2023 Incarnate Word Cardinals softball team

2023 Incarnate Word Cardinals softball
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	16–30–1 (8–16 Southland)
Head coach	Kimberly Dean (2nd season)
Assistant coaches	Hunter Bunch Robyn Leighton
Home stadium	H-E-B Field
Seasons ←  2022 2024  →

2023 Southland Conference softball standings

v t e	Conf									Overall
Team	W		L		T		PCT			W		L		T		PCT
McNeese  ‍†‍‡‍y	21	–	3	–	0		.875			47	–	16	–	0		.746
Southeastern Louisiana  ‍‍‍	19	–	5	–	0		.792			47	–	14	–	0		.770
Nicholls  ‍‍‍	13	–	11	–	0		.542			29	–	24	–	0		.547
Lamar  ‍‍‍	12	–	12	–	0		.500			22	–	34	–	0		.393
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi  ‍‍‍	11	–	13	–	0		.458			24	–	24	–	0		.500
Northwestern State  ‍‍‍	10	–	14	–	0		.417			25	–	27	–	0		.481
Houston Christian  ‍‍‍	9	–	15	–	0		.375			20	–	33	–	0		.377
Incarnate Word  ‍‍‍	8	–	16	–	0		.333			16	–	30	–	1		.351
Texas A&M–Commerce*  ‍‍‍	5	–	19	–	0		.208			9	–	39	–	0		.188
* Ineligible for the 2023 NCAA tournament due to transition from Division II [1]
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of May 21, 2023 [2] Rankings from NFCA/USA Today

The 2023 Incarnate Word Cardinals softball team represented the University of the Incarnate Word during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Cardinals played their home games at H-E-B Field and were led by second-year head coach Kimberly Dean. They are members of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals compiled an overall record of 16–30–1, and a conference record of 8–16. Finishing in eighth place in conference play, the Cardinals did not qualify for the conference tournament.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 26, 2023. Incarnate Word was picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference with 45 votes. ^[3]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	McNeese State	128 (16)
2	Southeastern Louisiana	113 (2)
3	Northwestern State	91
4	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	85
5	Houston Christian	58
6	Lamar	49
7	Texas A&M–Commerce	47
8	Incarnate Word	45
9	Nicholls	32

Preseason All-Southland team

The Cardinals had one player named to the Southland Conference preseason second team. ^[3]

First Team

• Crislyne Moreno (MCNS, SO, 1st Base)
• Caleigh Cross (MCNS, SR, 2nd Base)
• Jil Poullard (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base)
• Maddie Watson (SELA, SO, Shortstop)
• Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, JR, Catcher)
• Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SR, Utility)
• Audrey Greely (SELA, JR, Designated Player)
• Laney Roos (NSU, JR, Outfielder)
• Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
• Cam Goodman (SELA, JR, Outfielder)
• Ashley Vallejo (MCNS, JR, Pitcher)
• Bronte Rhoden (NSU, SR, Pitcher)

Second Team

• Sydney Hoyt (TAMUCC, JR, 1st Base)
• Madison Rayner (SELA, SR, 2nd Base)
• Haylie Savage (HCU, SO, 3rd Base)
• Ryleigh Mata (UIW, SO, Shortstop)
• Tristin Court (NSU, JR, Catcher)
• Melise Gossen (NICH, SR, Utility)
• Chloe Gomez (MCNS, JR, Designated Player)
• Alexa Poche (NICH, JR, Outfielder)
• Makenzie Chaffin (NSU, JR, Outfielder)
• Bailie Ragsdale (NSU, SO, Outfielder)
• Lyndie Swanson (HCU, JR, Pitcher)
• Siarah Galvan (TAMUCC, SO, Pitcher)

Schedule and results

Legend
	Incarnate Word win
	Incarnate Word loss
	Incarnate Word tie
	Postponement/Cancellation
Bold	Incarnate Word team member

2023 Incarnate Word Cardinals softball game log
Regular season (16–30–1)
February (7–6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record Cardinal Invitational Feb. 10 Green Bay H–E–B • San Antonio, TX 6–1 Aaliyah Garcia (1-0) Guzman, Viviana (0-1) 1–0 Feb. 10 Eastern Illinois H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 12–3 Samantha Portillo (1-0) REHMEIER, Alexa (0-1) ESPN+ 173 2–0 Feb. 11 vs. Grand Canyon H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 0–6 Hudson, Hailey (0-0) Floyd, Madison (0-1) ESPN+ 229 2–1 Feb. 11 Eastern Illinois H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 3–2 Gunther, Annie (1-0) PRICE, Olivia (0-0) 229 3–1 Feb. 12 Green Bay H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 2–3 Baneck, Brittany (0-0) Myers, Natalie (0-0) ESPN+ 219 3–2 Texas Classic Feb. 17 vs. Loyola–Chicago Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 0–5 P. Pepkowski (3-1) Portillo , Samantha (1-1) 1,359 3–3 Feb. 17 vs. Omaha Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 3–0 Garcia, Aaliyah (2-0) Meyer (1-1) 1,352 4–3 Feb. 18 vs. Omaha Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 4–6 Meyer (2-1) Floyd, Madison (0-2) 1,400 4–4 Feb. 18 vs. Loyola–Chicago Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 3–2 Gunther, Annie (2-0) B. Johnson (0-2) Garcia, Aaliyah (1) 5–4 Feb. 19 at Texas Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 0–8 (5 inn) Morgan (3-0) Garcia, Aaliyah (2-1) 1,452 5–5 Feb. 21 at UTSA Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX 5–6 ESTELL, Marena (2-1) Floyd, Madison (1-2) 249 5–6 Feb. 25 Prairie View A&M H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 6–4 Floyd, Madison (0-0) Hailey Elizarraras (0-0) 75 6–6 Feb. 25 Prairie View A&M H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 4–1 Gunther, Annie (3-0) Cailin Massey (0-0) 153 7–6
March (4–9–1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record Mar. 3 at Stephen F. Austin SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX 2–5 Gainous, Brooke (2-2) A. Garcia (2-2) ESPN+ 184 7–7 Mar. 4 at Stephen F. Austin SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX 4–2 Gunther, Annie (4–0) A. Telford (4-6) ESPN+ 8–7 Mar. 4 at Stephen F. Austin SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX 4–5 S. Hannabas (3-2) Gunther, Annie (4-1) 8–8 Mar. 7 Tennessee State H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 3–3 Tie ESPN+ 132 8–8–1 Mar. 10 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 4–2 Garcia, Aaliyah (3-2) Yoo, M. (6-3) ESPN+ 102 9–8–1 1–0 Mar. 10 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–10 (5 inn) McNeill, Audrey (5-3) Floyd, Madison (1-4) ESPN+ 112 9–9–1 1–1 Mar. 11 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 0–3 McNeill, A. (6-3) Garcia, Aaliyah (3-3) ESPN+ 151 9–10–1 1–2 Mar. 13 at Southern Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA Game Cancelled Mar. 17 McNeese H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 0–9 (5 inn) Tate, Whitney (0-0) Garcia, Aaliyah (0-0) ESPN+ 78 9–11–1 1–3 Mar. 17 McNeese H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 1–5 Vallejo, Ashley (5-7) Gunther, Annie (4-3) ESPN+ 167 9–12–1 1–4 Mar. 18 McNeese H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 0–10 Tate, Whitney (9-1) Floyd, Madison (1-5) ESPN+ 142 9–13–1 1–5 Mar. 24 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 3–0 Gunther, Annie (5-2) Janes, K. (5-6) ESPN+ 250 10–13–1 2–5 Mar. 24 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 0–4 Swanson, L. (6-5) Garcia, Aaliyah (3-5) ESPN+ 250 10–14–1 2–6 Mar. 25 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 11–7 Myers, Natalie (1-1) Prasifka, A. (0-5) ESPN+ 250 11–14–1 3–5 Mar. 29 at Texas A&M 21 Davis Diamond • College Station, TX 0–6 URIBE (1-0) Gunther, Annie (5-3) ACKERMAN (2) SECN+ 1,126 11–15–1
April (4–13) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record Apr. 1 Oklahoma State 2 H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 0–11 (5 inn) Maxwell, Kelly (11-0) Gunther, Annie (5-4) ESPN+ 310 11–16–1 Apr. 1 Oklahoma State 2 H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 0–10 Rosenberry, Ivy (4-1) Portillo , Samantha (1-2) ESPN+ 310 11–17–1 Apr. 4 at Texas Southern Memorial Park • Houston, TX 1–2 Gendorf (0-0) Garcia, Aaliyah (3-6) Guardiola (0) 83 11–18–1 Apr. 7 Southeastern Louisiana H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 8–12 Ladner, KK (0-0) GUNTHER, A (0-0) ESPN+ 57 11–19–1 3–7 Apr. 7 Southeastern Louisiana H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 7–10 Blanchard, Cera (0-0) GARCIA, A (0-0) Comeaux, Mary-Cathryn (MC) (0) ESPN+ 120 11–20–1 3–8 Apr. 8 Southeastern Louisiana H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 2–3 Comeaux, Mary-Cathryn (MC) (8-2) GUNTHER, A (1-3) ESPN+ 156 11–21–1 3–9 Apr. 12 at Prairie View Lady Panther Softball Complex • Prairie View, TX 2–6 J. Rojas (5-0) Floyd, Madison (1-6) C. Massey (2) 215 11–22–1 Apr. 14 Northwestern State H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 3–2 Portillo , Samantha (0-0) Darr, Maggie (0-0) ESPN+ 67 12–22–1 4–9 Apr. 14 Northwestern State H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 5–9 Denton, Ryleigh (4-4) Myers, Natalie (0-0) Rhoden, Bronte (3) ESPN+ 120 12–23–1 4–10 Apr. 15 Northwestern State H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 11–3 Gunther, Annie (0-0) Seely, Kenzie (0-0) ESPN+ 83 13–23–1 5–10 Apr. 18 UTSA H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 0–7 SMITH (4-13) Portillo , Samantha (2-3) ESPN+ 53 13–24–1 Apr. 21 at Texas A&M–Commerce John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX 0–1 Sanchez, J. (4-12) Gunther, Annie (6-7) ESPN+ 205 13–25–1 5–11 Apr. 21 at Texas A&M–Commerce John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX 5–0 Floyd, Madison (2-6) Arredondo, A (2-13) ESPN+ 14–25–1 6–11 Apr. 22 at Texas A&M–Commerce John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX 0–1 Sanchez, J. (5-12) Gunther, Annie (6-8) ESPN+ 184 14–26–1 6–12 Apr. 28 at Lamar H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 0–9 Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-0) Gunther, Annie (0-0) ESPN+ 52 14–27–1 6–13 Apr. 28 Lamar H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 1–8 Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-0) Garcia, Aaliyah (0-0) ESPN+ 72 14–28–1 6–14 Apr. 29 Lamar H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX 9–0 (5 inn) Floyd, Madison (3-6) Mitchell, Karyana (5-11) ESPN+ 147 15–28–1 7–14
May (1–2) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record May. 5 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 2–7 Aholelei, P. (17-12) Floyd, Madison (3-7) ESPN+ 175 15–29–1 7–15 May. 5 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 4–1 Gunther, Annie (7-9) Saenz, A. (0-2) ESPN+ 252 16–29–1 8–15 May. 6 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 2–5 Aholelei, Primrose (18-12) Gunther, Annie (7-10) ESPN+ 268 16–30–1 8–16

Schedule Source: ^[4] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

References

1. "Texas A&M University-Commerce Officially Joins NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference". Texas A&M University-Commerce. July 1, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
2. "Southland Conference Softball Standings". Southland.org. Southland Conference. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
3. "McNeese predicted to win 2023 softball race; Preseason poll and all-conference teams announced". Southland Conference. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
4. "2023 Softball Schedule". University of the Incarnate Word. Retrieved January 2, 2023.