# 2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals softball team

The 2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals softball team represented the University of the Incarnate Word during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. The Cardinals played their home games at H-E-B Field and were led by third-year head coach Kimberly Dean. They were members of the Southland Conference.

## Previous season

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 February 2, 2024. Incarnate Word was picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference with 30 votes.
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

No Cardinals were named to the conference preseason teams.

#### 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

Source:

### Coaching staff
## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Incarnate Word win |
| | Incarnate Word loss |
| | Incarnate Word tie |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | Incarnate Word team member |
2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals softball game log :
Regular season (34–16) :
February (9–1) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record |
| Cardinal Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 9 | Lindenwood* | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 2–0 | Mitchell, Bella (1-0) | BERKEY, Molly. (0-1) | None | 87 | 1–0 |
| Feb. 9 | Buffalo* | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 8–0 | Portillo , Samantha (1-0) | Tarantino, Julia (0-1) | None | 115 | 2–0 |
| Feb. 10 | Buffalo* | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 9–8 | Blake, Maddy (1-0) | Watters, Emily (0-1) | None | 88 | 3–0 |
| Feb. 10 | Lindenwood* | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 7–0 | Portillo , Samantha (0-0) | Weyh, Amanda (1-1) | None | 88 | 4–0 |
| Feb. 11 | Prairie View A&M* | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 4–3 | Larissa Jacquez (1-0) | Breanna Reyna (-) | None | 115 | 5–0 |
| Defend the Bluff Tournament ||||||||||||
| Feb. 16 | vs. Tennessee Tech* | Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA | | | Cancelled | | | |
| Feb. 16 | at Southern* | Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA | | | Cancelled | | | |
| Feb. 17 | at Southern* | Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA | | | Cancelled | | | |
| Feb. 17 | vs. Tennessee Tech* | Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA | | | Cancelled | | | |
| Camel Stampede ||||||||||||
| Feb. 23 | vs. Saint Joseph's* | Amanda Littlejohn Stadium • Buies Creek, NC | 13–5 | Gunther, Annie (1-0) | E. Siler (0-4) | None | 128 | 6–0 |
| Feb. 23 | at Campbell* | Amanda Littlejohn Stadium • Buies Creek, NC | 4–5 | SMITH, I (2-3) | Jacquez, Larissa (1-1) | None | 124 | 6–1 |
| Feb. 24 | vs. Winthrop* | Amanda Littlejohn Stadium • Buies Creek, NC | 5–4 | Maddy Blake (2-0) | Perez, Erin (4-4) | None | 128 | 7–1 |
| Feb. 24 | at Campbell* | Amanda Littlejohn Stadium • Buies Creek, NC | 5–4 | Blake, Maddy (2-0) | BASINGER, Reese (4-4) | None | 128 | 8–1 |
| Feb. 25 | vs. Saint Joseph's* | Amanda Littlejohn Stadium • Buies Creek, NC | 5–0 | Jacquez, Larissa (2-1) | Emily Siler (1-2) | None | 90 | 9–1 |
March (11–9) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC record |
| 5th Boerner Invitational ||||||||||||
| Mar 1 | vs. UTSA* | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | 3–6 | Z. Camacho (2-0) | Portillo , Samantha (2-1) | None | | | 9–2 | |
| Mar 1 | at UT Arlingtton* | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | 9–0 | Mitchell, Bella (2-0) | Bumpurs (0-5) | None | | 152 | 10–2 | |
| Mar 2 | vs. Grambling* | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | 10–1 | Jacquez, Larissa (3-1) | S. Matthews (0-3) | None | | 85 | 11–2 | |
| Mar 2 | vs. Grambling* | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | 9–2 | Mitchell, Bella (3-0) | J. Hodge (1-1) | Gunther, Annie (1) | | 100 | 12–2 | |
| Mar 3 | at UT Arlington* | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | 0–1 | Adams, Jessica(3-5) | Larissa Jacquez(3-2) | None | | 319 | 12–3 | |
| Mar 9 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 3–4 | Brunson, A. (2-0) | Gunther, A (2-1) | Blanchard, C (2) | ESPN+ | 160 | 12–4 | 0–1 |
| Mar 9 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 0–2 | Blanchard, C (7-1) | Jacquez, L (3-3) | None | ESPN+ | 160 | 12–5 | 0–2 |
| Mar 10 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 6–3 | Mitchell, B (4-0) | Comeaux, M. (2-2) | Jacquez, L (1) | ESPN+ | 151 | 13–5 | 1–2 |
| Mar 12 | at Jackson State* | Jackson State University Softball Stadium • Jackson, MS | 5–6 | Salazar, V. (7-3) | Gunther, Annie (2-1) | None | | 50 | 13–6 | |
| Mar 15 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 6–2 | Jacquez, Larissa (4-3) | Aholelei, Primrose (9-5) | None | ESPN+ | 145 | 14–6 | 2–2 |
| Mar 15 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 11–2 (6 inn) | Gunther, Annie (3-2) | Saenz, Ariella (2-2) | None | ESPN+ | 150 | 15–6 | 3–2 |
| Mar 16 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 4–0 | Portillo , Samantha (3-1) | Galvan, Siarah (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 78 | 16–6 | 4–2 |
| Mar 22 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 3–4 | Sanders, Shaelyn (9-6) | Larissa Jacquez (4-4) | Schexnayder, Ryann (1) | | 150 | 16–7 | 4–3 |
| Mar 23 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 0–3 | Davis, Lindsay (3-5) | Samantha Portillo (3-2) | None | | | 16–8 | 4–4 |
| Mar 23 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 6–11 | Schexnayder, Ryann (5-2) | Gunther, Annie (3-3) | Gunther, Annie (3-3) | | 747 | 16–9 | 4–5 |
| Mar 26 | Texas Southern* | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 7–6 | Portillo , Samantha (4-2) | Maren Berger (3-4) | None | ESPN+ | 57 | 17–9 | |
| Mar 26 | Texas Southern* | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 4–5 | M. Gonzales (3-1) | Portillo , Samantha (3-3) | None | ESPN+ | 70 | 17–10 | |
| Mar 29 | Texas A&M–Commerce | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 10–0 (5 inn) | Larissa Jacquez (5-3) | Martinez, Destiny (0-6) | None | ESPN+ | 73 | 18–10 | 5–5 |
| Mar 30 | Texas A&M–Commerce | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 9–1 (5 inn) | Portillo , Samantha (5-3) | Muller, Maddie (3-13) | None | ESPN+ | 110 | 19–10 | 6–5 |
| Mar 30 | Texas A&M–Commerce | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 9–8 | Jacquez, Larissa (6-4) | Arredondo, Anissa (0-5) | None | ESPN+ | 110 | 20–10 | 7–5 |
April (10–4) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC record |
| Apr 5 | Houston Christian | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 9–1 (6 inn) | Jacquez, Larissa (7-4) | Grofman, R. (5-6) | None | ESPN+ | 54 | 21–10 | 8–5 |
| Apr 6 | Houston Christian | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 12–0 (5 inn) | Portillo , Samantha (6-3) | Swanson, Lyndie (4-6) | None | ESPN+ | 55 | 22–10 | 9–5 |
| Apr 6 | Houston Christian | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 4–1 | Mitchell, Bella (5-0) | Grofman, Ronni (5-6) | None | ESPN+ | 65 | 23–10 | 10–5 |
| Apr 13 | Santa Clara* | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 7–8 (8 inn) | VALDEZ, Alaina (4-3) | Mitchell, Bella (5-1) | None | ESPN+ | 115 | 23–11 | |
| Apr 13 | Santa Clara* | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 8–7 | Gallegos, Audrey (1-0) | HAGER, Sage (2-1) | None | ESPN+ | 110 | 24–11 | |
| Apr 14 | Santa Clara* | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 4–2 | Jacquez, Larissa (8-4) | SEVA, Avery (4-5) | None | ESPN+ | 72 | 25–11 | |
| Apr 16 | at Prairie View A&M* | Lady Panther Softball Complex • Prairie View, TX | 7–5 | Portillo , Samantha (7-3) | Jerrica Rojas (4-3) | None | | 79 | 26–11 | |
| Apr 19 | at Lamar | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 4–2 (9 inn) | Larissa Jacquez (9-4) | Wardlaw, Emma (9-5) | None | ESPN+ | 500 | 27–11 | 11–5 |
| Apr 19 | at Lamar | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 8–0 (6 inn) | Samantha Portillo (7-3) | Mitchell, Karyana (12-6) | None | ESPN+ | 580 | 28–11 | 12–5 |
| Apr 20 | at Lamar | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 4–5 | Mitchell, Karyana (13-6) | Samantha Portillo (7-4) | None | ESPN+ | 750 | 28–12 | 12–6 |
| Apr 23 | UTSA* | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 6–7 | J. Gilbert (6-13) | Jacquez, Larissa (9-5) | None | ESPN+ | 77 | 28–13 | |
| Apr 26 | Nicholls | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 11–3 (5 inn) | Jacquez, Larissa (10-5) | McNeill, Audrey (11-12) | None | ESPN+ | 115 | 29–13 | 13–6 |
| Apr 26 | Nicholls | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 4–3 | Blake, Maddy (3-0) | Yoo, Molly (6-8) | None | ESPN+ | 115 | 30–13 | 14–6 |
| Apr 27 | Nicholls | H–E–B Field • San Antonio, TX | 2–4 | Audrey McNeill | Samantha Portillo (7-5) | None | ESPN+ | 170 | 30–14 | 14–7 |
May (1–1) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC record |
| May 3 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | 6–2 | Jacquez, Larissa (11-5) | Darr, Maggie (7-15) | None | ESPN+ | 388 | 30–15 | 14–8 |
| May 3 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | 0–1 | Seely, Kenzie (9-14) | Portillo , Samantha (8-6) | None | ESPN+ | 388 | 31–15 | 15–8 |
| May 4 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | | | Cancelled | | | | 31–15 | 15–8 |
Post-season (3–1) :
Southland Tournament (3–1) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 7 | vs. (5) Lamar | (4) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 5–4 | Samantha Portillo(9-6) | Mitchell, Karyana(13-8) | None | ESPN+ | 322 | 32–15 | 1–0 |
| May 8 | vs. (1) McNeese | (4) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 3–2 | Samantha Portillo(10-6) | Sanders, Shaelyn(19-10) | None | ESPN+ | 332 | 33–15 | 2–0 |
| May 9 | at (2) Southeastern Louisiana | (4) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 1–6 | DuBois, Ellie(14-5) | Larissa Jacquez(11-6) | None | ESPN+ | 467 | 33–16 | 2–1 |
| May 9 | vs. (1) McNeese | (4) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 8–7 | Samantha Portillo(11-6) | Schexnayder, Ryann(9-3) | None | ESPN+ | 322 | 34–16 | 3–1 |
| May 10 | at (2) Southeastern Louisiana | (4) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | | – | – |
    Schedule Source:*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

Victoria Altamirano was named Player of the Year. Maddison Guillen and Victoria Altamirano were named as first team All-conference members. Ryleigh Mata, Baylee Lemons, and Jillian Guiterrez were named as second team members.
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)