2024 Nicholls Colonels softball team

2024 Nicholls Colonels softball
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	31–26 (16–8 Southland)
Head coach	Justin Lewis (3rd season)
Assistant coaches	Ron Frost Kat Frakes
Home stadium	Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park
Seasons ←  2023 2025 →

2024 Southland Conference softball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
McNeese  ‍†‍‍	22	–	2		.917			40	–	20		.667
Southeastern Louisiana  ‍‍‡‍y	17	–	7		.708			47	–	15		.758
Nicholls  ‍‍‍	16	–	8		.667			31	–	26		.544
Incarnate Word  ‍‍‍	14	–	9		.609			34	–	17		.667
Lamar  ‍‍‍	12	–	12		.500			26	–	25		.510
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi ‍‍‍	9	–	15		.375			21	–	22		.488
Houston Christian ‍‍‍	9	–	15		.375			23	–	27		.460
Northwestern State  ‍‍‍	5	–	18		.217			19	–	31		.380
Texas A&M–Commerce* ‍‍‍	2	–	22		.083			9	–	45		.167
* Ineligible for the 2024 NCAA tournament due to transition from Division II [1]
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of May 19, 2024 [2] Rankings from NFCA/USA Today

The 2024 Nicholls Colonels softball team represented Nicholls State University during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. The Colonels played their home games at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park and were led by third-year head coach Justin Lewis. They are members of the Southland Conference. The team compiled a 31–26 overall record and a 16–8 record in conference play finishing in third place. As the third seeded team in the SLC tournament, the Colonels were 2–2 defeating seventh seeded Houston Christian 5–4 and fifth seeded Lamar 5–4⁸. They were defeated by second seeded Southeastern Louisiana 1–4 and first seeded McNeese 3–4⁸.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 2, 2024. Nicholls was picked to finish third in the Southland Conference with 97 votes. ^[3]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	McNeese State	128 (16)
2	Southeastern Louisiana	114 (2)
3	Nicholls	97
4	Lamar	78
5	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	72
6	Northwestern State	63
7	Houston Christian	49
8	Incarnate Word	30
9	Texas A&M–Commerce	17

Preseason All-Southland team

Erin Kraus and Alexa Poche were named to the conference preseason first team. ^[3]

First Team

• Lexi Johnson (SELA, SR, 1st Base)
• Erin Kraus (NICH, SO, 2nd Base)
• Haylie Savage (HCU, JR, 3rd Base)
• Reese Reyna (MCNS, JR, Shortstop)
• Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, SR, Catcher)
• Chloe Gomez (MCNS, SR, Utility)
• Audrey Greely (SELA, SR, Designated Player)
• Alexa Poche (NICH, SR, Outfielder)
• AB Garcia (HCU, SO, Outfielder)
• Erin Ardoin (MCNS, JR, Outfielder)
• Ashley Vallejo (MCNS, JR, Pitcher)
• Primrose Aholelei (TAMUCC, JR, Pitcher)

Second Team

• Crislyne Mareno (MCNS, JR, 1st Base)
• Mariana Torres (MCNS, JR, 2nd Base)
• Rylie Bouvier (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base)
• Brooke Davis (LU, SR, Shortstop)
• Ashlyn Walker (NWST, SR, Catcher)
• Sydney Hoyt (TAMUCC, SR, Utility)
• Cameron Niedenthal (LU, SR, Designated Player)
• Cam Goodman (SELU, SR, Outfielder)
• Ka'Lyn Watson (SELU, SR, Outfielder)
• Laney Roos (NWST, SR, Outfielder)
• Maggie Darr (NWST, SR, Pitcher)
• Shaelyn Sanders (MCNS, SR, Pitcher)

Roster

2024 Nicholls Colonels softball team
Players	Coaches
# Pos. Name Bats/throws Height Year Home town 1 Madisen Levsey / — Fr 2 OF McKenzie Champagne L/R 5 ft 4 in(1.63 m) Jr Lockport, Louisiana 3 U Claire Cisco L/R 5 ft 4 in(1.63 m) So College Station, Texas 4 INF Makynli Miller R/R 5 ft 6 in(1.68 m) Fr Many, Louisiana 5 INF Erin Krause L/R 5 ft 7 in(1.7 m) So Cypress, Texas 7 RHP Molly VandenBout R/R 5 ft 10 in(1.78 m) Jr Temple, Texas 8 Sydney Mann / — Fr 9 INF Alexa Poche' L/L 5 ft 8 in(1.73 m) Sr New Orleans, Louisiana 10 Madisen Fulfer / — Fr 11 Laylin Sturm / — Fr 12 Rylie Rutherford / — Fr 13 Katy Sanders / — Fr 14 RHP Audrey McNeil R/R 5 ft 7 in(1.7 m) Sr Plano, Texas 15 INF Lilianna Robledo R/R 5 ft 5 in(1.65 m) So Converse, Texas 16 OF Reagan Heflin L/R 5 ft 8 in(1.73 m) So Richmond, Texas 17 Gabee Higbe / — So 18 INF Sydni Stevens R/R 5 ft 9 in(1.75 m) Fr Seguin, Texas 19 OF Samantha Gwiazda R/R 5 ft 9 in(1.75 m) Sr Frankfort, Illinois 20 OF Carmella Muccilli R/R 5 ft 8 in(1.73 m) So Santa Cruz, California 21 INF Sydnee Shelton R/R 5 ft 9 in(1.75 m) Sr Fort Worth, Texas 22 LHP Molly Yoo L/L 5 ft 8 in(1.73 m) So Cypress, Texas 23 Taylor Efferson / — Fr 24 RHP Averi Paden R/L 5 ft 5 in(1.65 m) So Summit, Mississippi 25 Alyssa Naquin / — Fr 26 C Brynne Songy R/R 5 ft 4 in(1.63 m) So Prairieville, Louisiana 42 P Abigail Anderson R/R 5 ft 10 in(1.78 m) Sr Mesa, Arizona	Head coach Justin Lewis (Louisiana–Monroe) Assistant coach(es) Ron Frost (Alabama State) Kat Frakes (UIS) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: January 26, 2024

Schedule and results

Legend
	Nicholls win
	Nicholls loss
	Postponement/Cancellation
Bold	Nicholls team member

2024 Nicholls State Colonels softball game log
Regular season (31–26)
February (11–8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record Feb. 8 at LSU* Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA 0–8 5 inn Sydney Berzon (1–0) McNeill, Audrey (0–1) None SECN+/ESPN+ 1,850 0–1 Mardi Gras Mambo Feb. 9 vs. Green Bay* Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 11–1 5 inn McNeill, Audrey (1-1) P. Kringel (0–2) None 60 1–1 Feb. 9 vs. North Dakota* Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 2–4 Makaela Carr (1–0) Yoo, Molly (0–1)) None 101 1–2 Feb. 10 vs. Providence* Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 6–1 McNeill, Audrey (2–1) Tori Grifone (0–1) None 111 2–2 Feb. 10 vs. UT Arlington* Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 8–4 Paden, Averi (1–0) Moreno, Jade (0–1) None 101 3–2 Feb. 11 vs. Montana* Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 9–2 McNeill, Audrey (3–1) Brinka, Emmalyn (1–2) None 123 4–2 Houston Classic Feb. 17 at Houston* Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 1–5 Nicole Bodeux (1-1) McNeill, Audrey (3–2) Paris Lehman (1) ESPN+ 268 4–3 Feb. 16 vs. UTSA* Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 7–0 Yoo, Molly (1-1) K. Schultz (0–5) None 5–3 Feb. 16 vs. UMass* Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 1–2 Horton, Natalee (1-1) McNeill, A. (3-3) None 5–4 Feb. 17 at Houston* Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 3–11 (5 inn) Shelby Smith (4–0) McNeill, Audrey (3–4) None ESPN+ 449 5–5 Feb. 18 vs. UMass* Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 11–2 (5 inn) Paden, Averi (2–0) Streicher, H (0–2) None 6–5 Feb. 21 Alcorn State* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 11–1 (6 inn) VandenBout, Molly (1–0) Ashanti Carter (0–1) None 103 7–5 Feb. 21 Alcorn State* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 8–0 (5 inn) Paden, Averi (3–0) Kiri Parker (0–1) 103 8–5 Dugout Club Classic Feb. 23 vs. FIU* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 11–1 McNeill, Audrey (4-4) BIRLING, Sydney (1–2) None 9–5 Feb. 23 vs. FIU* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 3–0 Yoo, Molly (2–1) AGES, Jordyn (1–2) None 10–5 Feb. 24 at Florida State* 11 JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 4–5 Allison Royalty (4–1) McNeill, Audrey (4–5) None 10–6 Feb. 24 at Florida State* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 0–8 (5 inn) Allison Royalty (5–1) Yoo, Molly (2-2) None 10–7 Feb. 25 vs. Charleston Southern* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 2–1 McNeill, Audrey (5-5) LAMB, Nealy (2–1) None 11–7 Feb. 27 Louisiana* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–8 Sam Landry (3–5) Paden, Averi (3–1) None 213 11–8
March (8–8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record Mar 1 Louisiana–Monroe* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 3–4 Abrams,Victoria (6–2) Yoo, Molly (2–3) None ESPN+ 566 11–9 Mar 2 Louisiana–Monroe* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 5–4 Yoo, Molly (3-3) Nichols,Maddie (6–3) None ESPN+ 564 12–9 Mar 2 Louisiana–Monroe* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 0–12 (5 inn) Kassidy,Giddens (4–1) McNeill, Audrey (5–6) None ESPN+ 614 12–10 Mar 5 at Southern* Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA – (-) Postponed (weather) – Mar 9 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA 9–5 Yoo, Molly (4–3) Seely, Kenzie (5–6) Paden, Averi (1) ESPN+ 228 13–10 1–0 Mar 9 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA 5–0 McNeill, Audrey (6-6) Darr, Maggie (4–6) None ESPN+ 218 14–10 2–0 Mar 10 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA 2–0 McNeill, Audrey (7–6) Seely, Kenzie (5–7) None ESPN+ 204 15–10 3–0 Mar 13 Ole Miss* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–4 Makenna Kliethermes (8–2) Paden, Averi (3–2) None ESPN+ 467 15–11 Mar 13 Ole Miss* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–9 Catelyn Riley (2-2) McNeill, Audrey (7-7) None ESPN+ 202 15–12 Mar 15 McNeese Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–4 Sanders, Shaelyn (7–6) McNeill, Audrey (7–8) None ESPN+ 189 15–13 3–1 Mar 15 McNeese Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–0 Yoo, Molly (5–3) Schexnayder, Ryann (4–2) None ESPN+ 122 16–13 4–1 Mar 16 McNeese Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 0–2 Sanders, Shaelyn (8–6) McNeill, Audrey (7–9) None ESPN+ 190 16–14 4–2 Mar 20 Southern Miss* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 7–6 (9 inn) McNeill, Audrey (8–9) Jana Lee (1–3) None 124 17–14 Mar 26 LSU* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–10 Raelin Chaffin (8–2) Yoo, Molly (5–4) None ESPN+ 703 17–15 Mar 28 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 4–1 (13 inn) Paden, Averi (3–2) Mitchell, Karyana (10–2) None ESPN+ 400 18–15 5–2 Mar 29 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 3–2 Paden, Averi (5–2) Mitchell, Karyana (10–3) None ESPN+ 400 19–15 6–2 Mar 29 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 0–2 Jolin, Sabrina (3-3) McNeill, Audrey (8–10) None ESPN+ 400 19–16 6–3
April (7–8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record Apr 3 at Southern Miss* Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS 3–5 Jana Lee (5-5) Yoo, Molly (5-5) None ESPN+ 617 19–17 Apr 5 Texas A&M–Commerce Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 6–2 McNeill, Audrey (9–10) Sanchez, Julia (4–9) None ESPN+ 101 20–17 7–3 Apr 5 Texas A&M–Commerce Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 4–2 Paden, Averi (6–2) Muller, Maddie (3–14) None ESPN+ 101 21–17 8–3 Apr 6 Texas A&M–Commerce Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 8–0 (5 inn) Yoo, Molly (6–5) Muller, Maddie (3–15) None 100 22–17 9–3 Apr 10 Southern* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA – (-) Postponed – Apr 12 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 0–4 Swanson, L. (5–6) McNeill, Audrey (9–11) None 300 22–18 9–4 Apr 12 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 7–1 (-) (-) 23–18 10–4 Apr 13 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 1–5 (10 inn) Swanson, L. (6-6) Paden, Averi (7–3) None 400 23–19 10–5 Apr 17 at Louisiana* 19 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA 0–9 (6 inn) Sam Landry (16–7) Yoo, Molly (6-6) None 1,164 23–20 Apr 19 Southeastern Louisiana Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–3 Blanchard, Cera (16–2) Yoo, Molly (6–7) None ESPN+ 23–21 10–6 Apr 19 Southeastern Louisiana Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 4–3 McNeill, Audrey (10–11) DuBois, Ellie (12–4) None ESPN+ 202 24–21 11–6 Apr 20 Southeastern Louisiana Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 7–5 McNeill, Audrey (11-11) Comeaux, MC (3-3) Yoo, Molly (1) 123 25–21 12–6 Apr 25 at Texas* 1 Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 3–10 Czech, Estelle (8–3) Paden, Averi (7–4) Simpson, Sophia (2) LHN 1,625 25–22 Apr 26 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 3–11 (5 inn) Larissa Jacquez (10–5) McNeill, Audrey (11–12) None ESPN+ 115 25–23 12–7 Apr 26 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 3–4 Maddy Blake (3–0) Yoo, Molly (6–8) None ESPN+ 115 25–24 12–8 Apr 27 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 4–2 (9 inn) McNeill, Audrey (12–11) Samantha Portillo (8–4) None ESPN+ 170 26–24 13–8
May (3–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record May 3 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–0 McNeill, Audrey (13–12) Aholelei, Primrose (15–10) None 177 27–24 14–8 May 3 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 7–1 Yoo, Molly (7–8) Saenz, Ariella (2–6) Paden, Averi (2) 201 28–24 15–8 May 4 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–0 McNeill, Audrey (14–12) Williams, Malia (3-3) None 201 29–24 16–8
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 7 vs. (7) Houston Christian (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 5–4 Paden, Averi (8–4) Swanson, Lyndie (10–8) None ESPN+ 322 30–24 1–0 May 8 vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 1–4 Blanchard, Cera (18–2) Yoo, Molly (7–9) None ESPN+ 456 30–25 1–1 May 8 vs. (5) Lamar (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 5–4 (8 inn) Yoo, Molly(8–9) Mitchell, Karyana(13–9) None ESPN+ 322 31–25 2–1 May 9 vs. (1) McNeese (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 3–4 (8 inn) Sanders, Shaelyn (20–10) McNeill, Audrey (14–13) None ESPN+ 520 31–26 2–2

Schedule source: ^{[4] [5] [6]}

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

Conference awards and honors

Post-season All-Southland Conference Teams

Reglin Heflin was named as a conference first team member. Abby Anderson was named as a second team member. ^[7]

Player of the Year: Victoria Altamirano, UIW

Hitter of the Year: Ka'Lyn Watson, Southeastern

Pitcher of the Year: Shaelyn Sanders, McNeese

Freshman of the Year: Alexis Dibbley, McNeese

Newcomer of the Year: Shenita Tucker, Lamar

Coach of the Year: James Landreneau, McNeese

First Team

• Corine Poncho (MCNS, SO, 1st Base)
• Mariana Torres (MCNS, SR, 2nd Base)
• Chloe Magee (SELA, FR, Shortstop)
• Maddison Guillen (UIW, SR, 3rd Base)
• Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, SR, Catcher)
• Victoria Altamirano (UIW, SO, Utility)
• Audrey Greely (SELA, SR, Designated Player)
• Reagan Heflin (NICH, SO, Outfielder)
• Ka'Lyn Watson (SELA, SR, Outfielder)
• Alexis Dibbley (MCNS, FR, Outfielder)
• Cera Blanchard (SELA, SR, Pitcher)
• Shaelyn Sanders (MCNS, SR, Pitcher)

Second Team

• Lexi Johnson (SELA, SR, 1st Base)
• Ryleigh Mata (UIW, JR, 2nd Base)
• Baylee Lemons (UIW, JR, Shortstop)
• Rylie Bouvier (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base)
• Bella Perez (MCNS, FR, Catcher)
• Haylie Savage (HCU, JR, Utility)
• Crislyne Moreno (MCNS, JR, Designated Player)
• Jillian Guiterrez (UIW, SO, Outfield)
• Abby Andersen (NICH, SR, Outfield)
• Cam Goodman (SELA, SR, Outfield)
• Primrose Aholelei (TAMUCC, SR, Pitcher)
• Ellie DuBois (SELA, SR, Pitcher)

Weekly awards

Weekly honors

Honors	Player	Position	Date Awarded	Ref.
SLC Pitcher of the week	Audrey McNeill	RHP	February 12, 2024	[8]
SLC Hitter of the week	Molly VandenBout	DP	February 26, 2024	[9]
SLC Pitcher of the week	Audrey McNeill	RHP	March 11, 2024	[10]
SLC Pitcher of the week	Audrey McNeill	RHP	May 6, 2024	[11]

See also

2024 Nicholls Colonels baseball team

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 February 10, 2024.
2. "Southland Standings". D1Softball.com. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
3. "McNeese predicted to repeat as SLC Softball Champions; Preseason poll and all-conference teams announced". Southland Conference. February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
4. "2024 Softball Schedule". Nicholls State University. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
5. "D1SOFTBALL - Nicholls State (Southland)". D1 Softball. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
6. "WarrenNolan.com - Nicholls Colonels - Southland". Nolan Analytics, LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
7. "Altamirano wins Player of the Year, Watson and Sanders lead strong showings for McNeese at Southeastern on SLC All-Conference Teams". www.southland.org. May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
8. "Softball season opens with SLU's Krolczyk and Nicholls' McNeill winning Player of the Week honors". February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
9. "Nicholls' VandenBout, Lamar's Mitchell Named Jersey Mike's Softball Players of the Week". February 26, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
10. Callum Squires (March 11, 2024). "Tyson of A&M-Corpus Christi and McNeill of Nicholls win Jersey Mike's SLC Softball Players of the Week awards" . Retrieved May 26, 2024.
11. Anthony Goss (May 6, 2024). "HCU's Savage, Nicholls' McNeill earn final Jersey Mike's SLC Softball Player of the Week honors of 2024 season" . Retrieved May 26, 2024.