# 2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball team

The 2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball team represented University of Central Arkansas during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Sugar Bears played their home games at Farris Field and were led by thirteenth year head coach David Kuhn. They were members of the Southland Conference.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Central Arkansas was picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference with 162 votes and one first place vote.
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 |
| Bella Barnes | Infielder | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Central HS |
| Jorde Chartland | Pitcher/Utility | Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada | Weyburn Comprehensive |
| Reese Curry | Infielder/Utility | Oskaloosa, Kansas | Oskaloosa HS |
| Regan Curry | Infielder/Utility | Oskaloosa, Kansas | Oskaloosa HS |
| Kylie Griffin | Infielder | Greenbrier, Arkansas | Greenbrier HS |
| Emily Perry | Infielder | Bentonville, Arkansas | Bentonville HS |
| Graci Thomas | Infielder | Morrilton, Arkansas | Morrilton HS |

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Central Arkansas win |
| | Central Arkansas loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | Central Arkansas team member |
2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball game log :
Regular season (34-17) :
February (6-7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| Tiger Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 12 | vs. No. 25 Duke | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 2-6 | Butler (1-0) | Johnson (0-1) | Walters (1) | | 76 | 0-1 |
| Feb. 13 | vs. No. 25 Duke | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 5-7 | Davidson (1-0) | Sanchez (0-1) | Butler (1) | | 72 | 0-2 |
| Feb. 13 | vs. Kansas | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 2-4 | Goff (1-0) | Beaver (0-1) | None | | 86 | 0-3 |
| Texas A&M Invitational ||||||||||||
| Feb. 20 | vs. Texas Tech | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | W 6-1 | Beaver (1-1) | Zoch (1-1) | None | | 306 | 1-3 |
| Feb. 20 | at Texas A&M | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | L 0-9 (5 inns) | Herzog (1-0) | Johnson (0-2) | None | SECN+ | 306 | 1-4 |
| Feb. 21 | vs. Colorado | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | W 4-0 | Sanchez (1-1) | Cabral (0-1) | None | | 95 | 2-4 |
| Feb. 21 | vs. Texas Tech | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | W 5-0 | Johnson (1-5) | Zoch (1-2) | None | | 100 | 3-4 |
| Feb. 22 | at Texas A&M | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | L 0-22 | Poynter (1-0) | Beaver (1-2) | Broadus (1) | SECN+ | 159 | 3-5 |
| Feb. 23 | at No. 11 LSU | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 0-3 | Wickersham (2-1) | Sanchez (1-2) | None | SECN+ | 156 | 3-6 |
| Feb. 23 | at No. 11 LSU | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 0-2 | Kilponen (1-1) | Johnson (1-3) | None | SECN+ | 327 | 3-7 |
| Michelle Short Memorial Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 25 | Omaha | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 9-1 | Sanchez (2-2) | Hampton (0-3) | None | | 84 | 4-7 |
| Feb. 25 | Missouri State | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 5-0 | Beaver (2-2) | Hunsaker (2-1) | None | | 88 | 5-7 |
| Feb. 27 | Western Illinois | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 9-1 | Sanchez (3-2) | Carlin (1-2) | None | | 102 | 6-7 |
March (13-3) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar. 3 | Arkansas–Monticello | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 8-0 (5 inns) | Beaver (3-2) | Franks (0-2) | None | | 113 | 7-7 | |
| Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic ||||||||||||
| Mar. 5 | Mississippi Valley State | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 10-0 (5 inns) | Johnson (2-3) | Page (0-3) | None | | 92 | 8-7 | |
| Mar. 5 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 10-1 (5 inns) | Beaver (4-2) | Hubbard (0-2) | None | | 104 | 9-7 | |
| Mar. 6 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 8-0 (5 inns) | Sanchez (4-2) | Smith (0-2) | None | | 109 | 10-7 | |
| Mar. 6 | Western Michigan | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 11-0 (5 inns) | Johnson (3-3) | Galloway (1-3) | None | | 187 | 11-7 | |
| Mar. 8 | Lyon | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 3-1 | Beaver (5-2) | Platt (2-5) | None | | 86 | 12-7 | |
| Mar. 9 | No. 19 Arkansas | Farris Field • Conway, AR | L 1-4 | Haff (10-1) | Johnson (3-4) | None | ESPN+ | 755 | 12-8 | |
| Mar. 12 | at McNeese State | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 0-1 | Tate (2-5) | Beaver (5-3) | None | ESPN+ | 257 | 12-9 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 13 | at McNeese State | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 5-4 | Beaver (6-3) | Vallejo (1-4) | None | | 207 | 13-9 | 1-1 |
| Mar. 13 | at McNeese State | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 3-5 | Tate (3-5) | Sanchez (4-3) | None | | 207 | 13-10 | 1-2 |
| Mar. 19 | at Abilene Christian | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 7-0 | Beaver (7-3) | Bradley (3-8) | None | | 250 | 14-10 | 2-2 |
| Mar. 19 | at Abilene Christian | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 8-0 (6 inns) | Johnson (4-4) | White (3-7) | None | | 250 | 15-10 | 3-2 |
| Mar. 20 | at Abilene Christian | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 15-2 (5 inns) | Beaver (8-3) | Bradley (3-9) | None | | 250 | 16-10 | 4-2 |
| Mar. 26 | Sam Houston State | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 11-1 (5 inns) | Beaver (9-3) | Dunn (4-4) | None | | 218 | 17-10 | 5-2 |
| Mar. 26 | Sam Houston State | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 1-0 | Johnson (5-4) | Vento (3-3) | None | | 250 | 18-10 | 6-2 |
| Mar. 27 | Sam Houston State | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 5-1 | Johnson (6-4) | Vento (3-4) | None | | 202 | 19-10 | 7-2 |
| Mar. 30 | Memphis | Farris Field • Conway, AR | Game postponed to April 27 | Game postponed to April 27 | Game postponed to April 27 | Game postponed to April 27 | Game postponed to April 27 | Game postponed to April 27 | Game postponed to April 27 | Game postponed to April 27 |
April (11–7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr. 2 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 3-1 | Johnson (7-4) | Howell (5-4) | None | | 250 | 20-10 | 8-2 |
| Apr. 2 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 4-0 | Beaver (10-3) | Delafield (5-2) | None | | 250 | 21-10 | 9-2 |
| Apr. 3 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | W 4-3 | Beaver (11-3) | Rhoden (4-3) | Johnson (1) | | 203 | 22-10 | 10-2 |
| Apr. 6 | at RV Ole Miss | Ole Miss Softball Complex • Oxford, MS | L 1-4 | Borgen (8-4) | Beaver (11-4) | Diederich (1) | SECN+ | 201 | 22-11 | |
| Apr. 7 | at Mississippi State | Nusz Park • Mississippi State, MS | L 3-4 | Willis (11-4) | Beaver (11-5) | None | SECN+ | 66 | 22-12 | |
| Apr. 9 | Nicholls | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 14-2 | Johnson (8-4) | Danehower (3-5) | None | | 125 | 23-12 | 11-2 |
| Apr. 9 | Nicholls | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 2-0 | Beaver (12-5) | Moon (1-5) | None | | 152 | 24-12 | 12-2 |
| Apr. 10 | Nicholls | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 7-1 | Beaver (13-5) | Westbrook (2-6) | Johnson (2) | | 132 | 25-12 | 13-2 |
| Apr. 17 | at Houston Baptist | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 5-2 | Johnson (9-4) | Patak (5-8) | None | | 50 | 26-12 | 14-2 |
| Apr. 17 | at Houston Baptist | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 0-1 | Swanson (6-0) | Beaver (13-6) | None | | 50 | 26-13 | 14-3 |
| Apr. 18 | at Houston Baptist | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 1-2 | Patak (5-8) | Johnson (9-4) | None | | | 26-14 | 14-4 |
| Apr. 21 | at No. 8 Arkansas | Bogle Field • Fayetteville, AR | L 6-7 (8 inns) | Haff (20-3) | Johnson (9-6) | None | SECN+ | 873 | 26-15 | |
| Apr. 24 | Stephen F. Austin | Farris Field • Conway, AR | L 0-3 | Wilbur (24-3) | Johnson (9-7) | None | | 119 | 26-16 | 14-5 |
| Apr. 24 | Stephen F. Austin | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 7-2 | Beaver (14-6) | Chism (3-1) | None | | 206 | 27-16 | 15-5 |
| Apr. 25 | Stephen F. Austin | Farris Field • Conway, AR | L 0-6 | Wilbur (25-3) | Sanchez (4-4) | None | | 136 | 27-17 | 15-6 |
| Apr. 27 | Memphis | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 4-3 (9 inns) | Beaver (15-6) | Ellett (2-9) | None | | 107 | 28-17 | |
| Apr. 30 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 6-0 | Johnson (10-7) | Zumo (15-4) | None | ESPN+ | 224 | 29-17 | 16-6 |
| Apr. 30 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 5-0 | Beaver (16-6) | Hannabas (2-5) | None | ESPN+ | 224 | 30-17 | 17-6 |
May (4-0) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 1 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 7-6 (10 inns) | Beaver (17-6) | Zumo (15-5) | None | ESPN+ | 245 | 31-17 | 18-6 |
| May 7 | Lamar | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 7-0 | Johnson (11-7) | Ruiz (3-9) | None | | 219 | 32-17 | 19-6 |
| May 8 | Lamar | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 12-1 (5 inns) | Beaver (18-6) | Mixon (3-16) | None | | 218 | 33-17 | 20-6 |
| May 8 | Lamar | Farris Field • Conway, AR | W 11-2 (6 inns) | Engelkes (1-0) | Ruiz (3-10) | None | | 218 | 34-17 | 21-6 |
Post-Season (3-2) :
Southland Tournament (0-0) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| May 13 | vs. (3) McNeese State | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 5-6 | Tate (12-7) | Johnson (11-8) | Flores (3) | ESPN+ | 335 | 34-18 |
| May 14 | vs. (5) Southeastern Louisiana | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 2-1 | Beaver (19-6) | Zumo (16-7) | None | ESPN+ | 275 | 35-18 |
| May 14 | vs. (4) Northwestern State | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 5-2 | Beaver (20-6) | Delafield (12-5) | None | ESPN+ | 339 | 36-18 |
| May 15 | vs. (1) Stephen F. Austin | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 5-4 | Beaver (21-6) | Wilbur (30-6) | None | ESPN+ | 307 | 37-18 |
| May 15 | vs. (3) McNeese State | (2) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 0-1 | Edwards (9-2) | Johnson (11-9) | Tate (3) | ESPN+ | 345 | 37-19 |
    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: