# 2021 McNeese State Cowgirls softball team

The 2021 McNeese State Cowgirls softball team represented McNeese State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Cowgirls played their home games at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond and were led by fifth year head coach James Landreneau. They were members of the Southland Conference.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. McNeese State was picked to finish second in the Southland Conference with 217 votes and four first place 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 |
| Amanda Allen | Pitcher | Richmond, Texas | Foster HS |
| Lindsay Henson | Pitcher | Lawrenceburg, Indiana | East Central HS |
| Grace Cantu | Outfielder | Celina, Texas | Celina HS |
| Kelsey Gaspard | Catcher | Roanoke, Louisiana | Northside Christian HS |
| Reese Reyna | Infielder | Santa Fe, Texas | Santa Fe HS |
| Katie VanDermark | Infielder | Walker, Louisiana | Live Oak HS |
| Cristlyne Moreno | Infielder | Converse, Texas | Samuel Clemens HS |

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | McNeese State win |
| | McNeese State loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | McNeese State team member |
2021 McNeese State Cowgirls Softball Game Log :
Regular season (30-24) :
February (3-11) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Tiger Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 11 | at No. 5 LSU | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 0-8 (6 inns) | Sunseri (1-0) | Vallejo (0-1) | None | SECN+ | 261 | 0-1 | |
| Feb. 12 | vs. Kansas | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | W 9-8 | Flores (1-0) | Reed (0-1) | Edwards (1) | | 75 | 1-1 | |
| Feb. 12 | vs. Kansas | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | W 6-5 | Edwards (1-0) | Hamilton (0-1) | None | | 102 | 2-1 | |
| Feb. 13 | vs. No. 25 Duke | Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA | L 1-9 | Walters (1-0) | Tate (0-1) | None | | 65 | 2-2 | |
| Feb. 16 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | Game Postponed due to threat of inclement travel conditions | Game Postponed due to threat of inclement travel conditions | Game Postponed due to threat of inclement travel conditions | Game Postponed due to threat of inclement travel conditions | Game Postponed due to threat of inclement travel conditions | Game Postponed due to threat of inclement travel conditions | Game Postponed due to threat of inclement travel conditions | Game Postponed due to threat of inclement travel conditions |
| Feb. 17 | Louisiana–Monroe | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | Game Postponed due to threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game Postponed due to threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game Postponed due to threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game Postponed due to threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game Postponed due to threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game Postponed due to threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game Postponed due to threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles | Game Postponed due to threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles |
| Cowgirl Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 20 | No. 20 Arkansas | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 4-6 (14 inns) | Haff (1-1) | Vallejo (0-2) | None | | 489 | 2-3 | |
| Feb. 20 | No. 20 Arkansas | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 7-4 | Flores (2-0) | Bloom (0-1) | Edwards (2) | | 489 | 3-3 | |
| Feb. 21 | No. 20 Arkansas | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 1-3 | Haff (2-1) | Flores (2-1) | None | | 376 | 3-4 | |
| Feb. 21 | No. 23 Baylor | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 2-3 (9 inns) | Binford (1-0) | Tate (0-2) | Rodoni (1) | | 376 | 3-5 | |
| Feb. 23 | No. 10 Oklahoma State | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 0-5 | Eberle (3-0) | Flores (2-2) | None | | 398 | 3-6 | |
| Feb. 24 | at No. 9 Louisiana | Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA | L 7-8 (8 inns) | Ellyson (3-0) | Tate (0-3) | None | | 244 | 3-7 | |
| Feb. 26 | at No. 22 UCF | UCF Softball Stadium • Orlando, FL | L 0-3 | White (5-0) | Vallejo (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | 101 | 3-8 | |
