The 2024 McNeese Cowgirls softball team represents McNeese State University during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. The Cowgirls play their home games at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond and are led by eighth-year head coach James Landreneau. They are members of the Southland Conference.
The Cowgirls compiled a 40–20 overall record with a 22–2 conference record winning the SLC regular season championship. They were seeded first in the SLC tournament finishing with a 2–2 record in tournament play. The Cowgirls defeated seventh seeded Houston Christian 8–6 and third seeded Nicholls 4–3. They were eliminated from the tournament after losing two times to fourth seeded Incarnate Word. The first game score was 2–3. The second game was a 7–8 extra innings loss.
Previous season
McNeese had a regular season record of 41–14 and a conference record of 21–3 winning the Southland Conference regular season championship. They also won the 2023 Southland Conference softball tournament as the first seeded team.
The Cowgirls won the SLC autobid to the 2023 NCAA Division I softball tournament. They were runner-up to the Seattle Regional championship compiling a tournament record of 3–2. Leading the regional championship game 6–0 through the sixth inning, the Cowgirls' season ended ultimately losing to the tournament hosts, # 7 ranked Washington Huskies 7–6. The Cowgirls' final overall record was 47–16.
Preseason Southland Conference Coaches Poll The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 2, 2024. McNeese was picked to finish first in the Southland Conference with 128 overall votes and 16 first place votes.
Coaches poll 1 McNeese State 128 (16) 2 Southeastern Louisiana 114 (2) 3 Nicholls 97 4 Lamar 78 5 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 72 6 Northwestern State 63 7 Houston Christian 49 8 Incarnate Word 30 9 Texas A&M–Commerce 17
Preseason All-Southland team Reese Reyna, Chloe Gomez, Erin Ardoin, and Ashley Vallejo were named to the conference preseason first team. Crislyne Mareno, Mariana Torres, Rylie Bouvier, and Shaelyn Sanders were named to the conference preseason second team.
First Team Lexi Johnson (SELA, SR, 1st Base) Erin Kraus (NICH, SO, 2nd Base) Haylie Savage HCU, JR, 3rd Base) Reese Reyna (MCNS, JR, Shortstop) Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, SR, Catcher) Chloe Gomez (MCNS, SR, Utility) Audrey Greely (SELA, SR, Designated Player) Alexa Poche (NICH, SR, Outfielder) AB Garcia (HCU, SO, Outfielder)Player of the Year: Victoria Altamirano, UIW
Hitter of the Year: Ka'Lyn Watson, Southeastern
Pitcher of the Year: Shaelyn Sanders, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: Alexis Dibbley, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Shenita Tucker, Lamar
Coach of the Year: James Landreneau, McNeese Erin Ardoin (MCNS, JR, Outfielder) Ashley Vallejo (MCNS, JR, Pitcher) Primrose Aholelei (TAMUCC, JR, Pitcher)
Second Team Crislyne Mareno (MCNS, JR, 1st Base) Mariana Torres (MCNS, JR, 2nd Base) Rylie Bouvier (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base) Brooke Davis (LU, SR, Shortstop) Ashlyn Walker (NWST, SR, Catcher) Sydney Hoyt (TAMUCC, SR, Utility) Cameron Niedenthal (LU, SR, Designated Player) Cam Goodman (SELU, SR, Outfielder) Ka'Lyn Watson (SELU, SR, Outfielder) Laney Roos (NWST, SR, Outfielder) Maggie Darr (NWST, SR, Pitcher) Shaelyn Sanders (MCNS, SR, Pitcher)
Roster
Schedule and results Legend McNeese win McNeese loss Postponement/CancellationBoldMcNeese team member * Non-Conference game † Make-Up Game