2021 McNeese State Cowgirls softball team

2021 McNeese State Cowgirls softball
Baton Rouge Regionals appearance Southland Conference Tournament champions
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	35–26 (18–9 Southland)
Head coach	James Landreneau (5th season)
Assistant coaches	Robbie Tate Shellie Landry
Home stadium	Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond
Seasons ← 2020 2022  →

2021 Southland Conference softball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Stephen F. Austin  ‍†‍‍	25	–	2		.926			35	–	12		.745
Central Arkansas  ‍‍‍	21	–	6		.778			37	–	19		.661
McNeese State  ‍‍‡‍y	18	–	9		.667			35	–	26		.574
Northwestern State  ‍‍‍	16	–	11		.593			24	–	22		.522
Southeastern Louisiana  ‍‍‍	14	–	10		.583			28	–	23		.549
Houston Baptist  ‍‍‍	15	–	12		.556			22	–	17		.564
Sam Houston State  ‍‍‍	14	–	13		.519			19	–	31		.380
Abilene Christian  ‍‍‍	10	–	17		.370			14	–	33		.298
Incarnate Word  ‍‍‍	9	–	18		.333			16	–	27		.372
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi  ‍‍‍	8	–	16		.333			18	–	30		.375
Nicholls  ‍‍‍	5	–	22		.185			12	–	28		.300
Lamar  ‍‍‍	4	–	23		.148			8	–	43		.157
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of May 22, 2021 [1] Rankings from NFCA

The 2021 McNeese State Cowgirls softball team represented McNeese State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Cowgirls played their home games at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond and were led by fifth year head coach James Landreneau. They were members of the Southland Conference.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. McNeese State was picked to finish second in the Southland Conference with 217 votes and four first place votes. ^[2]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Stephen F. Austin	235 (17)
2	McNeese State	217 (4)
3	Southeastern Louisiana	183
4	Sam Houston State	172 (1)
5	Central Arkansas	162 (1)
6	Northwestern State	156 (1)
7	Nicholls	131
8	Lamar	86
9	Abilene Christian	82
10	Houston Baptist	81
11	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	47
12	Incarnate Word	32

Preseason All-Southland team

^[3]

First Team

• Kaylyn Shephard (UCA, R-SR, 1st Base)
• Cayla Joens (NSU, JR, 2nd Base)
• Cylla Hall (UCA, R-SR, 3rd Base)
• Cori McCrary (MCNS, SR, Shortstop)
• Ella Manzer (SELA, SR, Catcher)
• Samantha Bradley (ACU, R-SR, Designated Player)
• Linsey Tomlinson (ACU, R-SR, Outfielder)
• Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
• Elise Vincent (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
• Madisen Blackford (SELA, SR, Outfielder)
• Megan McDonald (SHSU, SR, Outfielder)
• Kayla Beaver (UCA, R-FR, Pitcher)
• Kassidy Wilbur (SFA, JR, Pitcher)
• E. C. Delafield (NSU, JR, Utility)

Second Team

• Shaylon Govan (SFA, SO, 1st Base)
• Brooke Malia (SHSU, SR, 2nd Base)
• Bryana Novegil (SFA, SR, 2nd Base)
• Caitlin Garcia (NICH, JR, 3rd Base)
• Alex Hudspeth (SFA, JR, Shortstop)
• Alexis Perry (NSU, SO, Catcher)
• Bailey Richards (SFA, SR, Catcher)
• Caitlyn Brockway (HBU, SO, Designated Player)
• Reagan Sperling (UCA, R-JR, Outfielder)
• Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
• Hayley Barbazon (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
• Saleen Flores (MCNS, SO, Pitcher)
• MC Comeaux (SELA, FR, Pitcher)
• Sammi Thomas (TAMUCC, SO, Utility)

National Softball Signing Day

^[4]

Player	Position	Hometown	Previous Team
Amanda Allen	Pitcher	Richmond, Texas	Foster HS
Lindsay Henson	Pitcher	Lawrenceburg, Indiana	East Central HS
Grace Cantu	Outfielder	Celina, Texas	Celina HS
Kelsey Gaspard	Catcher	Roanoke, Louisiana	Northside Christian HS
Reese Reyna	Infielder	Santa Fe, Texas	Santa Fe HS
Katie VanDermark	Infielder	Walker, Louisiana	Live Oak HS
Cristlyne Moreno	Infielder	Converse, Texas	Samuel Clemens HS

