# 2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex as a member of the Southland Conference and were led by head coach Amy Hooks in her sixth-year at Lamar. The team compiled a 26–25 overall record and a 12–12 record in conference play for a fifth place finish. As the fifth seeded team in the SLC tournament, the Lady Cardinals were defeated in extra innings by fourth seeded Incarnate Word 4–5$^8$. Their season ended with another extra inning defeat versus third seeded Nicholls 4–5$^8$.

## Preseason
### Early signing

On August 2, 2023, Lamar announced that five new players would join the team for the 2024 season.
| Player | Position | Hometown | Previous Team |
| Trinity Brandon | Utility | Las Vegas, Nevada | Arbor View HS / San Diego State |
| Rose Gonzalez | Infielder | Dallas, Texas | South Grand Prairie HS / McLennan Community College |
| Sabrina Jolinhttps://duckduckgo.com/ | Pitcher (RHP) | Anchorage, Alaska | South Anchorage HS / UNLV |
| Jane Sepuvelda | Infielder | Monterey Park, California | St. Paul High School / Southern Utah |
| Shenita Tucker | Outfield | Richmond, Texas | Lamar Consolidated HS / Florida SouthWestern |

### National signing day

On November 10, 2023, national signing day, Lamar announced that seven additional new players would join the team for the 2024 season.
| Player | Position | Hometown | Previous Team |
| Ava Blakely | Outfielder/Infielder | Wesley Chapel, Florida | Wesley Chapel HS |
| Kaylee Cuevas | Pitcher/Utility | Teague, Texas | Teague HS |
| Neveah Hallmark | Outfielder/Utility | Pasadena, Texas | Pasadena HS |
| Cimara-lei Wessling | Catcher/Utility | Converse, Texas | Veterans Memorial HS |
| Ava Sanchez | Catcher/Outfielder | San Antonio, Texas | Brennan HS0 |
| Cala Wilson | Pitcher/Infielder | Ruston, Louisiana | Ruston HS |
| Roxy Thompson | Infielder/Outfielder | Dallas, Texas | Rockwall HS |
| Sicily Windham | Short-stop | Huntington Beach, California | Crean Lutheran HS |

### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 2, 2024. Lamar was picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference with 78 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

Brooke Davis and Cameron Niedenthal were named to the conference preseason second team.

#### First Team

* Lexi Johnson (SELA, SR, 1st Base)
* Erin Kraus (NICH, SO, 2nd Base)https://duckduckgo.com/
* 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)

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Lamar win |
| | Lamar loss |
| | Postponement/cancellation |
| Bold | Lamar team member |
| * | Non-conference game |
| † | Make-up game |
2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals Softball game log :
Regular season (26–25) :
February (9–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| Cowgirl Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 9 | vs. Tarleton State* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–7 | Rehmeier, Alexa (1-0) | Jolin, Sabrina (0-1) | Dunbar, Makenzie (1) | | | 0–1 |
| Feb. 10 | vs. Tarleton State* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 3–1 | Wardlaw, Emma (1-0) | Daniel, Kendall (0-1) | None | | | 1–1 |
| Feb. 10 | vs. Tennessee State* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 5–9 | Castillo, Reina (0-0) | Ben Karim, Fadwa (0-1) | None | | | 1–2 |
| Feb. 11 | vs. Tennessee State* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 7–1 | Makayla Valle (1-0) | Ayala, Holly (0-0) | None | | | 2–2 |
| Cowgirl Challenge ||||||||||||
| Feb. 16 | vs. Central Arkansas* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 4–5 | Bailie Runner (2-2) | Wardlaw, Emma (1-1) | None | | | 2–3 |
| Feb. 17 | vs. Central Arkansas* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 11–2 | Jolin, Sabrina (1-1) | Paityn Engemann (0-1) | None | | | 3–3 |
| Feb. 17 | vs. Oklahoma* | 1 | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 0–8 | Deal, Kierston (1-0) | Guidry, Madison (0-1) | None | | | 3–4 |
| Feb. 18 | at McNeese* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–4 | Schexnayder, Ryann (2-0) | Wardlaw, Emma (1-2) | Davis, Lindsay (1) | | 1,116 | 3–5 |
| Feb. 20 | at Texas Southern* | | Memorial Park • Houston, TX | 3–4 | Maren Berger (2-0) | Jolin, Sabrina (1-2) | | | 82 | 3–6 |
| Feb. 20 | at Texas Southern* | | Memorial Park • Houston, TX | 2–1 | Mitchell, Karyana (1-0) | Lailah Bell (0-1) | Valle, Makayla (1) | | 65 | 4–6 |
| Lamar/McNeese Tournament ||||||||||||
| Feb. 23 | vs. Niagara* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 6–1 | Mitchell, Karyana (2-0) | Thompson, Julia (0-1) | None | | | 5–6 |
| Feb. 23 | vs. North Dakota* | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–0 | Wardlaw, Emma (2-2) | Albrecht, Jackie (0-5) | None | | | 6–6 |
| Feb. 25 | Niagara* | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 3–2 | Wardlaw, Emma (3-2) | Hickingbottom, Maddi (1-2) | Mitchell, Karyana | ESPN+ | 300 | 7–6 |
| Feb. 25 | Niagara* | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 0–11 (5 inn) | Mitchell, Karyana (3-0) | Leone, Cara (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 300 | 8–6 |
| Feb. 28 | Southern* | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 6–2 | Jolin, Sabrina (2-2) | J. Jennings (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 200 | 9–6 |
March (14–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar 2 | Penn* | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 1–0 | Wardlaw, Emma (4-2) | Bean, Payton (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 350 | 10–6 | |
| Mar 2 | Penn* | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 7–4 | Mitchell, Karyana (4-0) | Riley, Rachel (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | 350 | 11–6 | |
| Mar 3 | Penn* | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 5–7 | Utschig, Ella (2-1) | Guidry, Madison (0-2) | None | ESPN+ | 363 | 11–7 | |
| Mar 5 | Stephen F. Austin* | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 4–3 | Mitchell, Karyana (5-0) | Aydenne Brown (1-4) | Wardlaw, Emma (1) | ESPN+ | 353 | 12–7 | |
| Mar 9 | at Houston Christian | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | 2–1 | Emma Wardlaw (5-2) | R. Grofman (3-3) | None | | 250 | 13–7 | 1–0 |
| Mar 9 | at Houston Christian | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | 9–3 | Mitchell, Karyana (6-0) | Swanson, L. (4-2) | None | | 250 | 14–7 | 2–0 |
| Mar 10 | at Houston Christian | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | 4–3 | Mitchell, Karyana (7-0) | Grofman, R. (3-4) | None | ESPN+ | 250 | 15–7 | 3–0 |
| Mar 12 | at Baylor* | 13 | Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX | 1–5 | Kaci West (2-1) | Jolin, Sabrina (2-3) | None | ESPN+ | 917 | 15–8 | |
| Mar 12 | at Baylor* | 13 | Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX | 1–6 | Lexie Warncke (2-0) | Guidry, Madison (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | 998 | 15–9 | |
| Mar 15 | Northwestern State | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 6–5 | Mitchell, Karyana (8-0) | Seely, Kenzie (5-9) | None | ESPN+ | 500 | 16–9 | 4–0 |
| Mar 15 | Northwestern State | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 1–6 | Darr, Maggie (5-6) | Mitchell, Karyana (8-1) | None | ESPN+ | 400 | 16–10 | 4–1 |
| Mar 16 | Northwestern State | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 6–2 | Emma Wardlaw (6-2) | Darr, Maggie (5-7)) | None | ESPN+ | 500 | 17–10 | 5–1 |
| Mar 19 | Sam Houston* | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 3–2 | Wardlaw, Emma (6-2) | Mika Vento (2-6) | None | ESPN+ | 291 | 18–10 | |
| Mar 22 | at Texas A&M–Commerce | | John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX | 8–2 | Wardlaw, Emma (8-2) | Sanchez, Julia (3-8) | None | ESPN+ | | 19–10 | 6–1 |
| Mar 22 | at Texas A&M–Commerce | | John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX | 10–0 (5 inn) | Mitchell, Karyana (9-1) | Muller, Maddie (2-12) | None | ESPN+ | 145 | 20–10 | 7–1 |
| Mar 23 | at Texas A&M–Commerce | | John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX | 5–0 | Wardlaw, Emma (8-2) | Martinez, Destiny (1-4) | Mitchell, Karyana (2) | ESPN+ | 219 | 21–10 | 8–1 |
| Mar 26 | at UTSA* | | Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX | 4–2 | Mitchell, Karyana (4-0) | Iliana Saucedo (3-5) | None | ESPN+ | 194 | 22–10 | 8–1 |
| Mar 28 | Nicholls | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 1–4 (13 inn) | Paden, Averi (3-2) | Mitchell, Karyana (10-2) | None | ESPN+ | 400 | 22–11 | 8 –2 |
| Mar 29 | Nicholls | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 2–3 | Paden, Averi (5-2) | Mitchell, Karyana (10-3) | None | ESPN+ | 400 | 22–12 | 8–3 |
| Mar 29 | Nicholls | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 2–0 | Jolin, Sabrina (3-3) | McNeill, Audrey (8-10) | None | ESPN+ | 400 | 23–12 | 9–3 |
April (3–10) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr 2 | UTSA* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 0–3 | Reagan Smith (2-1) | Jolin, Sabrina (3-4) | None | ESPN+ | 200 | 23–13 | |
| Apr 5 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 0–7 | Sanders, Shaelyn (12-7) | Wardlaw, Emma (9-3) | None | ESPN+ | 758 | 23–14 | 9–4 |
| Apr 6 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 2–6 | Dibbley, Alexis (3-1) | Mitchell, Karyana (10-4) | None | ESPN+ | | 23–15 | 9–5 |
| Apr 6 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | 3–6 | Davis, Lindsay (5-5) | Mitchell, Karyana (10-5) | None | ESPN+ | 742 | 23–16 | 9–6 |
| Apr 12 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 2–4 | Aholelei, Primrose (14-7) | Wardlaw, Emma (9-4) | None | ESPN+ | 300 | 23–17 | 9–7 |
| Apr 12 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 5–1 | Mitchell, Karyana (11-5) | Saenz, Ariella (2-4) | None | ESPN+ | 587 | 24–17 | 10–7 |
| Apr 13 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 2–1 | Mitchell, Karyana (12-5) | Aholelei, Primrose (14-8) | None | ESPN+ | 620 | 25–17 | 11–7 |
| Apr 16 | at Houston* | Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX | 7–15 (5 inn) | Edwards, Taylor (3-1) | Jolin, Sabrina (3-5) | Waiters,Tamya (1) | ESPN+ | 299 | 25–18 | |
| Apr 19 | Incarnate Word | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 2–4 (9 inn) | Larissa Jacquez (9-4) | Wardlaw, Emma (9-5) | None | ESPN+ | 500 | 25–19 | 11–8 |
| Apr 19 | Incarnate Word | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 0–8 (6 inn) | Samantha Portillo (7-3) | Mitchell, Karyana (12-6) | None | ESPN+ | 590 | 25–20 | 11–9 |
| Apr 20 | Incarnate Word | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 5–4 | Mitchell, Karyana (13-6) | Samantha Portillo (7-4) | None | ESPN+ | 750 | 26–20 | 12–9 |
| Apr 26 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 1–9 (5 inn) | Blanchard, Cera (17-2) | Wardlaw, Emma (9-6) | None | ESPN+ | 205 | 26–21 | 12–10 |
| Apr 26 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 0–8 (5 inn) | DuBois, Ellie (13-4) | Mitchell, Karyana (13-7) | None | ESPN+ | 205 | 26–22 | 12–11 |
| Apr 27 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 0–10 (5 inn) | Comeaux, MC (5-3) | Wardlaw, Emma (9-7) | None | ESPN+ | 186 | 26–23 | 12–12 |
May (0-0) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 1 | Tarleton State* | | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | | | Cancelled | | | | | |
Post-season (0–2) :
Southland Tournament (0–2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 7 | vs. (4) Incarnate Word | (5) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 4–5 (8 inn) | Samantha Portillo (9-6) | Mitchell, Karyana (13-8) | None | ESPN+ | 322 | 26–24 | 0–1 |
| May 8 | vs. (3) Nicholls | (5) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | 4–5 (8 inn) | Yoo, Molly(8-9) | Mitchell, Karyana (13-9) | None | ESPN+ | 322 | 26–25 | 0–2 |
    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

Shenita Tucker was named Newcomer of the Year. No Lady Cardinals were named to either the first or second teams.
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 | Karyana Mitchell | RHP | February 26, 2024 | |