2021 Texas State Bobcats softball team

2021 Texas State Bobcats softball
Austin Regionals appearance
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Record	39–14 (17–6 SBC)
Head coach	Ricci Woodard (21st season)
Assistant coaches	Haley Long Paige McDuffee
Home stadium	Bobcat Softball Stadium
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 Texas State Bobcats softball team represented Texas State University during the 2020 NCAA Division I softball season. The Bobcats played their home games at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The Bobcats were led by twenty-first year head coach Ricci Woodard 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. Texas State was picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference with 72 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
Presley Glende	Pitcher	Kirbyville, Texas	Buna HS
Missy Muras	Infielder/Catcher	La Grange, Texas	LaGrange HS
Kaitlyn Dutton	Pitcher/Utility	Mont Belvieu, Texas	Barbers Hill HS
Ciara Trahan	Outfielder	Santa Fe, Texas	Santa Fe HS
Makayla Hall	Catcher	Spring, Texas	Klein Oak HS
Bailee Welsh	Pitcher	Fairhope, Alabama	McGill-Toolen Catholic HS

Roster

2021 Texas State Bobcats roster
	Pitchers 4 Jessica Mullins – freshman 8 Meagan King – senior 15 Tori McCann – sophomore 16 Cassie Valdez – junior 18 Dalilah Barrera – senior 23 Brooke Blackwell – junior Outfielders 2 Molly Damiani – junior 6 Marisa Cruz – senior 10 Kylie George – senior 11 Piper Randolph – freshman 19 Arieann Bell – senior		Catchers 00 Cat Crenek – junior 13 Caitlyn Rogers – junior Infielders 3 Hannah Earls – freshman 5 Sydney Belvin - Redshirt Freshman 9 Maya Zavala – sophomore 12 Raina Lange – freshman 22 Tara Oltmann – senior 24 Baylee Lemons – freshman 25 Hailey MacKay – senior 26 Sara Vanderford – sophomore 27 Samara Lagway – junior Utility 28 Mia Cantu – freshman

Coaching staff

2021 Texas State Bobcats coaching staff
Ricci Woodard – Head coach – 21st year Haley Long – Assistant Head coach – 4th year Paige McDuffee – Assistant Head coach – 2nd year Julia Hollingsworth – Graduate Assistant – 1st year Jessie Farmiloe – Volunteer Assistant Coach – 1st year

Schedule and results

Legend
	Texas State win
	Texas State loss
	Postponement/Cancellation/Suspensions
Bold	Texas State team member

2021 Texas State Bobcats Softball Game Log
Regular season (36-10)
February (6-2) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Feb. 13 RV Texas Tech RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX Game postponed due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in San Marcos Feb. 14 RV Texas Tech RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in San Marcos Maverick Classic Feb. 20 vs. Abilene Christian Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Arlington Feb. 20 vs. Wichita State Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Arlington Feb. 21 vs. Wichita State Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Arlington Feb. 21 vs. Abilene Christian Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Arlington Feb. 22 Abilene Christian Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 6-0 Mullins (1-0) White (1-2) None ESPN+ 201 1-0 Feb. 22 Abilene Christian Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 6-2 King (1-0) Bradley (1-1) None ESPN+ 201 2-0 Feb. 24 at No. 7 Texas Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX L 0-1 Jacobsen (2-0) Mullins (1-1) None Longhorn Network 282 2-1 Lone Star State Invitational Feb. 26 Mississippi State Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 4-3 McCann (1-0) Wesley (1-1) Mullins (1) 256 3-1 Feb. 26 Mississippi State Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX L 2-6 Fagan (1-0) Mullins (1-2) None 256 3-2 Feb. 27 Ole Miss Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 2-1 Mullins (2-2) Diederich (3-4) None 313 4-2 Feb. 27 Sam Houston State Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 10-3 McCann (2-0) Bachmeyer (0-3) None 313 5-2 Feb. 28 Lamar Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 8-1 King (2-0) Marwitz (0-1) None ESPN+ 234 6-2
March (15-1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Mar. 3 at Texas Tech Rocky Johnson Stadium • Lubbock, TX W 6-5 Blackwell (1-0) Edmoundson (3-3) King (1) 7-2 Mar. 3 at Texas Tech Rocky Johnson Field • Lubbock, TX L 2-7 Zoch (3-2) King (2-1) None 7-3 Mar. 5 Houston Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 6-1 Mullins (3-2) Hertenberger (2-3) None ESPN+ 235 8-3 Mar. 6 Houston Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 8-0 (5 inns) McCann (3-0) Hudson (3-3) None ESPN+ 254 9-3 Mar. 7 Houston Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 5-2 McCann (3-0) Lee (2-2) None ESPN+ 260 10-3 Mar. 10 Sam Houston State RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 6-0 Mullins (4-2) Billmeier (0-2) None 272 11-3 Mar. 11 BYU RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 2-1 Mullins (5-2) Moffat-Korth (5-6) None 237 12-3 Mar. 12 UTSA RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 5-0 Mullins (6-2) Gilbert (1-2) None 330 13-3 Mar. 13 UTSA RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 8-1 King (3-1) Nelson (1-1) None 50 14-3 Mar. 16 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi RV Bobcat Softball Complex • San Marcos, TX W 2-0 Mullins (7-2) Beatriz (6-2) None 174 15-3 Mar. 21 at Appalachian State RV Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 4-3 King (4-1) Longanecker (6-3) McCann (1) 50 16-3 1-0 Mar. 21 at Appalachian State RV Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 8-3 Barrera (1-0) Holland (3-4) Mullins (2) 50 17-3 2-0 Mar. 23 at Georgia State RV Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 6-2 King (5-1) Banks (2-3) None 137 18-3 3-0 Mar. 23 at Georgia State RV Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 9-0 Mullins (8-2) Buck (3-3) None 131 19-3 4-0 Mar. 24 at Georgia State RV Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 10-5 Mullins (9-2) Mooney (4-5) None 153 20-3 5-0 Mar. 24 at No. 8 Texas RV Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX Game postponed Mar. 30 Tarleton State RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 8-0 (6 inns) Mullins (10-2) Bridges (5-1) None ESPN+ 238 21-3
April (11–6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Apr. 1 Coastal Carolina RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 6-5 Mullins (11-2) Beasley-Polko (5-7) King (2) ESPN+ 263 22-3 6-0 Apr. 1 Coastal Carolina RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 5-1 King (6-1) De Jesus (2-5) None ESPN+ 263 23-3 7-0 Apr. 2 Coastal Carolina RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 3-2 King (7-1) Brabham (1-4) None 244 24-3 8-0 Apr. 6 RV Texas A&M No. 25 Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 7-6 Mullins (12-2) Poynter (7-2) None ESPN+ 330 25-3 Apr. 9 South Alabama No. 25 Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX L 1-3 Hughen (6-4) Mullins (12-3) None ESPN+ 243 25-4 8-1 Apr. 10 South Alabama No. 25 Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX L 0-1 Lackie (12-6) King (7-2) None ESPN+ 307 25-5 8-2 Apr. 11 South Alabama No. 25 Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX L 4-7 Hughes (2-1) McCann (4-1) Lackie (3) ESPN+ 307 25-6 8-3 Apr. 14 at Baylor Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX W 7-5 Mullins (13-3) Mansell (6-2) None ESPN+ 340 26-6 Apr. 17 at No. 14 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 5-1 Mullins (14-3) Lamb (14-3) None ESPN+ 289 27-6 9-3 Apr. 17 at No. 14 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 3-7 Ellyson (14-4) Mullins (14-4) None ESPN+ 289 27-7 9-4 Apr. 18 at No. 14 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 0-8 (6 inns) Ellyson (15-4) Mullins (14-5) None ESPN+ 283 27-8 9-5 Apr. 21 at No. 9 Texas RV Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX L 4-5 Day (3-0) Mullins (14-6) O'Leary (3) LHN 375 27-9 Apr. 24 Georgia Southern RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 7-0 Mullins (15-6) Garcia (4-5) None ESPN+ 325 28-9 10-5 Apr. 24 Georgia Southern RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 3-0 Barrera (2-0) Waldrep (3-6) King (3) ESPN+ 325 29-9 11-5 Apr. 25 Georgia Southern RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 1-0 King (8-2) Garcia (4-6) None ESPN+ 145 30-9 12-5 Apr. 28 Houston Baptist RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 4-2 Mullins (16-6) Patak (6-9) King (4) ESPN+ 234 31-9 Apr. 30 at Troy RV Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 4-3 Mullins (17-6) Johnson (18-6) None ESPN+ 134 32-9 13-5
May (4-1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 1 at Troy RV Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 3-0 King (9-2) Baker (6-4) None ESPN+ 132 33-9 14-5 May 2 at Troy RV Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 4-6 Baker (7-4) King (9-3) None ESPN+ 121 33-10 14-6 May 6 UT Arlington RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 8-0 Mullins (18-6) Valencia (5-6) None ESPN+ 265 34-10 15-6 May 7 UT Arlington RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 2-1 King (10-3) Bumpurs (2-6) Mullins (3) ESPN+ 271 35-10 16-6 May 8 UT Arlington RV Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX W 4-2 Mullins (19-6) Gardiner (3-3) None ESPN+ 306 36-10 17-6
Post-season (3-4)
SBC Tournament (2-2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 12 vs. (10) Georgia State (2) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 2-0 Mullins (20-6) Allen (1-2) None ESPN+ 121 37-10 May 13 vs. (6) UT Arlington (2) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 4-0 King (11-3) Bumpurs (2-7) None ESPN+ 138 38-10 May 14 vs. (1)/No. 14 Louisiana (2) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 3-4 Ellyson (22-6) King (11-4) None ESPN+ 188 38-11 May 15 vs. (4) South Alabama (2) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 3-4 (8 inns) Lackie (18-10) McCann (4-2) None ESPN+ 321 38-12
NCAA Division I softball tournament (1-2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record Austin Regionals May 21 vs. (2)/No. 10 Oregon (3) Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX W 5-1 King (12-4) Yanez (20-6) None ESPN3 824 39-12 1-0 May 22 vs. (1)/No. 11 Texas (3) Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX L 0-6 O'Leary (15-4) King (12-5) None ESPN2 973 39-13 1-1 May 22 vs. (2)/No. 10 Oregon (3) Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX L 0-2 Yanez (21-6) King (12-6) None ESPN3 795 39-14 1-2

