# 2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball team

The 2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball team represented McNeese State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Cowgirls played their home games at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond and were led by seventh-year head coach James Landreneau. They are members of the Southland Conference. McNeese had a regular season record of 41–14 and a conference record of 21–3 winning the Southland Conference regular season championship. They also won the 2023 Southland Conference softball tournament as the first seeded team.
The Cowgirls won the SLC autobid to the 2023 NCAA Division I softball tournament. They were runner-up to the Seattle Regional championship compiling a tournament record of 3–2. Leading the regional championship game 6–0 through the sixth inning, the Cowgirls' season ended ultimately losing to the tournament hosts, # 7 ranked Washington Huskies 7-6. The Cowgirls' final overall record was 47–16.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 26, 2023. McNeese was picked to finish first in the Southland Conference with 128 votes and 16 first place votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | McNeese | 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

McNeese had six players named to the Southland Conference preseason first team and one player was named to the 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 :
| | McNeese win |
| | McNeese loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | McNeese team member |
| * | Non-Conference game |
| † | Make-Up Game |
2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball game log :
Regular season (47–16) :
February (10–5) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record |
| Cowgirl Classic I ||||||||||||
| Feb. 10 | Idaho State* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 7–2 | Tate (1-0) | McMurray (0-1) | | | 1–0 |
| Feb. 10 | Texas Southern* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 6–1 | Sanders (1-0) | Gonzales (0-1) | | 689 | 2–0 |
| Feb. 11 | Texas Southern* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 8–0 (5 inn) | Davis (1-0) | Gendorf (0-0) | | | 3–0 |
| Feb. 11 | Central Arkansas* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 1–2 | Johnson (0-0) | Vallejo (0-1) | Beaver (0) | 639 | 3–1 |
| Feb. 12 | UAB* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 4–2 | Tate (0-0) | Cespedes (0-0) | Vallejo (0) | 584 | 4–1 |
| Tracy Beard College Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 17 | vs. Kentucky* | 15 | Old Celina Park • Celina, TX | 0–4 | Schoonover (2-0) | Vallejo (0-2) | | | 4–2 |
| Feb. 18 | vs. South Dakota* | | Old Celina Park • Celina, TX | 4–1 | Sanders (2-0) | Edwards (0-2) | Davis (1) | | 5–2 |
| Feb. 18 | vs. UT Arlington* | | Old Celina Park • Celina, TX | 8–0 (5 inn) | Tate (3-0) | Waiters (1-1) | | | 6–2 |
| Feb. 19 | vs. North Texas* | 22 | Old Celina Park • Celina, TX | 4–2 | Vallejo (1-2) | Peters (3-2) | | | 7–2 |
| Feb. 20 | Washington* | 12 | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 4–2 | Tate (4-0) | Lynch (0-1) | | 707 | 8–2 |
| Feb. 21 | South Alabama* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 0–3 | Lackie (1-2) | Vallejo (1-3) | | 621 | 8–3 |
| Cowgirl Classic II ||||||||||||
| Feb. 24 | Stephen F. Austin* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 4–3 | Davis (2-0) | Gainous (1-2) | | 757 | 9–3 |
| Feb. 25 | Stephen F. Austin* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 5–4 | Vallejo (2-3) | Gainous (1-3) | | | 10–3 |
| Feb. 25 | Ole Miss* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–8 | Furbush (4-1) | Vallejo (2-4) | Kliethermes (1) | 945 | 10–4 |
| Feb. 26 | Ole Miss* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–7 | Kliethermes (3-2) | Davis (2-1) | | 807 | 10–5 |
March (15–5) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC record |
| Mar. 1 | at Grambling* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 8–0 (5 inn) | Vallejo (3-4) | Richard (2-2) | | | | 11–5 | |
| Longhorn Invitational ||||||||||||
| Mar. 3 | vs. Princeton* | | Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX | 1–0 | Vallejo (4-4) | Laudenslager (1-2) | | | | 12–5 | |
| Mar. 3 | vs. Louisiana* | | Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX | 1–7 | Landry (5-4) | Tate (4-1) | | | | 12–6 | |
| Mar. 4 | vs. Tennessee Tech* | | Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX | 8–0 | Tate (5-1) | Manus (7-5) | | | | 13–6 | |
| Mar. 4 | at Texas* | 9 | Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX | 0–4 | | | | LHN | 1,673 | 13–7 | |
| Mar. 8 | at Louisiana* | | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | 2–6 | Riassetto (1-1) | Vallejo (4-6) | | | 1,522 | 13–8 | |
| Mar. 10 | at Louisiana–Monroe* | | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | 6–0 | Tate (6-1) | Abrams (2-3) | | | 750 | 14–8 | |
| Mar. 11 | at Louisiana–Monroe* | | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | 1–8 | Hulett, Gianni (7-1) | Vallejo (4-7) | | | | 14–9 | |
| Mar. 11 | at Louisiana–Monroe* | | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | 2–1 | Tate (7-1) | Hulett (7-2) | Davis (2) | | 568 | 15–9 | |
| Mar. 15 | Houston* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 9–1 (5 inn) | Davis (3-1) | Boyd (0-3) | | | 683 | 16–9 | |
| Mar. 17 | at Incarnate Word | | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 9–0 (5 inn) | Tate (8-1) | Garcia (3-5) | | ESPN+ | 78 | 17–9 | 1–0 |
| Mar. 17 | at Incarnate Word | | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 5–1 | Vallejo (5-7) | Gunther (4-3) | | ESPN+ | 167 | 18–9 | 2–0 |
| Mar. 18 | at Incarnate Word | | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | 10–0 | Tate (9-1) | Floyd (1-5) | | ESPN+ | 142 | 19–9 | 3–0 |
| Mar. 21 | at LSU* | 10 | Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA | 2–6 | Chaffin (3-1) | Tate (9-2) | | SECN+ | 1,802 | 19–10 | |
| Mar. 24 | Texas A&M–Commerce | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 9–0 (5 inn) | Tate (10-2) | Sanchez (3-7) | | | 708 | 20–10 | 4–0 |
| Mar. 25 | Texas A&M–Commerce | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 8–0 (5 inn) | Vallejo (6-7) | Meadors (0-5) | | ESPN+ | | 21–10 | 5–0 |
| Mar. 25 | Texas A&M–Commerce | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 1–0 | Sanders (3-0) | Arredondo (2-9) | | ESPN+ | 787 | 22–10 | 6–0 |
| Mar. 29 | at Sam Houston* | | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | 2–0 | Tate (11-2) | Guindon (4-5) | | | 485 | 23–10 | |
| Mar. 31 | at Lamar | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 7–4 | Vallejo (7-7) | Mitchell (4-10) | Tate (1) | ESPN+ | 410 | 23–10 | 7–0 |
| Mar. 31 | at Lamar | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 4–2 | Sanders (4-0) | Ruiz (4-8) | Davis, Lindsay (3) | ESPN+ | 394 | 24–10 | 8–0 |
April (13–4) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC record |
| Apr. 1 | at Lamar | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 12–0 (5 inn) | Tate (12-2) | Niedenthal (2-5) | | ESPN+ | 455 | 26–10 | 9–0 |
| Apr. 4 | Louisiana* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 0–7 | Landry, S (9-4) | Tate (12-3) | | ESPN+ | 837 | 26–11 | |
| Apr. 7 | Northwestern State | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 6–7 | Darr (10-5) | Davis (3-2) | | | | 26–12 | 9–1 |
| Apr. 7 | Northwestern State | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 4–0 | Vallejo (8-7) | Seely (4-5) | | ESPN+ | 687 | 27–12 | 10–1 |
| Apr. 8 | Northwestern State | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–0 | Vallejo (9-7) | Darr (10-6) | Davis (4) | ESPN+ | 707 | 28–12 | 11–1 |
| Apr. 11 | at Houston* | | Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX | 4–2 (10 inn) | Vallejo (10-7) | Wilkey (13-8) | | ESPN+ | 376 | 29–12 | |
| Apr. 14 | Nicholls | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 6–0 | Vallejo (11-7) | McNeill (9-8) | | ESPN+ | | 30–12 | 12–1 |
| Apr. 15 | Nicholls | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 8–0 (6 inn) | Tate (13-3) | Yoo (10-7) | | ESPN+ | 807 | 31–12 | 13–1 |
| Apr. 15 | Nicholls | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 5–4 | Vallejo (12-7) | Yoo (10-8) | | ESPN+ | 787 | 32–12 | 14–1 |
| Apr. 18 | LSU* | 15 | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 4–3 | 'Vallejo (13-7) | Berzon (12-5) | | ESPN+ | 1,488 | 33–12 | |
| Apr. 19 | UT Arlington* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 6–2 | Sanders (5-0) | Bumpurs (6-8) | | ESPN+ | 697 | 34–12 | |
| Apr. 25 | at Southeastern | | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 1–4 | Blanchard (15-6) | Vallejo (13-8) | | ESPN+ | 262 | 34–13 | 14–2 |
| Apr. 25 | at Southeastern | | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 3–4 | Ladner, KK (14-1) | Tate (13-4) | | ESPN+ | 262 | 34–14 | 14–3 |
| Apr. 26 | at Southeastern | | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 2–1 | Vallejo (14-8) | Comeaux (8-4) | Sanders (1) | ESPN+ | 263 | 35–14 | 15–3 |
| Apr. 28 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 4–3 | Sanders (6-0) | Aholelei (16-11) | | ESPN+ | 827 | 36–14 | 16–3 |
| Apr. 28 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 7–2 | Vallejo (15-8) | Hoyt (2-5) | | ESPN+ | | 37–14 | 17–3 |
| Apr. 29 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 5–2 | Tate (14-4) | Aholelei (16-12) | | ESPN+ | 802 | 38–14 | 18–3 |
May (3–0) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC record |
| May. 5 | at Houston Christian | Husky Field • Houston, TX | 4–0 | Vallejo (16-8) | Janes (6-12) | ESPN+ | 225 | 39–14 | 19–3 |
| May. 5 | at Houston Christian | Husky Field • Houston, TX | 5–0 | Tate (15-4) | Swanson (9-9) | ESPN+ | 225 | 40–14 | 20–3 |
| May. 6 | at Houston Christian | Husky Field • Houston, TX | 1–0 | Sanders (7-0) | Grofman (5-5) | ESPN+ | 225 | 41–14 | 21–3 |
Post-Season (6–2) :
Southland Tournament (3–0) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 10 | vs. (5) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | (1) | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–1 | Tate (16-4) | Aholelei (16-4) | ESPN+ | | 42–14 | 1–0 |
| May 11 | vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana | (1) | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 6–2 | Vallejo (17-8) | Blanchard (17-7) | | ESPN+ | 43–14 | 2–0 |
| May 13 | vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana | (1) | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 1–0 $^{(8)}$ | Vallejo (18-8) | Ladner (15-2) | ESPN+ | 607 | 44–14 | 3–0 |
NCAA Tournament (3–2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | TV | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 19 | vs. Minnesota | | Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA | 5–4 (13 inn) | Tate, Whitney (17-4) | Sydney Schwartz (2-2) | ESPN+ | 45–14 | 1–0 |
| May 20 | at Washington | 7 | Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA | 1–3 | Ruby Meylan (17-5) | Sanders, Shaelyn (7-1) | ESPNU | 45–15 | 1–1 |
| May 20 | vs. Minnesota | | Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA | 1–0 | Vallejo, Ashley (19-8) | Jacie Hambrick (7-7) | ESPN+ | 46–15 | 2–1 |
| May 21 | at Washington | 7 | Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA | 1–0 | Tate, Whitney (18-4) | Kelley Lynch (9-3) | ESPN+ | 47–15 | 3–1 |
| May 21 | at Washington | 7 | Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA | 6–7 | Brooke Nelson (3-2) | Vallejo, Ashley (19-9) | ESPNU | 47–16 | 3–2 |
    Schedule Source:*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.