Roster

2021 McNeese State Cowgirls roster
	Pitchers 1 Jenna Edwards – senior 5 Whitney Tate – freshman 20 Saleen Flores – sophomore 22 Ashely Vallejo – freshman Outfielders 11 Toni Perrin – junior 14 Kennedy Reynolds – freshman 15 Taniece Tyson - Redshirt Freshman 26 Teagan Whitley – freshman 28 Alayis Seneca – sophomore Utilities 3 Sara Geier – sophomore 4 Kaylee Lopez – sophomore 10 Padyn Williams – sophomore 21 Jil Poullard – freshman		Catchers 6 Rebekah Dilavore – junior 7 Adriana Ramirez – junior 12 Gracie Devall – sophomore 25 Chloe Gomez – freshman 32 Macy McRight – freshman Infielders 9 Caleigh Cross – freshman 18 Tayler Strother – junior 19 Amy Reed – sophomore 23 Haylee Brinlee – sophomore 24 Cori McCrary – senior 27 Caylon Brabham – freshman 29 Aaliyah Ortiz – freshman 34 Tiffany Steczo – junior

Coaching staff

2021 McNeese State Cowgirls coaching staff
James Landreneau – Head coach – 5th year Robbie Tate – Assistant Head coach – 2nd year Chris Watford – Assistant Head coach – 2nd year

Schedule and results

Legend
	McNeese State win
	McNeese State loss
	Postponement/Cancellation
Bold	McNeese State team member