Schedule Source: ^[4]

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

Austin Regional

Austin Regional Teams
(1) Texas Longhorns	(2) Oregon Ducks	(3) Texas State Bobcats	(4) Saint Francis Red Flash

	First Round					Semi-Finals					Finals
	Oregon		1
	Texas State		5
							Texas State	0
						12	Texas	6
	12	Texas	12
		Saint Francis	0
											12	Texas
												Oregon
	Lower round 1					Lower final
						Texas State		0
	Oregon		7			Oregon		2
	Saint Francis		0

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: ^[5]

Rankings

Main article: 2021 NCAA Division I softball rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
NFCA / USA Today [6]	RV	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	25	—	RV	RV	RV	—	—
Softball America [7]	—	—	—	—	—	24	22	22	21	23	—	—	—	—	—
ESPN.com/USA Softball [8]	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	23	RV	—	—	—	—	—
D1Softball [9]	—	—	—	22	24	21	20	22	18	25	—	—	—	—	—

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. "Six put pen to paper to join Woodard's Bobcat program". Texas State Athletics. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
4. "TXST announces 2021 softball schedule". Texas State Athletics. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
5. "Sun Belt Announces 2021 Softball Postseason All-Conference, Individual Awards". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
6. "2020 NCAA Division I Top 25". www.softballamerica.com. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
7. "2021 D-I Top 25". SoftballAmerica.com. Baseball America Enterprises. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
8. "NCAA College Rankings and Polls - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
9. "Top 25 Archives • D1Softball". D1Softball. Retrieved February 14, 2021.