# 2023 Nicholls Colonels softball team

The 2023 Nicholls Colonels softball team represented Nicholls State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Colonels played their home games at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park and were led by second-year head coach Justin Lewis. They are members of the Southland Conference.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 26, 2023. Nicholls was picked to finish ninth in the Southland Conference with 32 votes.
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

Two Nicholls players were named to the conference preseason second team.

#### 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 :
| | Nicholls win |
| | Nicholls loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | Nicholls team member |
2023 Nicholls State Colonels softball game log :
Regular season (29–24) :
February (10–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC record |
| Feb. 9 | New Mexico | | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | 3–12 (5 inn) | LINTON, Amber (1-0) | Yoo, Molly (0-1) | | ESPN+ | | 0–1 | |
| Lion Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 10 | vs. Missouri State | | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 8–3 | McNeill, Audrey (1-0) | Gracie Johnston (0-1) | | | 100 | 1–1 | |
| Feb. 11 | vs. Missouri State | | Game cancelled due to weather | Game cancelled due to weather | Game cancelled due to weather | Game cancelled due to weather | Game cancelled due to weather | Game cancelled due to weather | Game cancelled due to weather | Game cancelled due to weather | Game cancelled due to weather |
| LSU Invitational ||||||||||||
| Feb. 12 | vs. Oregon State | 19 | Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA | 3–6 | Ellie Garcia (1-1) | Yoo, Molly (0-2) | Tarni Stepto (1) | | 247 | 1–2 | |
| Feb. 12 | at LSU | 20 | Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA | 3–4 | Alea Johnson (1-0) | VandenBout, Molly (0-1) | Sydney Berzon (2) | SECN+ | 1,959 | 1–3 | |
| Mardi Gras Mambo ||||||||||||
| Feb. 17 | vs. Gardner–Web | | Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA | 11–4 | Yoo, Molly (1-2) | LYON ANDREA (1-1) | | | 200 | 2–3 | |
| Feb. 17 | vs. St. Thomas | | Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA | 3–4 (8 inn) | Isabelle True (0-0) | Paden, Averi (0-0) | | | 29 | 2–4 | |
| Feb. 18 | vs. Florida A&M | | Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA | 12–2 (5 inn) | Turner, Brittney (1-0) | Cris'Deona Beasley (1-2) | | | 88 | 3–4 | |
| Feb. 18 | vs. Toledo | | Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA | 5–2 | McNeill, Audrey (2-0) | KNIGHT, Sophia (1-3) | | | 75 | 4–4 | |
| Feb. 19 | vs. Manhattan | | Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA | 4–1 | Yoo, Molly (1-2) | CHAREST, Mollie (0-1) | | | | 5–4 | |
| Feb. 22 | Alcorn State | | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 9–0 (5 inn) | McNeill, Audrey (3-0) | Parker, Kiri (0-1) | | ESPN+ | 203 | 6–4 | |
| Feb. 22 | Alcorn State | | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 12–1 (5 inn) | Yoo, Molly (3-2) | Fletcher, Ta'Niyah (0-1) | | ESPN+ | 203 | 7–4 | |
| Black and Gold Invitational ||||||||||||
| Feb. 24 | vs. Yale | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 4–1 | McNeill, Audrey (4-0) | Emma Taylor (0-1) | Turner, Brittney (1) | | | 8–4 | |
| Feb. 24 | vs. Arkansas–Pine Bluff | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 11–0 (5 inn) | Yoo, Molly (4-2) | Danika Bryant (0-4) | | | 743 | 9–4 | |
| Feb. 25 | vs. Yale | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 3–5 | Maddie Latta (1-1) | Paden, Averi (0-2) | Nicole Conway (1) | | | 9–5 | |
| Feb. 25 | vs. Arkansas–Pine Bluff | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 13–2 (5 inn) | Turner, Brittney (2-0) | Traelen Humphrey (0-2) | | | | 10–5 | |
| Feb. 26 | at Southern Miss | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 1–3 | Morgan Leinstock (5-1) | McNeill, Audrey (4-1) | | | 744 | 10–6 | |
March (10–7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC record |
| Mar. 1 | at Jackson State | Jackson State University Softball Stadium • Jackson, MS | 13–0 (5 inn) | Yoo, Molly (5-2) | Macie Kuppenbender (1-2) | | | | 11–6 | |
| Mar. 1 | at Jackson State | Jackson State University Softball Stadium • Jackson, MS | 8–0 | Gremillion, Jensen (1-0) | Takiya Hill (1-4) | | | | 12–6 | |
| Mar. 3 | Louisiana–Monroe | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 3–4 | Hulett, Gianni (5-1) | McNeill, Audrey (4-2) | | ESPN+ | 201 | 12–7 | |
| Mar. 4 | Louisiana–Monroe | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 1–0 | Yoo, Molly (6-2) | Giddens, Kassidy (1-3) | | ESPN+ | 132 | 13–7 | |
| Mar. 4 | Louisiana–Monroe | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 2–3 | Chavarria, Adrianna (4-1) | McNeill, Audrey (4-3) | Hulett, Gianni (4) | ESPN+ | 201 | 13–8 | |
| Mar. 7 | Mississippi Valley State | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Mar. 7 | Mississippi Valley State | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Mar. 10 | Incarnate Word | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 2–4 (8 inn) | Aaliyah Garcia (3-2) | Yoo, Molly (6-3) | | ESPN+ | 102 | 13–9 | 0–1 |
| Mar. 10 | Incarnate Word | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 10–2 (5 inn) | McNeill, Audrey (5-3) | Madison Floyd (1-4) | | ESPN+ | 112 | 14–9 | 1–1 |
| Mar. 11 | Incarnate Word | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 3–0 | McNeill, Audrey (6-3) | Aaliyah Garcia (3-3) | | ESPN+ | 151 | 15–9 | 2–1 |
| Mar. 15 | at Southern | Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Mar. 17 | at Texas A&M–Commerce | John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX | 4–5 (8 inn) | Sanchez, Julia (3-5) | Turner, Brittney (2-1) | | ESPN+ | 326 | 15–10 | 2–2 |
| Mar. 17 | at Texas A&M–Commerce | John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX | 15–6 (6 inn) | Yoo, Molly (7-3) | Arredondo, Anissa (2-8) | | ESPN+ | | 16–10 | 3–2 |
| Mar. 18 | at Texas A&M–Commerce | John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX | 6–2 | McNeill, Audrey (7-3) | Sanchez, Julia (3-6) | | ESPN+ | 203 | 17–10 | 4–2 |
| Mar. 21 | South Alabama | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 2–5 | Lagle, Madison (1-0) | McNeill, Audrey (7-4) | Hardy, Jenna (2) | ESPN+ | 102 | 17–11 | |
| Mar. 24 | Northwestern State | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 5–6 | Darr, Maggie (7-5) | McNeill, Audrey (7-5) | | ESPN+ | 131 | 17–12 | 4–3 |
| Mar. 24 | Northwestern State | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 1–3 | Seely, Kenzie (4-2) | Yoo, Molly (7-4) | | ESPN+ | 102 | 17–13 | 4–4 |
| Mar. 25 | Northwestern State | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 4–3 (8 inn) | Yoo, Molly (7-4) | Rhoden, Bronte (2-2) | | | 127 | 18–13 | 5–4 |
| Mar. 31 | at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 3–2 (8 inn) | Yoo, Molly (9-4) | Aholelei, Primrose (10-9) | | ESPN+ | | 19–13 | 6–4 |
| Mar. 31 | at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 6–1 | Yoo, Molly (10-4) | Hoyt, Sydney (2-3) | | ESPN+ | 237 | 20–13 | 7–4 |
April (7–9) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC record |
| Apr. 1 | at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 4–9 | Aholelei, Primrose (11-9) | McNeill, Audrey (7-6) | | ESPN+ | 249 | 20–14 | 7–5 |
| Apr. 4 | at Southern Miss | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 1–8 | Morgan Leinstock (9-10) | Yoo, Molly (10-5) | | | 590 | 20–15 | |
| Apr. 6 | Lamar | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 5–4 (8 inn) | McNeill, Audrey (8-6) | Niedenthal, C (2-6) | | ESPN+ | 87 | 21–15 | 8–5 |
| Apr. 6 | Lamar | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 0–10 (5 inn) | Ruiz, A (5-9) | Yoo, Molly (10-6) | | ESPN+ | | 21–16 | 8–6 |
| Apr. 7 | Lamar | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 1–0 | McNeill, Audrey (9-6) | Ruiz, Aaliyah (5-10) | | ESPN+ | 66 | 22–16 | 9–6 |
| Apr. 11 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | 2–3 | Lackie, Olivia (14-6) | McNeill, Audrey (9-7) | | ESPN+ | 331 | 22–17 | |
| Apr. 14 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 0–6 | Vallejo, Ashley (11-7) | McNeill, Audrey (9-8) | | ESPN+ | | 22–18 | 9–7 |
| Apr. 15 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 0–8 (6 inn) | Tate, Whitney (13-3) | Yoo, Molly (10-7) | | ESPN+ | 807 | 22–19 | 9–8 |
| Apr. 15 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 4–5 | Vallejo, Ashley (12-7) | Yoo, Molly (10-8) | | ESPN+ | 787 | 22–20 | 9–9 |
| Apr. 21 | at Southeastern | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 8–2 | McNeill, Audrey (10-8) | Blanchard, Cera (14-6) | VandenBout, Molly (1) | ESPN+ | 219 | 23–20 | 10–9 |
| Apr. 21 | at Southeastern | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 4–5 | Ladner, KK (12-1) | Yoo, Molly (10-9) | | ESPN+ | 276 | 23–21 | 10–10 |
| Apr. 22 | at Southeastern | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 4–8 | Ladner, KK (13-1) | Yoo, Molly (10-10) | | ESPN+ | 302 | 23–22 | 10–11 |
| Apr. 26 | Southern | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 6–3 | Yoo, Molly (11-10) | Chakirrious Parker (2-2) | | ESPN+ | 203 | 24–22 | |
| Apr. 28 | Houston Christian | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 6–0 | McNeill, Audrey (11-8) | Janes, Katy (6-11) | | ESPN+ | 231 | 25–22 | 11–11 |
| Apr. 28 | Houston Christian | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 3–2 (8 inn) | Yoo, Molly (12-10) | Swanson, Lyndie (9-7) | | ESPN+ | 231 | 26–22 | 12–11 |
| Apr. 29 | Houston Christian | Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA | 2–1 (8 inn) | McNeill, Audrey (12-8) | Swanson, Lyndie (9-8) | | ESPN+ | 201 | 27–22 | 13–11 |
Post-Season (2–2) :
Southland Tournament (2–2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 9 | vs. (6) Northwestern State | (3) | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–8 (8 inn) | Seely, Kenzie (7-7) | Yoo, Molly (12-11) | ESPN+ | 457 | 27–23 | 0–1 |
| May 10 | vs. (7) Houston Christian | (3) | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–1 | McNeill, Audrey(13-8) | Grofman, Ronni(5-6) | ESPN+ | | 28–23 | 1–1 |
| May 11 | vs. (5) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | (3) | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 1–0 | Yoo, Molly (13-11) | Aholelei, Primrose (18-14) | ESPN+ | | 29–23 | 2–1 |
| May 12 | vs. (4) Lamar | (3) | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 4–5 | Ruiz, A (15-12) | Yoo, Molly (13-12) | ESPN+ | | 29–24 | 2–2 |
    Schedule Source:*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.