# 2021 Nicholls Colonels softball team

The 2021 Nicholls Colonels softball team represented Nicholls State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Colonels played their home games at Swanner Field in Geo Surfaces Park and were led by tenth-year head coach Angel Santiago. They were members of the Southland Conference.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Nicholls was picked to finish seventh in the Southland Conference with 131 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)

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Nicholls win |
| | Nicholls loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | Nicholls team member |
2021 Nicholls Colonels Softball Game Log :
Regular season (12-28) :
February (6-5) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Lion Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 13 | vs. SIU Edwardsville | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions |
| Feb. 13 | vs. North Texas | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 9-7 | Danehower (1-0) | Wall (0-1) | None | | 119 | 1-0 | |
| Feb. 13 | vs. South Dakota | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 17-1 (5 inns) | Moon (1-0) | Fletcher (0-3) | None | | 119 | 2-0 | |
| Feb. 14 | vs. SIU Edwardsville | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions | Game Canceled due to unsafe traveling conditions |
| Feb. 14 | vs. South Dakota | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 6-4 | LaBure (1-0) | Lisko (1-2) | None | | 65 | 3-0 | |
| Feb. 14 | vs. North Texas | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | Game Canceled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hammond | Game Canceled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hammond | Game Canceled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hammond | Game Canceled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hammond | Game Canceled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hammond | Game Canceled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hammond | Game Canceled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hammond | Game Canceled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hammond |
| Feb. 19 | Southern Miss | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 6-2 | LaBure (2-0) | Pierce (1-1) | None | | 87 | 4-0 | |
| Feb. 19 | Southern Miss | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 0-3 | Ladner (2-0) | Danehower (1-1) | None | | 87 | 4-1 | |
| Feb. 20 | Houston Baptist | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 4-9 | Patak (1-0) | Moon (1-1) | None | | 101 | 4-2 | |
| Feb. 20 | Houston Baptist | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 3-5 | Cotton (1-0) | LaBure (2-1) | None | | 96 | 4-3 | |
| Feb. 25 | at Alcorn State | Alcorn Softball Complex • Lorman, MS | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled |
| UAB Softball Invitational ||||||||||||
| Feb. 26 | vs. Alabama State | Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL | L 1-8 | Sullivan (2-3) | LaBure (2-2) | None | | 122 | 4-4 | |
| Feb. 26 | at UAB | Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled | Game Canceled |
| Feb. 27 | vs. Alabama State | Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL | W 8-0 (5 inns) | Danehower (2-1) | Myers (0-3) | None | | 130 | 5-4 | |
| Feb. 27 | at UAB | Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL | L 1-7 | Conrad (2-0) | Moon (1-2) | None | | 235 | 5-5 | |
| Feb. 28 | vs. Eastern Illinois | Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL | W 4-0 | Danehower (3-1) | Montgomery (3-3) | None | | 78 | 6-5 | |
March (2-8) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar. 9 | Southern | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed |
| Mar. 12 | Northwestern State | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 3-8 | Rhoden (2-2) | Danehower (3-2) | None | | 123 | 6-6 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 12 | Northwestern State | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 1-10 (5 inns) | Howell (4-3) | Moon (1-3) | None | | 123 | 6-7 | 0-2 |
| Mar. 13 | Northwestern State | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 0-4 | Delafield (2-1) | LaBure (2-3) | None | | 101 | 6-8 | 0-3 |
| Mar. 19 | at Stephen F. Austin | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 0-6 | Wilbur (10-3) | Danehower (3-3) | None | | 236 | 6-9 | 0-4 |
| Mar. 19 | at Stephen F. Austin | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 2-12 (5 inns) | Chism (1-0) | Turner (0-1) | None | | 217 | 6-10 | 0-5 |
| Mar. 20 | at Stephen F. Austin | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 4-9 | Wilbur (12-3) | Moon (1-4) | None | | 229 | 6-11 | 0-6 |
| Mar. 26 | Incarnate Word | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 2-3 | Gunther (3-5) | Danehower (3-4) | None | | 101 | 6-12 | 0-7 |
| Mar. 26 | Incarnate Word | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 0-3 | Trapp (2-3) | Westbrook (0-1) | None | | 101 | 6-13 | 0-8 |
| Mar. 27 | Incarnate Word | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 5-3 | Westbrook (1-1) | Gunther (3-6) | None | | 88 | 7-13 | 1-8 |
| Mar. 30 | Southern | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 6-3 | Westbrook (2-1) | Corona (0-2) | Turner (1) | | 101 | 8-13 | |
April (3–12) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr. 2 | Southeastern Louisiana | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 1-6 | Zumo (11-2) | Westbrook (2-2) | None | 244 | 8-14 | 1-9 |
| Apr. 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 3-5 (8 inns) | Comeaux (7-5) | Westbrook (2-3) | None | 205 | 8-15 | 1-10 |
| Apr. 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 4-7 | Zumo (12-2) | Westbrook (2-4) | None | 200 | 8-16 | 1-11 |
| Apr. 6 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 2-10 (6 inns) | Hughen (5-4) | Westbrook (2-5) | None | 200 | 8-17 | |
| Apr. 10 | at Central Arkansas | Farris Field • Conway, AR | L 2-14 (5 inns) | Johnson (8-4) | Danehower (3-5) | None | 125 | 8-18 | 1-12 |
| Apr. 10 | at Central Arkansas | Farris Field • Conway, AR | L 0-2 | Beaver (12-5) | Moon (1-5) | None | 152 | 8-19 | 1-13 |
| Apr. 11 | at Central Arkansas | Farris Field • Conway, AR | L 1-7 | Beaver (13-5) | Westbrook (2-6) | Johnson (2) | 132 | 8-20 | 1-14 |
| Apr. 16 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 4-2 | Moon (2-5) | Lara (11-8) | Danehower (1) | 178 | 9-20 | 2-14 |
| Apr. 16 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 2-3 | Lara (12-8) | Westbrook (2-7) | None | 172 | 9-21 | 2-15 |
| Apr. 17 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 8-2 | LaBure (3-3) | Lara (12-9) | None | 172 | 10-21 | 3-15 |
| Apr. 23 | Abilene Christian | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 2-3 (8 inns) | Bradley (4-13) | LaBure (3-4) | None | 105 | 10-22 | 3-16 |
| Apr. 23 | Abilene Christian | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 3-1 | Westbrook (3-7) | White (4-13) | None | 137 | 11-22 | 4-16 |
| Apr. 24 | Abilene Christian | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 1-9 (5 inns) | Bradley (5-13) | Westbrook (3-8) | None | 201 | 11-23 | 4-17 |
| Apr. 30 | at Lamar | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | L 3-4 | Ruiz (2-8) | LaBure (3-5) | None | 119 | 11-24 | 4-18 |
| Apr. 30 | at Lamar | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | L 1-3 | Mixon (3-15) | Westbrook (3-9) | None | 119 | 11-25 | 4-19 |
May (1-3) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 2 | at Lamar | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | L 4-9 | Ruiz (3-8) | Turner (0-2) | None | 119 | 11-26 | 4-20 |
| May 7 | McNeese State | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 2-6 | Tate (11-7) | Westbrook (3-10) | None | 330 | 11-27 | 4-21 |
| May 7 | McNeese State | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 1-0 | LaBure (4-5) | Edwards (7-2) | None | 276 | 12-27 | 5-21 |
| May 8 | McNeese State | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 2-10 (6 inns) | Vallejo (7-7) | Turner (0-3) | None | 202 | 12-28 | 5-22 |
    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: