2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	22–34 (12–12 Southland)
Head coach	Amy Hooks (5th season)
Assistant coach	Tara McKenney
Home stadium	Lamar Softball Complex
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 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex and were led by fifth-year head coach Amy Hooks. The 2023 season marked Lamar's return to the Southland Conference following one season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

Preseason

Early signing

On September 2, 2022, Lamar announced that seven new players would join the team for the 2023 season. ^[3]

Player	Position	Hometown	Previous Team
Mikaila (Kay Kay) Kenney	Outfielder	Highland Village, Texas	Marcus HS / Marshall
Julia Kramer	Infielder	Prairieville, Louisiana	St. Amant HS / Nicholls
Emilee LaRue	Catcher	San Antonio, Texas	Blanco HS
Rien Milliken	Infielder	Victoria, British Columbia Canada	Lambrick Park Secondary School / Utah Valley
Karyana Mitchell	Pitcher	Palm Bay, Florida	Viera HS / UNC Charlotte
Cameron Niedenthal	Infielder/Pitcher	Port Neches, Texas	Port Neches–Groves HS /Lamar State College–Port Arthur

National signing day

On November 10, 2022, National signing day, Lamar announced that ten additional new players would join the team for the 2023 season. ^[4]

Player	Position	Hometown	Previous Team
Raigan Alexis Brannon	Catcher/Infielder	Mansfield, Texas	Lake Ridge HS
Aubrey Brown	Infielder/Utility	Wylie, Texas	Wylie HS
Sam Flores	Infielder	Humble, Texas	Summer Creek HS
Madison Guidry	Pitcher	La Porte, Texas	La Porte HS
Veronica "Roni" Harrison	Infielder	Alvin, Texas	Alvin HS
Lainie Schaefer	Infielder/Outfielder	Houston, Texas	Friendswood HS
Roxy Thompson	Infielder/Outfielder	Dallas, Texas	Rockwall HS
Makayla Valle	Pitcher/Utility	Aurora, Colorado	Grandview HS
Emma Wardlaw	Pitcher	Comfort, Texas	Comfort HS
Makenzie Wright	Pitcher	Pearland, Texas	Pearland HS

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 26, 2023. Lamar was picked to finish sixth in the Southland Conference with 49 votes. ^[5]

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

No Lady Cardinals were named to conference preseason teams. ^[5]

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)

Roster

2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team
Players	Coaches
# Pos. Name Bats/throws Height Year Home town 00 U Olivia Taylor R/R 5 ft 3 in(1.6 m) Sr College Station, Texas 1 OF Mikaila Kenney R/R 5 ft 6 in(1.68 m) Jr Highland Village, Texas 2 INF Nicolette Ramirez R/R 5 ft 4 in(1.63 m) Jr San Antonio, Texas 3 INF Kalie Amos R/R 5 ft 7 in(1.7 m) Fr Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 5 INF Brooke Davis R/R 5 ft 5 in(1.65 m) Jr Keller, Texas 6 OF Audrey Fleming R/R 5 ft 5 in(1.65 m) Jr Haslet, Texas 8 OF Aleka Xayaseng L/R 5 ft 2 in(1.57 m) Sr Call, Texas 10 U Hayley Freudenberg R/R 5 ft 2 in(1.57 m) Jr Baytown, Texas 11 U Kalyn Xayaseng R/R 5 ft 2 in(1.57 m) So Call, Texas 13 RHP Cameron Niedenthal R/R 5 ft 11 in(1.8 m) Jr Port Neches, Texas 15 RHP Kelsey Pizarro R/R 5 ft 4 in(1.63 m) Fr Rio Hondo, Texas 17 INF Sydnee Adams L/R 5 ft 5 in(1.65 m) Jr Port Neches, Texas 18 RHP Fadwa Ben Karim R/R 5 ft 8 in(1.73 m) Jr Milan Italy 19 C Estela Garza R/R 5 ft 3 in(1.6 m) Fr Baytown, Texas 21 C Emilee LaRue R/R 5 ft 9 in(1.75 m) Fr Blanco, Texas 22 INF Kaylee Ancelot R/R 5 ft 7 in(1.7 m) GS Orangefield, Texas 24 C Sam Bean R/R 5 ft 6 in(1.68 m) Sr Rockwall, Texas 27 RHP Karyana Mitchell R/R 5 ft 8 in(1.73 m) Jr Palm Bay, Florida 30 INF Rien Milliken R/R 5 ft 6 in(1.68 m) GS Victoria, BC Canada 49 C Felixia Hinojosa R/R 5 ft 5 in(1.65 m) Jr Beeville, Texas 50 RHP Aaliyah Ruiz R/R 5 ft 5 in(1.65 m) GS Beeville, Texas 59 INF Sydney Norton R/R 5 ft 4 in(1.63 m) So Schertz, Texas	Head coach Amy Hooks – 5th year Assistant coach(es) Tara McKenney – 5th year Anthony Aresco – 1st year Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: 2023-01-31

