The 2024 Nicholls Colonels softball team represented Nicholls State University during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. The Colonels played their home games at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park and were led by third-year head coach Justin Lewis. They are members of the Southland Conference. The team compiled a 31–26 overall record and a 16–8 record in conference play finishing in third place. As the third seeded team in the SLC tournament, the Colonels were 2–2 defeating seventh seeded Houston Christian 5–4 and fifth seeded Lamar 5–4. They were defeated by second seeded Southeastern Louisiana 1–4 and first seeded McNeese 3–4.
Preseason Southland Conference Coaches Poll The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 2, 2024. Nicholls was picked to finish third in the Southland Conference with 97 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 Erin Kraus and Alexa Poche were named to the conference preseason first 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) 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 Nicholls win Nicholls loss Postponement/CancellationBoldNicholls team member
2024 Nicholls State Colonels softball game log Regular season (31–26) February (11–8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC recordFeb. 8 at * Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA 0–85 inn Sydney Berzon (1–0) McNeill, Audrey (0–1) None SECN+/ESPN+ 1,850 0–1 Mardi Gras MamboFeb. 9 vs. * Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 11–15 inn McNeill, Audrey (1-1) P. Kringel (0–2) None 60 1–1 Feb. 9 vs. * Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 2–4 Makaela Carr (1–0) Yoo, Molly (0–1)) None 101 1–2 Feb. 10 vs. * Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 6–1 McNeill, Audrey (2–1) Tori Grifone (0–1) None 111 2–2 Feb. 10 vs. * Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 8–4 Paden, Averi (1–0) Moreno, Jade (0–1) None 101 3–2 Feb. 11 vs. * Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 9–2 McNeill, Audrey (3–1) Brinka, Emmalyn (1–2) None 123 4–2 Houston ClassicFeb. 17 at * Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 1–5 Nicole Bodeux (1-1) McNeill, Audrey (3–2) Paris Lehman (1) ESPN+ 268 4–3 Feb. 16 vs. * Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 7–0 Yoo, Molly (1-1) K. Schultz (0–5) None 5–3 Feb. 16 vs. * Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 1–2 Horton, Natalee (1-1) McNeill, A. (3-3) None 5–4 Feb. 17 at Houston* Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 3–11(5 inn) Shelby Smith (4–0) McNeill, Audrey (3–4) None ESPN+ 449 5–5 Feb. 18 vs. UMass* Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 11–2(5 inn) Paden, Averi (2–0) Streicher, H (0–2) None 6–5 Feb. 21 * Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 11–1(6 inn) VandenBout, Molly (1–0) Ashanti Carter (0–1) None 103 7–5 Feb. 21 Alcorn State* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 8–0(5 inn) Paden, Averi (3–0) Kiri Parker (0–1) 103 8–5 Dugout Club ClassicFeb. 23 vs. * JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 11–1 McNeill, Audrey (4-4) BIRLING, Sydney (1–2) None 9–5 Feb. 23 vs. FIU* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 3–0 Yoo, Molly (2–1) AGES, Jordyn (1–2) None 10–5 Feb. 24 at * 11 JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 4–5 Allison Royalty (4–1) McNeill, Audrey (4–5) None 10–6 Feb. 24 at Florida State* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 0–8(5 inn) Allison Royalty (5–1) Yoo, Molly (2-2) None 10–7 Feb. 25 vs. Charleston Southern* JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL 2–1 McNeill, Audrey (5-5) LAMB, Nealy (2–1) None 11–7 Feb. 27 Louisiana* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–8 Sam Landry (3–5) Paden, Averi (3–1) None 213 11–8 March (8–8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC recordMar 1 * Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 3–4 Abrams, Victoria (6–2) Yoo, Molly (2–3) None ESPN+ 566 11–9 Mar 2 Louisiana–Monroe* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 5–4 Yoo, Molly (3-3) Nichols, Maddie (6–3) None ESPN+ 564 12–9 Mar 2 Louisiana–Monroe* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 0–12(5 inn) Kassidy, Giddens (4–1) McNeill, Audrey (5–6) None ESPN+ 614 12–10 Mar 5 at * Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA – (-) Postponed (weather) – Mar 9 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA 9–5 Yoo, Molly (4–3) Seely, Kenzie (5–6) Paden, Averi (1) ESPN+ 228 13–10 1–0Mar 