| Feb. 26 | at No. 22 UCF | UCF Softball Complex • Orlando, FL | L 1-4 | Mancha (3-1) | Tate (0-4) | None | ESPN+ | 98 | 3-9 | |
| Feb. 27 | at No. 22 UCF | UCF Softball Complex • Orlando, FL | L 3-11 (5 inns) | Jewell (1-0) | Flores (2-3) | None | | 88 | 3-10 | |
| Feb. 28 | at No. 6 Florida | Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium • Gainesville, FL | L 0-1 (8 inns) | Hightower (5-0) | Edwards (1-1) | None | | 428 | 3-11 | |
March (11-8) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar. 3 | No. 12 Louisiana | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 4-5 | Dixon (3-0) | Tate (0-5) | Ellyson (1) | | 366 | 3-12 | |
| Cowgirl Classic II ||||||||||||
| Mar. 5 | Texas Southern | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 6-0 | Flores (3-3) | Gendorf (0-3) | None | | 265 | 4-12 | |
| Mar. 5 | UTSA | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 6-5 | Vallejo (1-3) | Hernandez (1-1) | Edwards (3) | | 265 | 5-12 | |
| Mar. 6 | UTSA | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 3-2 | Tate (1-5) | Williams (1-1) | Edwards (4) | | 307 | 6-12 | |
| Mar. 6 | Texas Southern | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 3-1 | Edwards (2-1) | Reyes (0-1) | Flores (1) | | 307 | 7-12 | |
| Mar. 10 | at Houston | Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX | W 4-3 | Flores (4-3) | Lee (2-3) | Tate (1) | ESPN+ | 86 | 8-12 | |
| Mar. 12 | Central Arkansas | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 1-0 | Tate (2-5) | Beavers (5-3) | None | | 257 | 9-12 | 1-0 |
| Mar. 13 | Central Arkansas | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 4-5 | Beaver (6-3) | Vallejo (1-4) | None | | 207 | 9-13 | 1-1 |
| Mar. 13 | Central Arkansas | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 5-3 | Tate (3-5) | Sanchez (4-3) | None | | 207 | 10-13 | 2-1 |
| Mar. 16 | No. 10 Texas | Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX | L 2-5 | Jacobsen (6-1) | Tate (3-6) | None | | 379 | 10-14 | |
| Mar. 18 | Texas A&M | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 1-5 | Herzog (7-1) | Flores (4-4) | None | | 387 | 10-15 | |
| Mar. 19 | at Sam Houston State | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | L 1-6 | Dunn (3-3) | Vallejo (1-5) | None | | 109 | 10-16 | 2-2 |
| Mar. 20 | at Sam Houston State | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | L 0-6 | Vento (3-2) | Tate (3-7) | None | | 107 | 10-17 | 2-3 |
| Mar. 20 | at Sam Houston State | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | L 0-4 | Dunn (4-3) | Flores (4-5) | None | | 115 | 10-18 | 2-4 |
| Mar. 24 | Houston | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 9-3 | Tate (6-7) | Hulon (0-3) | None | | 177 | 11-18 | |
| Mar. 26 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 3-2 (9 inns) | Edwards (3-1) | Lara (9-3) | None | | 141 | 12-18 | 3-4 |
| Mar. 26 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 6-1 | Tate (5-7) | Lombrana (4-7) | None | | 141 | 13-18 | 4-4 |
| Mar. 27 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 9-0 | Edwards (4-1) | Lara (9-4) | None | | 151 | 14-18 | 5-4 |
| Mar. 31 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 0-1 | Hughen (4-4) | Flores (4-6) | Lackie (2) | ESPN+ | 200 | 14-19 | |
April (13–4) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr. 2 | Lamar | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 7-2 | Edwards (5-1) | Mixon (1-8) | None | | 257 | 15-19 | 6-4 |
| Apr. 3 | Lamar | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 8-0 (5 inns) | Tate (6-7) | Reyna (1-9) | None | | | 16-19 | 7-4 |
| Apr. 3 | Lamar | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 2-1 | Vallejo (2-5) | Mixon (1-9) | Flores (2) | | 257 | 17-19 | 8-4 |
| Apr. 7 | Louisiana Tech | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 7-1 | Flores (5-6) | Hernandez (6-5) | None | | 279 | 18-19 | |
| Apr. 9 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 2-3 | Zumo (13-2) | Vallejo (2-6) | None | | 245 | 18-20 | 8-5 |
| Apr. 10 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 2-3 | Hannabas (2-3) | Flores (5-7) | DuBois (6) | | 243 | 18-21 | 8-6 |
| Apr. 10 | at Southeastern Louisiana | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 3-1 | Vallejo (3-6) | Sitzman (0-2) | None | | 245 | 19-21 | 9-6 |
| Apr. 13 | No. 16 LSU | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed |
| Apr. 16 | Abilene Christian | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 7-0 | Tate (7-7) | White (4-11) | None | | 256 | 20-21 | 10-6 |
| Apr. 17 | Abilene Christian | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 7-1 | Edwards (6-1) | White (4-12) | None | | | 21-21 | 11-6 |
| Apr. 17 | Abilene Christian | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 8-0 (6 inns) | Vallejo (3-5) | Harris (0-3) | None | | 297 | 22-21 | 12-6 |
| Apr. 21 | at UTSA | Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX | W 6-3 | Vallejo (5-6) | Seith (3-3) | None | | 40 | 23-21 | |
| Apr. 23 | at Incarnate Word | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | W 14-6 | Vallejo (6-6) | Gunther (6-8) | None | | 75 | 24-21 | 13-6 |
| Apr. 24 | at Incarnate Word | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | W 3-1 (8 inns) | Tate (8-7) | Trapp (5-6) | None | | 75 | 25-21 | 14-6 |
| Apr. 24 | at Incarnate Word | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | L 2-3 (9 inns) | Gunther (7-8) | Vallejo (6-7) | None | | 75 | 25-22 | 14-7 |
| Apr. 28 | Louisiana–Monroe | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 6-1 | Edwards (7-1) | Hulett (4-7) | Tate (2) | | 249 | 26-22 | |
| Apr. 30 | Northwestern State | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 3-0 | Tate (9-7) | Howell (6-9) | None | | 401 | 27-22 | 15-7 |
| Apr. 30 | Northwestern State | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 2-3 | Delafield (9-3) | Flores (5-8) | None | | 401 | 27-23 | 15-8 |
May (3-1) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 1 | Northwestern State | Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | W 5-3 (8 inns) | Tate (10-7) | Delafield (0-4) | None | 478 | 28-23 | 16-8 |
| May 7 | at Nicholls | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 6-2 | Tate (11-7) | Westbrook (3-10) | None | 330 | 29-23 | 17-8 |
| May 7 | at Nicholls | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 0-1 | LaBure (4-5) | Edwards (7-2) | None | 276 | 29-24 | 17-9 |
| May 8 | at Nicholls | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 10-2 (6 inns) | Vallejo (7-7) | Turner (0-3) | None | 202 | 30-24 | 18-9 |
Post-season (5-2) :
Southland Tournament (4-0) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 13 | vs. (7) Sam Houston State | (3) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 3-1 | Edwards (8-2) | Vento (8-8) | None | ESPN+ | 277 | 31-24 | 1-0 |
| May 13 | vs. (2) Central Arkansas | (3) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 6-5 | Tate (12-7) | Johnson (11-8) | Flores (3) | ESPN+ | 335 | 32-24 | 2-0 |
| May 14 | vs. (1) Stephen F. Austin | (3) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 4-1 | Tate (13-7) | Wilbur (30-5) | None | ESPN+ | 304 | 33-24 | 3-0 |
| May 15 | vs. (2) Central Arkansas | (3) | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 1-0 | Edwards (9-2) | Johnson (11-9) | Tate (3) | ESPN+ | 345 | 34-24 | 4-0 |
NCAA Division I softball tournament (1-2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| Baton Rouge Regionals ||||||||||||
| May 21 | vs. (1)/No. 16 LSU | (4) | Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA | L 2-10 (6 inns) | Sunseri (10-6) | Tate (13-8) | None | ESPNU | | 34-25 | 0-1 |
| May 22 | vs. (3) George Washington | (4) | Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA | W 12-0 (5 inns) | Tate (14-8) | Lange (21-10) | None | ESPN3 | 1,991 | 35-25 | 1-1 |
| May 22 | vs. (2)/No. 15 Louisiana | (4) | Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA | L 0-4 | Ellyson (25-7) | Edwards (9-3) | Lamb (1) | ESPN3 | 1,920 | 35-26 | 1-2 |
    Schedule Source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

## Baton Rouge Regional

Baton Rouge Regional Teams :
| (1) LSU Lady Tigers | (2) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns | (3) George Washington Colonials | (4) McNeese State Cowgirls |
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 7 | LSU | 10 | | | | | |
| | McNeese State | 2 | | | | | |
| | McNeese State | 2 | 7 | LSU | 10 | | |
| | | | | Louisiana | 3 | | |
| George Washington | George Washington | 0 | | Louisiana | 3 | | |
| Louisiana | Louisiana | 1 | | | | | |
| Louisiana | Louisiana | 1 | | | | 7 | LSU |
| | | | | | | | Louisiana |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | | Louisiana |
| | | | McNeese State | McNeese State | 0 | | |
| McNeese State | McNeese State | 12 | Louisiana | Louisiana | 4 | | |
| George Washington | George Washington | 0 | | | | | |

## 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: