 2 South Alabama Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 2-0 Garcia (6-6) Lackie (15-8) None ESPN+ 145 14-25 6-14 May 6 at Georgia State Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 5-4 Richardson (4-5) Mooney (6-11) None 283 15-25 7-14 May 7 at Georgia State Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 11-7 (8 inns) Rewis (3-2) Banks (2-4) None 285 16-25 8-14 May 7 at Georgia State Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 9-4 Garcia (7-6) Doolittle (0-5) None 285 17-25 9-14
Post-Season (0-1)
SBC tournament (0-1) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 11 vs. (10) Georgia State (7) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 1-4 Mooney (7-11) Garcia (7-7) None ESPN+ 97 17-26

Schedule Source: ^{[4] [5]}

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

Postseason

Conference accolades

• Player of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA
• Pitcher of the Year: Summer Ellyson – LA
• Freshman of the Year: Sara Vanderford – TXST
• Newcomer of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA
• Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco – LA

All Conference First Team Ciara Bryan (LA) Summer Ellyson (LA) Sara Vanderford (TXST) Leanna Johnson (TROY) Jessica Mullins (TXST) Olivia Lackie (USA) Kj Murphy (UTA) Katie Webb (TROY) Jayden Mount (ULM) Kandra Lamb (LA) Kendall Talley (LA) Meredith Keel (USA) Tara Oltmann (TXST) Jade Sinness (TROY) Katie Lively (TROY)

All Conference Second Team Kelly Horne (TROY) Meagan King (TXST) Mackenzie Brasher (USA) Bailee Wilson (GASO) Makiya Thomas (CCU) Kaitlyn Alderink (LA) Abby Krzywiecki (USA) Kenzie Longanecker (APP) Alissa Dalton (LA) Julie Rawls (LA) Korie Kreps (ULM) Kayla Rosado (CCU) Justice Milz (LA) Gabby Buruato (APP) Arieann Bell (TXST)

References: ^[6]

References

1. "2021 Softball Standings". SunBeltSports.org. Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
2. Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Conference Announces Preseason Softball Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
3. "Softball Inks Three In Early Signing Period For 2021-22". Georgia Southern University Athletics. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
4. "Softball Releases 2021 Sun Belt Conference Schedule". Georgia Southern University Athletics. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
5. "Softball Releases 2021 Non-Conference Schedule". Georgia Southern University Athletics. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
6. "Sun Belt Announces 2021 Softball Postseason All-Conference, Individual Awards". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved January 5, 2022.