# 2021 Georgia Southern Eagles softball team

The 2021 Georgia Southern Eagles softball team represented Georgia Southern University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Eagles played their home games at Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex. The Eagles were led by third-year head coach Kim Dean 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. Georgia Southern was picked to finish seventh in the Sun Belt Conference with 38 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)
* Courtney 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 |
| Sydney Stewart | Infielder/Outfielder | Fortson, Georgia | Harris County HS |
| Emma Strickland | 1st Base/Utility | Colbert, Georgia | Madison County HS |
| Reign Williams | Catcher/3rd Base | Buckhead, Georgia | George Walton Academy |

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Georgia Southern win |
| | Georgia Southern loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Georgia Southern team member |
2021 Georgia Southern Eagles softball game log :
Regular season (17-25) :
February (1-7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Bash in the Boro ||||||||||||
| Feb. 12 | Western Kentucky | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro |
| Feb. 13 | Western Kentucky | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro |
| Feb. 13 | UNC Wilmington | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro |
| Feb. 14 | UNC Wilmington | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Statesboro |
| UF Bubly Invitational ||||||||||||
| Feb. 19 | at No. 6 Florida | Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL | L 3-8 | Lugo (1-0) | Garcia (0-1) | None | | 378 | 0-1 | |
| Feb. 20 | vs. Charlotte | Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL | L 4-5 (8 inn) | | | | | | 0-2 | |
| Feb. 20 | at No. 6 Florida | Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL | L 1-2 | Chronister (3-0) | Richardson (0-1) | None | | | 0-3 | |
| Feb. 21 | vs. Charlotte | Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL | W 13-5 (6 inn) | Garcia (1-1) | Wright (1-1) | None | | | 1-3 | |
| Feb. 21 | at No. 6 Florida | Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL | L 0-11 (5 inn) | Hightower (3-0) | Waldrep (0-1) | None | | 451 | 1-4 | |
| Feb. 26 | at North Florida | UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL | L 4-5 (9 inn) | Arends (2-1) | Harlee (0-1) | None | | 42 | 1-5 | |
| Feb. 27 | at North Florida | UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL | L 5-6 | Clausen (1-2) | Waldrep (0-2) | Arends (1) | | 60 | 1-6 | |
| Feb. 27 | at North Florida | UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL | L 2-3 | Arends (3-1) | Garcia (1-2) | None | | | 1-7 | |
March (6-7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Eagle Round Robin ||||||||||||
| Mar. 5 | Winthrop | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 8-2 | Waldrep (1-2) | Watson (3-6) | None | | 150 | 2-7 | |
| Mar. 5 | Winthrop | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 3-2 | Rewis (1-1) | Weixlmann (4-3) | None | | 150 | 3-7 | |
| Mar. 6 | Winthrop | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | L 3-14 | Cyzick (1-2) | Feil (0-2) | None | | 123 | 3-8 | |
| Mar. 6 | College of Charleston | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 2-1 | Richardson (1-1) | Burke (0-2) | None | | 145 | 4-8 | |
| Mar. 7 | College of Charleston | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 2-1 | Garcia (2-2) | Lemire (1-2) | None | ESPN+ | 145 | 5-8 | |
| Mar. 10 | at No. 20 South Carolina | Carolina Softball Stadium • Columbia, SC | L 1-9 (6 inns) | Drotar (1-0) | Richardson (1-2) | None | ESPN+ | 400 | 5-9 | |
| Mar. 13 | at No. 14 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures |
| Mar. 13 | at No. 14 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures |
| Mar. 14 | at No. 14 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures |
| Mar. 17 | at Mercer | Sikes Field • Macon, GA | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures |
| Mar. 17 | at Mercer | Sikes Field • Macon, GA | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures | Game postponed due to COVID measures |
| Mar. 20 | Louisiana–Monroe | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | L 3-5 | Williams (1-4) | Garcia (2-3) | Hulett (2) | ESPN+ | 165 | 5-10 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 20 | Louisiana–Monroe | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | L 9-11 (8 inns) | Williams (2-4) | Feil (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | 165 | 5-11 | 0-2 |
| Mar. 21 | Louisiana–Monroe | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Mar. 24 | at No. 17 Georgia | Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed |
| Mar. 26 | FIU | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 5-0 | Waldrep (2-2) | Linneman (2-2) | Feil (1) | ESPN+ | 135 | 6-11 | |
| Mar. 26 | FIU | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 9-7 | Richardson (2-2) | Dunford (4-8) | None | ESPN+ | 135 | 7-11 | |
| Mar. 28 | at No. 16 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | L 2-9 | Lamb (10-2) | Waldrep (2-3) | None | | 228 | 7-12 | 0-3 |
| Mar. 29 | at No. 16 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | L 0-6 | Ellyson (7-4) | Richardson (2-3) | None | ESPN+ | 219 | 7-13 | 0-4 |
| Mar. 29 | at No. 16 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | L 3-7 | Lamb (11-4) | Feil (0-4) | None | ESPN+ | 267 | 7-14 | 0-5 |
April (5–12) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Apr. 2 | at Troy | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 0-5 | Johnson (13-3) | Richardson (2-4) | None | ESPN+ | 150 | 7-15 | 0-6 |
| Apr. 2 | at Troy | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 0-4 | Brianna (3-1) | Waldrep (2-4) | None | ESPN+ | 114 | 7-16 | 0-7 |
| Apr. 3 | at Troy | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 0-9 (5 inns) | Johnson (13-3) | Feil (0-5) | None | ESPN+ | 134 | 7-17 | 0-8 |
| Apr. 9 | at Coastal Carolina | St. Johns Stadium – Charles Webb-John Lott Field • Conway, SC | L 3-5 | Brabham (2-5) | Rewis (1-2) | None | ESPN+ | 125 | 7-18 | 0-9 |
| Apr. 10 | at Coastal Carolina | St. Johns Stadium – Charles Webb-John Lott Field • Conway, SC | W 9-1 (6 inns) | Richardson (3-4) | De Jesus (2-6) | None | ESPN+ | 125 | 8-18 | 1-9 |
| Apr. 10 | at Coastal Carolina | St. Johns Stadium – Charles Webb-John Lott Field • Conway, SC | W 7-6 | Waldrep (3-4) | Brabham (2-5) | Rewis (1) | ESPN+ | 124 | 9-18 | 2-9 |
| Apr. 13 | Charleston Southern | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | L 7-8 | Clark (3-3) | Garcia (2-4) | None | ESPN+ | 101 | 9-19 | |
| Apr. 13 | Charleston Southern | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | L 1-4 | Heinrich (3-5) | Richardson (3-5) | None | ESPN+ | | 9-20 | |
| Apr. 16 | Appalachian State | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 11-3 (6 inns) | Garcia (3-4) | Longanecker (11-4) | Richardson (1) | ESPN+ | 135 | 10-20 | 3-9 |
| Apr. 16 | Appalachian State | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | L 3-6 | Holland (6-4) | Waldrep (3-5) | Buckner (1) | ESPN+ | | 10-21 | 3-10 |
| Apr. 17 | Appalachian State | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | L 2-5 | Holland (7-4) | Feil (0-6) | None | ESPN+ | 150 | 10-22 | 3-11 |
| Apr. 21 | Jacksonville | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 6-0 | Garcia (4-4) | Seana (6-1) | None | ESPN+ | 124 | 11-22 | |
| Apr. 24 | at Texas State | Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX | L 0-7 | Mullins (15-6) | Garcia (4-5) | None | ESPN+ | | 11-23 | 3-12 |
| Apr. 24 | at Texas State | Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX | L 0-3 | Barrera (2-0) | Waldrep (3-6) | King (3) | ESPN+ | 325 | 11-24 | 3-13 |
| Apr. 25 | at Texas State | Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX | L 0-1 | King (8-2) | Garcia (4-6) | None | ESPN+ | 145 | 11-25 | 3-14 |
| Apr. 30 | South Alabama | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 9-1 (5 inns) | Garcia (5-6) | Lackie (15-7) | None | ESPN+ | 126 | 12-25 | 4-14 |
May (5-0) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| May 1 | South Alabama | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 4-3 (8 inns) | Rewis (2-2) | Hardy (2-2) | None | ESPN+ | 165 | 13-25 | 5-14 |
| May 2 | South Alabama | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 2-0 | Garcia (6-6) | Lackie (15-8) | None | ESPN+ | 145 | 14-25 | 6-14 |
| May 6 | at Georgia State | Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA | W 5-4 | Richardson (4-5) | Mooney (6-11) | None | | 283 | 15-25 | 7-14 |
| May 7 | at Georgia State | Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA | W 11-7 (8 inns) | Rewis (3-2) | Banks (2-4) | None | | 285 | 16-25 | 8-14 |
| May 7 | at Georgia State | Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA | W 9-4 | Garcia (7-6) | Doolittle (0-5) | None | | 285 | 17-25 | 9-14 |
Post-Season (0-1) :
SBC tournament (0-1) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| May 11 | vs. (10) Georgia State | (7) | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 1-4 | Mooney (7-11) | Garcia (7-7) | None | ESPN+ | 97 | 17-26 | |
    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: