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 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
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
Roster
2021 McNeese State Cowgirls roster Pitchers 1 Jenna Edwards – senior 5 Whitney Tate – freshman 20 Saleen Flores – sophomore 22 Ashely Vallejo – freshman
Outfielders 11 Toni Perrin – junior 14 Kennedy Reynolds – freshman 15 Taniece Tyson - Redshirt Freshman 26 Teagan Whitley – freshman 28 Alayis Seneca – sophomore
Utilities 3 Sara Geier – sophomore 4 Kaylee Lopez – sophomore 10 Padyn Williams – sophomore 21 Jil Poullard – freshman Catchers 6 Rebekah Dilavore – junior 7 Adriana Ramirez – junior 12 Gracie Devall – sophomore 25 Chloe Gomez – freshman 32 Macy McRight – freshman
Infielders 9 Caleigh Cross – freshman 18 Tayler Strother – junior 19 Amy Reed – sophomore 23 Haylee Brinlee – sophomore 24 Cori McCrary – senior 27 Caylon Brabham – freshman 29 Aaliyah Ortiz – freshman 34 Tiffany Steczo – junior
Coaching staff 2021 McNeese State Cowgirls coaching staffJames Landreneau – Head coach – 5th year Robbie Tate – Assistant Head coach – 2nd year Chris Watford – Assistant Head coach – 2nd year
Schedule and results Legend McNeese State win McNeese State loss Postponement/CancellationBoldMcNeese State team member
2021 McNeese State Cowgirls Softball Game Log Regular season (30-24) February (3-11) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Tiger ClassicFeb. 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 conditionsFeb. 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 Cowgirl ClassicFeb. 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 Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMar. 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 IIMar. 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 1-0Mar. 13 Central Arkansas Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 4-5 Beaver (6-3) Vallejo (1-4) None 207 9-13 1-1Mar. 13 Central Arkansas Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 5-3 Tate (3-5) Sanchez (4-3) None 207 10-13 2-1Mar. 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 2-2Mar. 20 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX L 0-6 Vento (3-2) Tate (3-7) None 107 10-17 2-3Mar. 20 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX L 0-4 Dunn (4-3) Flores (4-5) None 115 10-18 2-4Mar. 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 3-4Mar. 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 4-4Mar. 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 5-4Mar. 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 Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordApr. 2 Lamar Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 7-2 Edwards (5-1) Mixon (1-8) None 257 15-19 6-4Apr. 3 Lamar Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 8-0 (5 inns) Tate (6-7) Reyna (1-9) None 16-19 7-4Apr. 3 Lamar Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 2-1 Vallejo (2-5) Mixon (1-9) Flores (2) 257 17-19 8-4Apr. 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 8-5Apr. 10 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA L 2-3 Hannabas (2-3) Flores (5-7) DuBois (6) 243 18-21 8-6Apr. 10 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 3-1 Vallejo (3-6) Sitzman (0-2) None 245 19-21 9-6Apr. 13 No. 16 LSU Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA Game PostponedApr. 16 Abilene Christian Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 7-0 Tate (7-7) White (4-11) None 256 20-21 10-6Apr. 17 Abilene Christian Joe Miller at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 7-1 Edwards (6-1) White (4-12) None 21-21 11-6Apr. 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 12-6Apr. 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 13-6Apr. 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 14-6Apr. 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 14-7Apr. 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 15-7Apr. 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 Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMay 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 16-8May 7 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA W 6-2 Tate (11-7) Westbrook (3-10) None 330 29-23 17-8May 7 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA L 0-1 LaBure (4-5) Edwards (7-2) None 276 29-24 17-9May 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 Postseason (5-2) (4-0) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament recordMay 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 1-0May 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 2-0May 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 3-0May 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 RegionalsMay 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 0-1May 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 1-1May 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: