# 2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks softball team

The 2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks softball team represented the University of Louisiana at Monroe during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Warhawks played their home games at Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex. The Warhawks were led by second-year head coach Molly Fichtner and were members of the Sun Belt Conference.

## Preseason
### Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2021. Louisiana–Monroe was picked to finish ninth in the Sun Belt Conference with 22 votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Louisiana | 100 (10) |
| 2 | Troy | 87 |
| 3 | Texas State | 72 |
| 4 | Coastal Carolina | 68 |
| 4 | UT Arlington | 68 |
| 6 | Appalachian State | 43 |
| 7 | Georgia Southern | 38 |
| 8 | South Alabama | 36 |
| 9 | Louisiana-Monroe | 22 |
| 10 | Georgia State | 16 |

### Preseason All-Sun Belt team

* Summer Ellyson (LA, SR, Pitcher)
* Leanna Johnson (TROY, SO, Pitcher)
* Allisa Dalton *(LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base)
* Katie Webb (TROY, SR, Infielder/1st Base)
* Raina O'Neal (LA, JR, Outfielder)
* Julie Raws (LA, SR, Catcher)
* Courney Dean (CCU, SR, Outfielder)
* Mekhia Freeman (GASO, SR, Outfielder)
* Korie Kreps (ULM, JR, Outfielder)
* Kaitlyn Alderink (LA, SR, 2nd Base)
* Jade Gortarez (LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base)
* Ciara Bryan (LA, SR, Outfielder)
* Kelly Horne (TROY, SO, Infielder/2nd Base)
* Makiya Thomas (CCU, SR, Outfielder/Infielder)
* Tara Oltmann (TXST, SR, Infielder/Shortstop)
* Jayden Mount (ULM, SR, Infielder)
* Katie Lively (TROY, SO, Outfielder)

### National Softball Signing Day

| Player | Position | Hometown | Previous Team |
| Lex Chavez | Infielder | Riverside, California | Martin Luther King HS |
| Gabby Davila | Outfielder | Pearland, Texas | Pearland HS |
| Kiley DeHart | Outfielder | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Barbe HS |
| Kinsey Kackley | Pitcher | McKinney, Texas | McKinney Boyd HS |

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Louisiana–Monroe win |
| | Louisiana–Monroe loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Louisiana–Monroe team member |
2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks softball game log :
Regular season (16-30) :
February (3-6) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Best on the Bayou Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 11 | vs. Louisiana Tech | Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA | L 2-3 | Hutchinson (1-0) | Chavarria (0-1) | None | | | 0-1 | |
| Feb. 12 | vs. Jacksonville State | Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA | W 7-6 | Chavarria (1-1) | Watkins (0-1) | None | | | 1-1 | |
| Feb. 13 | vs. Lipscomb | Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Monroe | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Monroe | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Monroe | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Monroe | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Monroe | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Monroe | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Monroe | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Monroe |
| Feb. 13 | vs. No. 18 Arkansas | Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Monroe | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Monroe | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Monroe | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Monroe | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Monroe | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Monroe | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Monroe | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Monroe |
| Feb. 17 | at McNeese State | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | Game postponed due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game postponed due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game postponed due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game postponed due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game postponed due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game postponed due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game postponed due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game postponed due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles |
| Bearkat Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 19 | vs. UTSA | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville |
| Feb. 19 | at Sam Houston State | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville |
| Feb. 20 | vs. UTSA | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville |
| Feb. 20 | at Sam Houston State | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville |
| Feb. 21 | at Sam Houston State | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville | Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Huntsville |
| Feb. 21 | vs. Northwestern State | Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions |
| Feb. 21 | vs. Northwestern State | Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions | Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditions |
| Feb. 23 | Louisiana Tech | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | W 8-5 | Hulett (1-0) | Keonig (0-2) | Chavarria (1) | | 185 | 2-1 | |
| Feb. 24 | vs. Eastern Illinois | Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 4-5 | Montgomery (1-0) | Coons (0-1) | None | | | 2-2 | |
| Feb. 24 | at Southern | Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA | W 3-2 | Giddens (1-0) | Donaldson (0-1) | Hulett (1) | | | 3-2 | |
| Samford Tournament ||||||||||||
| Feb. 27 | vs. Northern Iowa | Bulldog Softball Field • Homewood, AL | L 6-9 | Packard (2-1) | Hulett (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 30 | 3-3 | |
| Feb. 27 | at Samford | Bulldog Softball Field • Homewood, AL | L 1-2 | Swaney (2-1) | Williams (0-1) | Barnett (1) | ESPN+ | 100 | 3-4 | |
| Feb. 28 | vs Northern Iowa | Bulldog Softball Field • Homewood, AL | L 3-11 | Packard (3-1) | Williams (0-2) | None | ESPN+ | 60 | 3-5 | |
| Feb. 28 | at Samford | Bulldog Softball Field • Homewood, AL | L 2-5 | Barnett (4-1) | Giddens (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 125 | 3-6 | |
March (7-8) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Mar. 5 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 1-3 | Howell (2-1) | Hulett (1-2) | None | | | 3-7 | |
| Oklahoma Tournament ||||||||||||
| Mar. 5 | vs. No. 18 Missouri | OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK | L 0-6 | Weber (5-0) | Coons (0-2) | None | SoonerSports.TV | 100 | 3-8 | |
| Mar. 6 | vs. Sam Houston State | OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK | L 3-5 | Vento (2-1) | Williams (0-1) | None | SoonerSports.TV | 50 | 3-9 | |
| Mar. 6 | at No. 1 Oklahoma | OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK | L 0-9 (5 inns) | Saile (4-0) | Chavarria (1-2) | None | FSOK | 216 | 3-10 | |
| Mar. 7 | vs. No. 18 Missouri | OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK | L 0-20 (5 inns) | Schumacher (4-1) | Williams (0-4) | None | SoonerSports.TV | 100 | 3-11 | |
| Mar. 7 | vs. Sam Houston State | OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK | W 8-6 | Hulett (2-2) | Dunn (1-2) | None | SoonerSports.TV | 100 | 4-11 | |
| Mar. 10 | Grambling State | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | W 4-2 | Giddens (2-1) | Shells (0-2) | None | | | 5-11 | |
| Mar. 10 | Grambling State | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | W 8-0 (5 inns) | Coons (1-2) | Bonner (1-3) | None | | 287 | 6-11 | |
| Mar. 13 | Coastal Carolina | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | W 6-3 | Hulett (3-2) | Beasley-Polko (4-4) | None | ESPN+ | | 7-11 | 1-0 |
| Mar. 13 | Coastal Carolina | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | W 8-4 | Hulett (4-2) | De Jesus (1-3) | None | ESPN+ | 305 | 8-11 | 2-0 |
| Mar. 14 | Coastal Carolina | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 0-2 | Beasley-Polko (5-3) | Giddens (1-2) | None | | 257 | 8-12 | 2-1 |
| Mar. 20 | at Georgia Southern | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 5-3 | Williams (1-4) | Garcia (2-3) | Hulett (2) | ESPN+ | 165 | 9-12 | 3-1 |
| Mar. 20 | at Georgia Southern | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 11-9 | Williams (2-4) | Feil (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | | 10-12 | 4-1 |
| Mar. 21 | at Georgia Southern | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather and poor field conditions in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather and poor field conditions in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather and poor field conditions in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather and poor field conditions in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather and poor field conditions in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather and poor field conditions in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather and poor field conditions in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather and poor field conditions in Statesboro |
| Mar. 24 | Southeastern Louisiana | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 1-2 | Comeaux (6-5) | Chavarria (1-3) | DuBois (4) | | 296 | 10-13 | |
| Mar. 30 | at No. 15 LSU | Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA | L 5-7 | Kilponen (6-4) | Chavarria (1-4) | None | | 585 | 10-14 | |
April (4–13) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Apr. 2 | UT Arlington | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 0-7 | Valencia (2-2) | Chavarria (1-5) | None | | 261 | 10-15 | 4-2 |
| Apr. 2 | UT Arlington | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 1-11 | Hines (3-9) | Coons (1-3) | None | | 261 | 10-16 | 4-3 |
| Apr. 3 | UT Arlington | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 6-10 | Gardiner (3-2) | Chavarria (1-6) | None | | 209 | 10-17 | 4-4 |
| Apr. 6 | at Grambling State | GSU Softball Complex • Grambling, LA | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled |
| Apr. 6 | at Grambling State | GSU Softball Complex • Grambling, LA | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled | Game Cancelled |
| Apr. 10 | at Appalachian State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 2-8 (6 inns) | Longanecker (11-3) | Williams (2-5) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 10-18 | 4-5 |
| Apr. 11 | at Appalachian State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 0-1 | Holland (5-4) | Hulett (4-3) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 10-19 | 4-6 |
| Apr. 11 | at Appalachian State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 0-1 (8 inns) | Buckner (3-2) | Hulett (4-4) | None | ESPN+ | 10-20 | 4-7 | |
| Apr. 13 | at Louisiana Tech | Lady Techster Softball Complex • Ruston, LA | W 5-4 | Coons (2-3) | Goff (0-1) | None | | 355 | 11-20 | |
| Apr. 15 | at Jackson State | JSU Softball Field • Jackson, MS | W 10-0 (5 inns) | Giddens (3-2) | Kippenbender (0-1) | None | | 55 | 12-20 | |
| Apr. 15 | at Jackson State | JSU Softball Field • Jackson, MS | W 10-5 (8 inns) | Coons (3-3) | Owens (5-7) | None | | 75 | 13-20 | |
| Apr. 17 | RV Troy | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 2-13 (5 inns) | Johnson (16-4) | Coons (3-4) | None | | 98 | 13-21 | 4-8 |
| Apr. 17 | RV Troy | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 6-10 | Johnson (16-4) | Hulett (4-5) | None | | 98 | 13-22 | 4-9 |
| Apr. 18 | RV Troy | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 2-5 | Baker (5-3) | Chavarria (1-7) | None | | 73 | 13-23 | 4-10 |
| Apr. 21 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 1-7 | Zumo (15-3) | Chavarria (1-8) | None | ESPN+ | 245 | 13-24 | |
| Apr. 24 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Apr. 24 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 2-4 | Lackie (15-6) | Hulett (4-6) | None | ESPN+ | 200 | 13-25 | 4-11 |
| Apr. 25 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 2-5 | Hardy (2-1) | Chavarria (1-9) | None | ESPN+ | 200 | 13-26 | 4-12 |
| Apr. 27 | at Grambling State | GSU Softball Complex • Grambling, LA | W 5-2 | Coons (2-2) | Polk (0-1) | None | | 75 | 14-26 | |
| Apr. 28 | at McNeese State | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 1-6 | Edwards (7-1) | Hulett (4-7) | None | | 249 | 14-27 | |
May (2-3) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| May 1 | Georgia State | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | W 2-1 | Hulett (5-7) | Mooney (2-4) | None | ESPN+ | 271 | 15-27 | 5-12 |
| May 1 | Georgia State | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 1-2 | Freeman (3-3) | Hulett (5-7) | Buck (2) | ESPN+ | 271 | 15-28 | 5-13 |
| May 2 | Georgia State | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather | Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather |
| May 6 | at No. 14 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | L 1-10 | Ellyson (19-5) | Chavarria (1-10) | None | | 543 | 15-29 | 5-14 |
| May 7 | at No. 14 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | L 6-8 | Ellyson (20-5) | Hulett (5-8) | None | ESPN+ | 894 | 15-30 | 5-15 |
| May 8 | at No. 14 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | W 2-1 | Coons (5-4) | Ellyson (20-6) | None | ESPN+ | 961 | 16-30 | 6-15 |
Post-Season (1-2) :
SBC tournament (1-2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| May 11 | vs. (8) Coastal Carolina | (9) | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 8-6 | Coons (6-4) | Brabham (5-9) | Hulett (3) | ESPN+ | 169 | 17-30 |
| May 12 | vs. (1)/No. 14 Louisiana | (9) | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 0-7 | Lamb (16-4) | Hulett (6-10) | None | ESPN+ | 173 | 17-31 |
| May 13 | vs. (3) Troy | (9) | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 1-5 | Johnson (20-7) | Hulett (6-11) | None | ESPN+ | 603 | 17-32 |
    Schedule Source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

## Postseason
### Conference accolades

* Player of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA
* Pitcher of the Year: Summer Ellyson – LA
* Freshman of the Year: Sara Vanderford – TXST
* Newcomer of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA
* Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco – LA
References: