# 2021 Houston Baptist Huskies softball team

The 2021 Houston Baptist Huskies softball team represented Houston Baptist University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Huskies played their home games at Husky Field and were led by thirtieth year head coach Mary-Ellen Hall. They were members of the Southland Conference.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Houston Baptist was picked to finish tenth in the Southland Conference with 81 votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Stephen F. Austin | 235 (17) |
| 2 | McNeese State | 217 (4) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 183 |
| 4 | Sam Houston State | 172 (1) |
| 5 | Central Arkansas | 162 (1) |
| 6 | Northwestern State | 156 (1) |
| 7 | Nicholls | 131 |
| 8 | Lamar | 86 |
| 9 | Abilene Christian | 82 |
| 10 | Houston Baptist | 81 |
| 11 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 47 |
| 12 | Incarnate Word | 32 |

### Preseason All-Southland team
#### First Team

* Kaylyn Shephard (UCA, R-SR, 1st Base)
* Cayla Joens (NSU, JR, 2nd Base)
* Cylla Hall (UCA, R-SR, 3rd Base)
* Cori McCrary (MCNS, SR, Shortstop)
* Ella Manzer (SELA, SR, Catcher)
* Samantha Bradley (ACU, R-SR, Designated Player)
* Linsey Tomlinson (ACU, R-SR, Outfielder)
* Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
* Elise Vincent (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
* Madisen Blackford (SELA, SR, Outfielder)
* Megan McDonald (SHSU, SR, Outfielder)
* Kayla Beaver (UCA, R-FR, Pitcher)
* Kassidy Wilbur (SFA, JR, Pitcher)
* E. C. Delafield (NSU, JR, Utility)

#### Second Team

* Shaylon Govan (SFA, SO, 1st Base)
* Brooke Malia (SHSU, SR, 2nd Base)
* Bryana Novegil (SFA, SR, 2nd Base)
* Caitlin Garcia (NICH, JR, 3rd Base)
* Alex Hudspeth (SFA, JR, Shortstop)
* Alexis Perry (NSU, SO, Catcher)
* Bailey Richards (SFA, SR, Catcher)
* Caitlyn Brockway (HBU, SO, Designated Player)
* Reagan Sperling (UCA, R-JR, Outfielder)
* Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
* Hayley Barbazon (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
* Saleen Flores (MCNS, SO, Pitcher)
* MC Comeaux (SELA, FR, Pitcher)
* Sammi Thomas (TAMUCC, SO, Utility)

### National Softball Signing Day

| Player | Position | Hometown | Previous Team |
| Abriana Garcia | Utility | Houston, Texas | Cypress Lake HS |
| Breana Herrera | Infielder | Corpus Christi, Texas | Mary Carroll HS |
| Haylie Savage | Utility | Angleton, Texas | Angleton HS |

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Houston Baptist win |
| | Houston Baptist loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | Houston Baptist team member |
2021 Houston Baptist Huskies softball game log :
Regular season (22-16) :
February (5-1) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Black & Gold Invitational ||||||||||||
| Feb. 12 | vs. North Dakota | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg |
| Feb. 13 | at Southern Miss | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg |
| Feb. 13 | vs. SIU Edwardsville | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg |
| Feb. 13 | vs. SIU Edwardsville | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg |
| Feb. 20 | at Nicholls | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 9-4 | Patak (1-0) | Moon (1-1) | None | | 101 | 1-0 | |
| Feb. 20 | at Nicholls | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park• Thibodaux, LA | W 5-3 | Cotton (1-0) | LaBure (2-1) | None | | 96 | 2-0 | |
| Feb. 26 | UHV | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 5-0 | Cotton (2-0) | Kristoff (0-1) | None | | 103 | 3-0 | |
| Feb. 26 | UHV | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 5-0 | Patak (2-0) | Cowan (0-1) | None | | 98 | 4-0 | |
| Feb. 28 | at Southern Miss | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | W 2-0 | Venker (1-0) | Leinstock (3-1) | None | | | 5-0 | |
| Feb. 28 | at Southern Miss | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | L 2-3 | Pierce (2-1) | Patak (1-1) | None | | | 5-1 | |
March (4-8) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar. 6 | Prairie View A&M | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 12-1 (5 inns) | Patak (3-1) | Hall (0-1) | None | 120 | 6-1 | |
| Mar. 6 | Prairie View A&M | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 11-0 (5 inns) | Venker (2-0) | Fucci (0-1) | None | 110 | 7-1 | |
| Mar. 12 | Abilene Christian | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 2-4 | Bradley (2-6) | Patak (2-3) | None | 80 | 7-2 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 12 | Abilene Christian | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 10-6 | Swanson (1-0) | Harris (0-1) | None | 60 | 8-2 | 1-1 |
| Mar. 13 | Abilene Christian | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 0-4 | Bradley (3-6) | Patak (3-3) | None | 45 | 8-3 | 1-2 |
| Mar. 16 | at Texas A&M | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | L 0-6 | Poynter (5-0) | Patak (3-4) | None | 315 | 8-4 | |
| Mar. 19 | Southeastern Louisiana | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 1-2 | Zumo (8-2) | Patak (3-5) | DuBois (2) | 95 | 8-5 | 1-3 |
| Mar. 19 | Southeastern Louisiana | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 6-5 | Swanson (2-0) | Hannabas (0-3) | None | 90 | 9-5 | 2-3 |
| Mar. 20 | Southeastern Louisiana | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 4-9 | Zumo (9-2) | Janes (0-1) | None | 55 | 9-6 | 2-4 |
| Mar. 26 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 1-2 | Howell (5-3) | Patak (3-6) | None | 300 | 9-7 | 2-5 |
| Mar. 26 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 1-5 | Delafield (5-1) | Venker (2-1) | None | 300 | 9-8 | 2-6 |
| Mar. 27 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 2-7 | Rhoden (4-2) | Patak (3-7) | None | 200 | 9-9 | 2-7 |
April (10-5) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr. 2 | at Sam Houston State | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | W 8-0 (6 inns) | Patak (4-7) | Dunn (4-5) | None | 109 | 10-9 | 3-7 |
| Apr. 2 | at Sam Houston State | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | W 2-0 | Swanson (3-0) | Vento (3-5) | None | 109 | 11-9 | 4-7 |
| Apr. 3 | at Sam Houston State | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | L 1-4 | Bachmeyer (1-1) | Janes (0-2) | Vento (1) | 111 | 11-10 | 4-8 |
| Apr. 9 | Incarnate Word | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 6-4 | Patak (5-7) | Trapp (3-5) | None | 40 | 12-10 | 5-8 |
| Apr. 9 | Incarnate Word | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 5-1 | Swanson (4-0) | Gunther (4-7) | None | 30 | 13-10 | 6-8 |
| Apr. 10 | Incarnate Word | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 7-2 | Swanson (5-0) | Floyd (2-4) | None | 45 | 14-10 | 7-8 |
| Apr. 13 | at Prairie View A&M | Lady Panther Softball Field • Prairie View, TX | L 4-7 | Fucci (1-0) | Estes (0-1) | Hall (2) | 28 | 14-11 | |
| Apr. 17 | Central Arkansas | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 2-5 | Johnson (9-4) | Patak (5-8) | None | 50 | 14-12 | 7-9 |
| Apr. 17 | Central Arkansas | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 1-0 | Swanson (6-0) | Beaver (13-6) | None | 50 | 15-12 | 8-9 |
| Apr. 18 | Central Arkansas | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 2-1 | Patak (5-8) | Johnson (9-4) | None | | 16-12 | 9-9 |
| Apr. 24 | Lamar | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 9-2 | Patak (6-8) | Mixon (1-10) | None | 57 | 17-12 | 10-9 |
| Apr. 24 | Lamar | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 2-1 | Swanson (8-0) | Ruiz (0-3) | None | 150 | 18-12 | 11-9 |
| Apr. 25 | Lamar | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 7-0 | Venker (3-1) | Mixon (2-14) | None | 115 | 19-12 | 12-9 |
| Apr. 28 | at RV Texas State | Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX | L 2-4 | Mullins (16-6) | Patak (6-9) | None | 234 | 19-13 | |
| Apr. 30 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 3-4 | Lara (13-9) | Swanson (8-1) | None | 109 | 19-14 | 12-10 |
May (3-2) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 2 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 2-1 | Swanson (9-1) | Lara (13-10) | None | 155 | 20-14 | 13-10 |
| May 2 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 2-0 | Patak (7-9) | McNeill (1-7) | None | 155 | 21-14 | 14-10 |
| May 7 | at Stephen F. Austin | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | W 3-1 | Patak (8-9) | Wilbur (28-4) | None | 143 | 22-14 | 15-10 |
| May 7 | at Stephen F. Austin | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 4-5 | Chism (3-1) | Swanson (9-2) | Wilbur (3) | 116 | 22-15 | 15-11 |
| May 8 | at Stephen F. Austin | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 0-1 | Wilbur (29-4) | Patak (8-10) | None | 135 | 22-16 | 15-12 |
Post-Season (0-1) :
Southland Tournament (0-1) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 12 | (7) Sam Houston State | (6) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 3-4 | Dunn (8-11) | Swanson (9-3) | None | ESPN+ | 172 | 22-17 | 0-1 |
    Schedule Source:*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

## Postseason
### Conference accolades

* Player of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
* Hitter of the Year: Shaylon Govan – SFA
* Pitcher of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
* Freshman of the Year: Jenna Wildeman – UCA
* Newcomer of the Year: Jenna Edwards – MCNS
* Coach of the Year: Nicole Dickson – SFA
References: