McNeese Cowgirls softball

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McNeese Cowgirls
Softball current event.svg 2024 McNeese Cowgirls softball team
McNeese Athletics logo.svg
University McNeese State University
All-time Record1,093–1,087–4
Head coachJames Landreneau (5th season)
Conference Southland
Location Lake Charles, LA
Home stadium Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond (Capacity: 1,200)
NicknameCowgirls
ColorsRoyal blue and gold [1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
1994, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
Conference Tournament championships
1983, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
Regular Season Conference championships
1983, 1994(T), 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

The McNeese Cowgirls softball team represents McNeese State University, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Cowgirls are a member of the Southland Conference and participate in NCAA Division I college softball. The team is currently led by head coach James Landreneau and play their home games at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond.

Contents

History

The first season for McNeese State Cowgirl softball was 1979. The Cowgirls competed as an independent for the first four seasons. The team won the Louisiana championship two of those seasons (1979, 1981). After softball became an NCAA and Southland Conference sponsored sport, the Cowgirls have competed in the conference and at the Division I (NCAA) level. The Cowgirls have won six Southland Conference regular season championships (1983, 1994 (T), 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and seven Southland Conference tournament championships (1983, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021) earning the conference's autobid to the NCAA Division I softball tournament in 2005 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021. The team also competed in the 1994 NCAA tournament as an at-large selection. As of the conclusion of the 2018 season, the Cowgirls have compiled a 1041–1048–4 overall record with an overall conference record of 406–346–3. [2] [3] Erika Piancastelli is McNeese State's first and only All-American. She was named an NFCA All-American in 2016.

Career coaching records

CoachNumber
of
seasons
Overall recordWinning
percentage
Coaching records
Cathy Cunningham
2
28–22
.560
Jim Draudt
2
59–28
.678
Vicki Chapman
1
19–18
.514
Cheryl Manuel
2
43–58
.426
Cherilyn Lantrip
2
42–38
.525
Rose Ruffino
5
56–186
.231
Scott Eastman
12
311–355–4
.467
Chris Malveaux
4
108–133
.448
Natalie Poole
3
100–84
.543
Mike Smith
3
112–53
.679
Joanna Hardin
2
79–34
.699
James Landreneau
4
172–100
.645
Overall
41
1,089–1,095–4
.496

(Records reflect game results through 2021 season.)

Year-by-year results

Source: [4] [2]

SeasonConferenceCoachOverallConferenceNotes
GamesWinLossTieGamesWinLossTie
NCAA Year-by-Year Results
1979IndependentCathy Cunningham2416800000Louisiana Champions
1980IndependentCathy Cunningham26121400000
1981Independent Jim Draudt 45331200000Louisiana Champions
1982IndependentJim Draudt42261600000
1983 Southland Vicky Chapman37191808530SLC Regular Season and Tournament champions
1984SouthlandCheryl Manuel512427085302nd
1985SouthlandCheryl Manuel5019310127504th
1986SouthlandCherilyn Lantrip4319240126603rd
1987SouthlandCherilyn Lantrip3723140128403rd
1988SouthlandRose Ruffino4283401431106th
1989SouthlandRose Ruffino5494501401408th
1990SouthlandRose Ruffino48103801521308th
1991SouthlandRose Ruffino44113302251706th
1992SouthlandRose Ruffino54183602862209th
1993Southland Scott Eastman 522328125121214th
1994SouthlandScott Eastman6135242302271SLC Champions; NCAA tournament – 1st round
1995SouthlandScott Eastman623725032221003rd
1996SouthlandScott Eastman53312202417702nd
1997SouthlandScott Eastman593227023131003rd
1998SouthlandScott Eastman47133402471709th
1999SouthlandScott Eastman602634025141105th
2000SouthlandScott Eastman602733027161104(T)
2001SouthlandScott Eastman532132026131306th
2002SouthlandScott Eastman512328027171004th
2003SouthlandScott Eastman522427127151113rd
2004SouthlandScott Eastman60194102581709th
2005Southland Chris Malveaux 693435027121506th, SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2006SouthlandChris Malveaux512130026131304th
2007SouthlandChris Malveaux623032027161105th
2008SouthlandChris Malveaux592336029151405th
2009SouthlandNatalie Poole593128030201002nd
2010SouthlandNatalie Poole653827030171304th, SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2011SouthlandNatalie Poole603129030181204th
2012Southland Mike Smith 55342102012803rd
2013SouthlandMike Smith53381502419501st, SLC regular-season champions
2014SouthlandMike Smith57401702620601st, SLC regular-season champions
2015Southland Joanna Hardin 56362002621502nd
2016SouthlandJoanna Hardin57431402723401st, SLC regular-season champions; SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2017SouthlandJames Landreneau61431802724301st, SLC regular-season champions; SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2018SouthlandJames Landreneau62412102718902nd; SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2019SouthlandJames Landreneau65333202719803rd; NISC Regionals
2020SouthlandJames Landreneau26197033002nd (season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 SouthlandJames Landreneau58342402718903rd; NCAA regionals

Post-season appearances

Conference Tournaments

Sources: [2]

YearConferenceRecord %Notes
Conference softball tournament Results
1983Southland4–01.000Tournament Champion
1984Southland2–2.500
1985Southland0–2.000
1986Southland3–2.600
1987Southland2–2.500
1988Southland0–2.000
1989Southland0–2.000
1990Southland2–2.333
1991–1995No Tournament
1996Southland0–2.000
1997Southland0–2.000
1999Southland3–2.600
2000Southland2–2.500
2001Southland0–2.500
2002Southland0–2.500
2003Southland1–2.333
2005Southland5–1.833Tournament Champion
2006Southland0–2.000
2007Southland0–2.000
2008Southland1–1.500
2009Southland2–2.500
2010Southland4–01.000Tournament Champion
2011Southland2–2.500
2012Southland2–2.500
2013Southland0–2.000
2014Southland2–2.500
2015 [5] Southland0–2.000
2016 Southland3–01.000Tournament Champion
2017 Southland3–01.000Tournament Champion
2018 Southland4–01.000Tournament Champion
2019 Southland1–2.333
2020No Tournament (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 Southland4–01.000Tournament Champion
Total52–48.52031 appearances

NCAA Division I tournament results

The Cowgirls have appeared in six NCAA Division I tournaments. Their record is 5–14.
Source: [3]

YearPartRoundOpponentResult/score
NCAA Division I tournament results
1994 Regionals No. 4First game
Second game
Louisiana–Lafayette
Princeton
L 0–3
L 0–2
2005 College Station RegionalsFirst game
Second game
Third game
Texas A&M
Centenary
Penn State
L 3–6
W 5–2
L 1–2
2010 Baton Rouge RegionalsFirst game
Second game
LSU
Texas A&M
L 0–6
L 0–2
2016 Baton Rouge RegionalsFirst game
Second game
Third game
Arizona State
LSU
Arizona State
W 5–2
L 1–4
L 2–3 (14 inn)
2017 Baton Rouge RegionalsFirst game
Second game
Third game
Louisiana–Lafayette
Fairfield
LSU
L 0–6
W 6–2
L 1–10 (6 inn)
2018 College Station RegionalsFirst game
Second game
Third game
Baylor
Texas A&M
Baylor
W 11–10
L 1–10 (6 inn)
L 0–6
2021 Baton Rouge RegionalsFirst game
Second game
Third game
LSU
George Washington
Louisiana
L 2–10 (6 inn)
W 12–0 (5 inn)
L 0–4

NISC Tournament results

The Cowgirls have appeared in one NISC tournament. Their record is 3–2.

YearPartRoundOpponentResult/score
NISC Tournament Results
2019 Stephen F. Austin RegionalsFirst game
Second game
Third game
Fourth game
Regional championship
Middle Tennessee
UT Arlington
Stephen F. Austin
UT Arlington
UT Arlington
W 7–3
L 3–5
W 3–1
W 6–1
L 3–4 (10 inn)

Awards and honors

Conference awards

Sources: [6]

Southland Conference Player of the Year
Southland Conference Hitter of the Year
Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year
Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year
Southland Conference Utility Player of the Year
Southland Conference Coach of the Year
All Conference First Team

See also

References

  1. "McNeese State Athletics Style Guide" (PDF). January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Southland Conference 2015 Softball" (PDF). Southland Conference. pp. 11–38. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "McNeese Softball Task Force 36" (PDF). McNeese State University. pp. 42–52. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  4. "Archived Team-by-Team Final Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  5. "2015 Southland Conference softball tournament" (PDF). Southland Conference. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  6. "2020 SB Record Book (PDF) - Southland Conference" (PDF). www.southland.org. Retrieved 17 December 2020.