2021 McNeese State Cowgirls Softball Game Log
Regular season (30-24)
February (3-11) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Tiger Classic Feb. 11 at No. 5 LSU Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA L 0-8 (6 inns) Sunseri (1-0) Vallejo (0-1) None SECN+ 261 0-1 Feb. 12 vs. Kansas Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA W 9-8 Flores (1-0) Reed (0-1) Edwards (1) 75 1-1 Feb. 12 vs. Kansas Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA W 6-5 Edwards (1-0) Hamilton (0-1) None 102 2-1 Feb. 13 vs. No. 25 Duke Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA L 1-9 Walters (1-0) Tate (0-1) None 65 2-2 Feb. 16 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL Game Postponed due to threat of inclement travel conditions Feb. 17 Louisiana–Monroe Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA Game Postponed due to threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles Cowgirl Classic Feb. 20 No. 20 Arkansas Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 4-6 (14 inns) Haff (1-1) Vallejo (0-2) None 489 2-3 Feb. 20 No. 20 Arkansas Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 7-4 Flores (2-0) Bloom (0-1) Edwards (2) 489 3-3 Feb. 21 No. 20 Arkansas Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 1-3 Haff (2-1) Flores (2-1) None 376 3-4 Feb. 21 No. 23 Baylor Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 2-3 (9 inns) Binford (1-0) Tate (0-2) Rodoni (1) 376 3-5 Feb. 23 No. 10 Oklahoma State Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 0-5 Eberle (3-0) Flores (2-2) None 398 3-6 Feb. 24 at No. 9 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 7-8 (8 inns) Ellyson (3-0) Tate (0-3) None 244 3-7 Feb. 26 at No. 22 UCF UCF Softball Stadium • Orlando, FL L 0-3 White (5-0) Vallejo (0-3) None ESPN+ 101 3-8 Feb. 26 at No. 22 UCF UCF Softball Complex • Orlando, FL L 1-4 Mancha (3-1) Tate (0-4) None ESPN+ 98 3-9 Feb. 27 at No. 22 UCF UCF Softball Complex • Orlando, FL L 3-11 (5 inns) Jewell (1-0) Flores (2-3) None 88 3-10 Feb. 28 at No. 6 Florida Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL L 0-1 (8 inns) Hightower (5-0) Edwards (1-1) None 428 3-11
March (11-8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Mar. 3 No. 12 Louisiana Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 4-5 Dixon (3-0) Tate (0-5) Ellyson (1) 366 3-12 Cowgirl Classic II Mar. 5 Texas Southern Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 6-0 Flores (3-3) Gendorf (0-3) None 265 4-12 Mar. 5 UTSA Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 6-5 Vallejo (1-3) Hernandez (1-1) Edwards (3) 265 5-12 Mar. 6 UTSA Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 3-2 Tate (1-5) Williams (1-1) Edwards (4) 307 6-12 Mar. 6 Texas Southern Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 3-1 Edwards (2-1) Reyes (0-1) Flores (1) 307 7-12 Mar. 10 at Houston Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX W 4-3 Flores (4-3) Lee (2-3) Tate (1) ESPN+ 86 8-12 Mar. 12 Central Arkansas Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 1-0 Tate (2-5) Beavers (5-3) None 257 9-12 1-0 Mar. 13 Central Arkansas Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 4-5 Beaver (6-3) Vallejo (1-4) None 207 9-13 1-1 Mar. 13 Central Arkansas Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 5-3 Tate (3-5) Sanchez (4-3) None 207 10-13 2-1 Mar. 16 No. 10 Texas Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX L 2-5 Jacobsen (6-1) Tate (3-6) None 379 10-14 Mar. 18 Texas A&M Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 1-5 Herzog (7-1) Flores (4-4) None 387 10-15 Mar. 19 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX L 1-6 Dunn (3-3) Vallejo (1-5) None 109 10-16 2-2 Mar. 20 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX L 0-6 Vento (3-2) Tate (3-7) None 107 10-17 2-3 Mar. 20 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX L 0-4 Dunn (4-3) Flores (4-5) None 115 10-18 2-4 Mar. 24 Houston Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 9-3 Tate (6-7) Hulon (0-3) None 177 11-18 Mar. 26 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX W 3-2 (9 inns) Edwards (3-1) Lara (9-3) None 141 12-18 3-4 Mar. 26 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX W 6-1 Tate (5-7) Lombrana (4-7) None 141 13-18 4-4 Mar. 27 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX W 9-0 Edwards (4-1) Lara (9-4) None 151 14-18 5-4 Mar. 31 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL L 0-1 Hughen (4-4) Flores (4-6) Lackie (2) ESPN+ 200 14-19
April (13–4) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Apr. 2 Lamar Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 7-2 Edwards (5-1) Mixon (1-8) None 257 15-19 6-4 Apr. 3 Lamar Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 8-0 (5 inns) Tate (6-7) Reyna (1-9) None 16-19 7-4 Apr. 3 Lamar Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 2-1 Vallejo (2-5) Mixon (1-9) Flores (2) 257 17-19 8-4 Apr. 7 Louisiana Tech Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 7-1 Flores (5-6) Hernandez (6-5) None 279 18-19 Apr. 9 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA L 2-3 Zumo (13-2) Vallejo (2-6) None 245 18-20 8-5 Apr. 10 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA L 2-3 Hannabas (2-3) Flores (5-7) DuBois (6) 243 18-21 8-6 Apr. 10 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 3-1 Vallejo (3-6) Sitzman (0-2) None 245 19-21 9-6 Apr. 13 No. 16 LSU Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA Game Postponed Apr. 16 Abilene Christian Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 7-0 Tate (7-7) White (4-11) None 256 20-21 10-6 Apr. 17 Abilene Christian Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 7-1 Edwards (6-1) White (4-12) None 21-21 11-6 Apr. 17 Abilene Christian Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 8-0 (6 inns) Vallejo (3-5) Harris (0-3) None 297 22-21 12-6 Apr. 21 at UTSA Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX W 6-3 Vallejo (5-6) Seith (3-3) None 40 23-21 Apr. 23 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX W 14-6 Vallejo (6-6) Gunther (6-8) None 75 24-21 13-6 Apr. 24 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX W 3-1 (8 inns) Tate (8-7) Trapp (5-6) None 75 25-21 14-6 Apr. 24 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX L 2-3 (9 inns) Gunther (7-8) Vallejo (6-7) None 75 25-22 14-7 Apr. 28 Louisiana–Monroe Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 6-1 Edwards (7-1) Hulett (4-7) Tate (2) 249 26-22 Apr. 30 Northwestern State Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 3-0 Tate (9-7) Howell (6-9) None 401 27-22 15-7 Apr. 30 Northwestern State Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 2-3 Delafield (9-3) Flores (5-8) None 401 27-23 15-8
May (3-1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record May 1 Northwestern State Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 5-3 (8 inns) Tate (10-7) Delafield (0-4) None 478 28-23 16-8 May 7 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA W 6-2 Tate (11-7) Westbrook (3-10) None 330 29-23 17-8 May 7 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA L 0-1 LaBure (4-5) Edwards (7-2) None 276 29-24 17-9 May 8 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA W 10-2 (6 inns) Vallejo (7-7) Turner (0-3) None 202 30-24 18-9
Post-season (5-2)
Southland Tournament (4-0) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record May 13 vs. (7) Sam Houston State (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 3-1 Edwards (8-2) Vento (8-8) None ESPN+ 277 31-24 1-0 May 13 vs. (2) Central Arkansas (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 6-5 Tate (12-7) Johnson (11-8) Flores (3) ESPN+ 335 32-24 2-0 May 14 vs. (1) Stephen F. Austin (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 4-1 Tate (13-7) Wilbur (30-5) None ESPN+ 304 33-24 3-0 May 15 vs. (2) Central Arkansas (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 1-0 Edwards (9-2) Johnson (11-9) Tate (3) ESPN+ 345 34-24 4-0
NCAA Division I softball tournament (1-2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record Baton Rouge Regionals May 21 vs. (1)/No. 16 LSU (4) Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA L 2-10 (6 inns) Sunseri (10-6) Tate (13-8) None ESPNU 34-25 0-1 May 22 vs. (3) George Washington (4) Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA W 12-0 (5 inns) Tate (14-8) Lange (21-10) None ESPN3 1,991 35-25 1-1 May 22 vs. (2)/No. 15 Louisiana (4) Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA L 0-4 Ellyson (25-7) Edwards (9-3) Lamb (1) ESPN3 1,920 35-26 1-2

Schedule source: ^[5]

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

Baton Rouge Regional

Baton Rouge Regional Teams
(1) LSU Lady Tigers	(2) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns	(3) George Washington Colonials	(4) McNeese State Cowgirls

	First Round					Semi-Finals					Finals
	7	LSU	10
		McNeese State	2
						7	LSU	10
							Louisiana	3
	George Washington		0
	Louisiana		1
											7	LSU
												Louisiana
	Lower round 1					Lower final
						McNeese State		0
	McNeese State		12			Louisiana		4
	George Washington		0

Postseason

Conference accolades

• Player of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
• Hitter of the Year: Shaylon Govan – SFA
• Pitcher of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
• Freshman of the Year: Jenna Wildeman – UCA
• Newcomer of the Year: Jenna Edwards – MCNS
• Coach of the Year: Nicole Dickson – SFA

All Conference First Team Shaylon Govan (SFA) Bryana Novegil (SFA) Haylee Brinlee (MCNS) Cori McCrary (MCNS) Heidi Jaquez (HBU) E. C. Delafield (NSU) Mackenzie Bennett (SFA) Jenna Wildeman (UCA) Megan McDonald (SHSU) Aeriyl Mass (SELA) Kayla Beaver (UCA) Kassidy Wilbur (SFA)

All Conference Second Team Kaylyn Shephard (UCA) Mary Kate Brown (UCA) Lindsey Rizzo (SELA) Camryn Middlebrook (SFA) Hannah Scheaffer (SHSU) Gaby Garcia (SFA) Kaylee Lopez (MCNS) Donelle Johnson (ACU) Jil Poullard (MCNS) Audrey Greely (SELA) Jordan Johnson (UCA) Whitney Tate (MCNS)

All Conference Third Team Caitlyn Brockway (HBU) Cayla Jones (NSU) Alex Hedspeth (SFA) Ashlyn Reavis (NICH) Chloe Gomez (MCNS) Jasie Roberts (HBU) Anna Rodenberg (SELA) Kaitlyn St. Clair (NSU) Sheridan Fisher (SHSU) Pal Egan (TAMUCC) Lyndie Swanson (HBU) Heather Zumo (SELA)

References: ^[6]

References

1. "Southland Softball Standings". www.southland.org. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
2. "Ladyjacks Tabbed 2021 Softball Preseason Favorites". www.southland.org. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
3. "2021 Southland Preseason All-Conference Softball Teams Announced". www.southland.org. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
4. "SB: Cowgirls Ink Seven To NLI". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
5. "Landreneau releases 2021 Schedule". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
6. "SFA's Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year". www.southland.org. Retrieved January 6, 2022.