Schedule and results

Legend
	Lamar win
	Lamar loss
	Postponement/Cancellation
Bold	Lamar team member
*	Non-Conference game
†	Make-Up Game

2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals Softball Game Log
Regular season (22–34)
February (3–15) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Houston Invitational Feb. 9 vs. Virginia* Cougar Softball Complex • Houston, TX 0–5 E. Bigham (1-0) Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-1) MaxxSportsTV 0–1 Feb. 10 vs. Nebraska* Cougar Softball Complex • Houston, TX 0–8 Wallace (1-0) Mitchell, Karyana (0-1) MaxxSportsTV 0–2 Feb. 10 at Houston* Cougar Softball Complex • Houston, TX 1–9 EDWARDS,Taylor (1-0) Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-2) ESPN+ 463 0–3 Feb. 11 vs Virginia* Cougar Softball Complex • Houston, TX 1–4 J. Bressler (1-0) Mitchell, Karyana (0-2) E. Bigham (2) MaxxSportsTV 0–4 Feb. 11 vs Nebraska* Cougar Softball Complex • Houston, TX 0–7 Harness (1-0) Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-3) MaxxSportsTV 0–5 Feb. 15 at Texas* Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 2–8 Gutierrez, Citlaly (1-0) Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-4) LHN 1,297 0–6 I-35 Tournament Feb. 16 at Texas State* Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX 0–9 McCann, Tori (1-1) Mitchell, Karyana (0-3) 361 0–7 Feb. 17 vs. Abilene Christian* Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX 6–4 Mitchell, Karyana (1-3) Rote, E. (0-2) 1–7 Feb. 17 at UTSA* Roadrunner Field •San Antonio, TX 12–13 GILBERT, Jamie (1-1) Mitchell, Karyana (1-4) 1–8 Feb. 18 vs. Abilene Christian* Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX 5–11 White, R. (1-1) Mitchell, Karyana (0-4) 1–9 Feb. 19 at UTSA* Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX 11–7 Niedenthal, Cameron (1-0) ESTELL, Marena (1-1) 265 2–9 Feb. 21 at Stephen F. Austin* SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX 3–2 Mitchell, Karyana (2-5) A. Telford (3-4) ESPN+ 3–9 Feb. 21 at Stephen F. Austin* SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX 4–6 S. Hannabas (2-2) Ben Karim, Fadwa (0-1) B. Gainous (1) ESPN+ 3–10 Unconquered Invitational Feb. 24 vs. Troy* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 0–8 (5 inn) Cato, Olivia (2-1) Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-5) 3–11 Feb. 24 at Florida State* 6 JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 0–4 Ali DuBois (2-1) Ben Karim, Fadwa (0-2) ACCNX 3–12 Feb. 25 vs. FGCU* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 0–7 HULME,Ally (4-4) Mitchell, Karyana (2-6) 3–13 Feb. 25 at Florida State* 6 JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 3–11 Royalty (5-0) Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-6) Wilson (1) 1,351 3–14 Feb. 26 vs. Troy* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 0–2 Johnson, Leanna (7-1) Mitchell, Karyana (2-7) 3–15
March (7–9) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Mar. 1 at Tarleton State Texans* Tarleton Softball Complex • Stephenville, TX 4–8 Garcia, Grace (6-1) Mitchell, Karyana (2-8) ESPN+ 316 3–16 Boerner Invitational Mar. 3 vs Rider* Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX 9–1 Ruiz, Aaliyah (1-6) Stoeckel, F. (2-1) 4–16 Mar. 3 vs. UMKC* Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX 5–4 Mitchell, Karyana(3-8) Camryn Stickel(1-4) 5–16 Mar. 4 vs. UMKC* Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX 3–2 Ruiz, Aaliyah (2-6) Katie Noble (1-3) 372 6–16 Mar. 4 vs. Rider* Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX 0–1 Schmierer, Kathryn(1-1) Mitchell, Karyana(3-9) 315 6–17 Mar. 5 at UT Arlington* Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX 2–0 Niedenthal, Cameron (2-0) Bumpurs, Gracie (3-4) 388 7–17 Mar. 8 at Sam Houston* Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX 1–3 GUIDON, E. (2-2) Niedenthal, Cameron (2-1) 302 7–18 Mar. 11 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA 8–2 Mitchell, Karyana (4-9) Darr, Maggie (6-4) ESPN+ 248 8–18 1–0 Mar. 11 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA 4–5 Seely, Kenzie (3-1) Niedenthal, Cameron (2-2) ESPN+ 246 8–19 1–1 Mar. 12 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA 6–1 Ruiz, Aaliyah (3-6) Denton, Ryleigh (2-3) ESPN+ 187 9–19 2–1 Mar. 17 Southeastern Louisiana Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 2–6 Ladner, KK (1-0) Niedenthal, Cameron (2-3) ESPN+ 422 9–20 2–2 Mar. 17 Southeastern Louisiana Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 7–14 Blanchard, Cera (10-3) Ruiz, Aaliyah (3-7) ESPN+ 422 9–21 2–3 Mar. 18 Southeastern Louisiana Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 6–2 Ruiz, Aaliyah (4-7) Comeaux, MC (3-2) ESPN+ 402 10–21 3–3 Mar. 21 Texas Southern* Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX Cancelled Mar. 28 at Texas A&M* 21 Davis Diamond • College Station, TX 2–3 Leavitt, Emily (7-4) Niedenthal, Cameron (2-4) SECN+ 1,073 10–22 Mar. 31 McNeese Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 4–7 Vallejo, Ashley (7-7) Mitchell, Karyana (4-10) Tate, Whitney (1) ESPN+ 410 10–23 3–4 Mar. 31 McNeese Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 2–4 Sanders, Shaelyn (4-0) Ruiz, Aaliyah (4-8) Davis, Lindsay (3) ESPN+ 394 10–24 3–5
April (7–8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Apr. 1 McNeese Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 0–12 (5 inn) Tate, Whitney (12-2) Niedenthal, Cameron (2-5) ESPN+ 455 10–25 3–6 Apr. 5 at Southern* Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA 1–2 Raquel Latta (3-4) Ruiz, Aaliyah (4-9) Kairah Williams (1) 43 10–26 Apr. 6 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 4–5 McNeill, Audrey (8-6) Niedenthal, Cameron (2-6) ESPN+ 87 10–27 3–7 Apr. 6 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 10–0 (5 inn) Ruiz, Aaliyah (5-9) Yoo, Molly (10-6) ESPN+ 87 11–27 4–7 Apr. 7 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 0–1 McNeill, Audrey (9-6) Ruiz, Aaliyah (5-10) ESPN+ 66 11–28 4–8 Apr. 14 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 0–1 Aholelei, Primrose (14-9) Ruiz, Aaliyah (5-11) ESPN+ 11–29 4–9 Apr. 14 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 3–2 Mitchell, Karyana (5-10) Hoyt, Sydney (2-4) ESPN+ 12–29 5–9 Apr. 15 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 1–5 Aholelei, Primrose (15-9) Niedenthal, Cameron (2-7) ESPN+ 279 12–30 5–10 Apr. 21 Houston Christian Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 3–2 Ruiz, Aaliyah (6-11) Janes, Katy (6-10) ESPN+ 445 13–30 6–10 Apr. 21 Houston Christian Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 2–6 (9 inn) Swanson, Lyndie (9-6) Niedenthal, Cameron (2-8) ESPN+ 463 12–31 6–11 Apr. 22 Houston Christian Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 4–3 Ruiz, Aaliyah (6-10) Grofman, Ronni (5-3) ESPN+ 500 13–31 7–11 Apr. 25 Texas Southern* Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 3–1 Ruiz, Aaliyah (8-11) Melonie Guardiola (2-5) ESPN+ 542 14–31 Apr. 28 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 9–0 (5 inn) Ruiz, Aaliyah (9-11) GUNTHER, A (0-0) ESPN+ 52 15–31 8–11 Apr. 28 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 8–1 Ruiz, Aaliyah (10-11) GARCIA, A (0-0) ESPN+ 72 16–31 9–11 Apr. 29 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 0–9 (5 inn) FLOYD, M (3-6) Mitchell, Karyana (5-11) ESPN+ 145 17–32 9–12
May (3-0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record May 5 Texas A&M–Commerce Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 7–0 Ruiz, Aaliyah (11-11) Sanchez, J. (7-14) ESPN+ 300 18–32 10–12 May 5 Texas A&M–Commerce Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 6–4 Ruiz, Aaliyah (12-11) Sanchez, J. (7-15) ESPN+ 397 19–32 11–12 May 6 Texas A&M–Commerce Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 2–1 Ruiz, Aaliyah (13-11) Sanchez, J. (7-16) ESPN+ 397 20–32 12–12
Post-season (2–2)
Southland Tournament (2–2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record May 9 vs. (5) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi (4) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–3 Aholelei, Primrose (19-12) Ruiz, Aaliyah (13-12) ESPN+ 20–31 0–1 May 11 vs. (6) Northwestern State (4) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 5–4 Ruiz, Aaliyah (13-11) Darr, Maggie (12-10) Ben Karim, Fadwa (1) ESPN+ 21–33 1–1 May 12 vs. (3) Nicholls (4) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 5–4 Ruiz, A (15-12) Yoo, Molly (13-12) ESPN+ 23–33 2–1 May 12 vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana (4) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 0–8 (5 inn) DuBois, Ellie (3-0) Ruiz, Aaliyah (15-13) ESPN+ 363 22–34 2–2 –

Schedule Source: ^{[6] [7] [8]}

*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. Kenneth Cline (September 2, 2022). "Seven New Cardinals Joining 2023 Squad". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
4. Kenneth Cline (November 10, 2022). "Softball Gains 10 New Red Birds on Signing Day". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
5. "McNeese predicted to win 2023 softball race; Preseason poll and all-conference teams announced". Southland Conference. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
6. Kenneth Cline (December 7, 2022). "Cardinals Softball Releases 2023 Schedule". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
7. "Lamar University Cardinals". NCAA.org. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
8. "2023 Southland Softball Schedule Announced". Southland Conference. October 13, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2022.