9 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA 5–0 McNeill, Audrey (6-6) Darr, Maggie (4–6) None ESPN+ 218 14–10 2–0Mar 10 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA 2–0 McNeill, Audrey (7–6) Seely, Kenzie (5–7) None ESPN+ 204 15–10 3–0Mar 13 * Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–4 Makenna Kliethermes (8–2) Paden, Averi (3–2) None ESPN+ 467 15–11 Mar 13 Ole Miss* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–9 Catelyn Riley (2-2) McNeill, Audrey (7-7) None ESPN+ 202 15–12 Mar 15 McNeese Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–4 Sanders, Shaelyn (7–6) McNeill, Audrey (7–8) None ESPN+ 189 15–13 3–1Mar 15 McNeese Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–0 Yoo, Molly (5–3) Schexnayder, Ryann (4–2) None ESPN+ 122 16–13 4–1Mar 16 McNeese Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 0–2 Sanders, Shaelyn (8–6) McNeill, Audrey (7–9) None ESPN+ 190 16–14 4–2Mar 20 * Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 7–6(9 inn) McNeill, Audrey (8–9) Jana Lee (1–3) None 124 17–14 Mar 26 * Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–10 Raelin Chaffin (8–2) Yoo, Molly (5–4) None ESPN+ 703 17–15 Mar 28 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 4–1(13 inn) Paden, Averi (3–2) Mitchell, Karyana (10–2) None ESPN+ 400 18–15 5–2Mar 29 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 3–2 Paden, Averi (5–2) Mitchell, Karyana (10–3) None ESPN+ 400 19–15 6–2Mar 29 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 0–2 Jolin, Sabrina (3-3) McNeill, Audrey (8–10) None ESPN+ 400 19–16 6–3 April (7–8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC recordApr 3 at Southern Miss* Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS 3–5 Jana Lee (5-5) Yoo, Molly (5-5) None ESPN+ 617 19–17 Apr 5 Texas A&M–Commerce Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 6–2 McNeill, Audrey (9–10) Sanchez, Julia (4–9) None ESPN+ 101 20–17 7–3Apr 5 Texas A&M–Commerce Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 4–2 Paden, Averi (6–2) Muller, Maddie (3–14) None ESPN+ 101 21–17 8–3Apr 6 Texas A&M–Commerce Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 8–0(5 inn) Yoo, Molly (6–5) Muller, Maddie (3–15) None 100 22–17 9–3Apr 10 Southern* Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA – (-) Postponed – Apr 12 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 0–4 Swanson, L. (5–6) McNeill, Audrey (9–11) None 300 22–18 9–4Apr 12 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 7–1 (-) (-) 23–18 10–4Apr 13 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 1–5(10 inn) Swanson, L. (6-6) Paden, Averi (7–3) None 400 23–19 10–5Apr 17 at Louisiana* 19 Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA 0–9(6 inn) Sam Landry (16–7) Yoo, Molly (6-6) None 1,164 23–20 Apr 19 Southeastern Louisiana Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–3 Blanchard, Cera (16–2) Yoo, Molly (6–7) None ESPN+ 23–21 10–6Apr 19 Southeastern Louisiana Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 4–3 McNeill, Audrey (10–11) DuBois, Ellie (12–4) None ESPN+ 202 24–21 11–6Apr 20 Southeastern Louisiana Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 7–5 McNeill, Audrey (11-11) Comeaux, MC (3-3) Yoo, Molly (1) 123 25–21 12–6Apr 25 at Texas* 1 Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 3–10 Czech, Estelle (8–3) Paden, Averi (7–4) Simpson, Sophia (2) LHN 1,625 25–22 Apr 26 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 3–11(5 inn) Larissa Jacquez (10–5) McNeill, Audrey (11–12) None ESPN+ 115 25–23 12–7Apr 26 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 3–4 Maddy Blake (3–0) Yoo, Molly (6–8) None ESPN+ 115 25–24 12–8Apr 27 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 4–2(9 inn) McNeill, Audrey (12–11) Samantha Portillo (8–4) None ESPN+ 170 26–24 13–8 May (3–0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC recordMay 3 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–0 McNeill, Audrey (13–12) Aholelei, Primrose (15–10) None 177 27–24 14–8May 3 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 7–1 Yoo, Molly (7–8) Saenz, Ariella (2–6) Paden, Averi (2) 201 28–24 15–8May 4 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–0 McNeill, Audrey (14–12) Williams, Malia (3-3) None 201 29–24 16–8 Post-Season (2–2) (2–2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament recordMay 7 vs. (7) Houston Christian (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 5–4 Paden, Averi (8–4) Swanson, Lyndie (10–8) None ESPN+ 322 30–24 1–0May 8 vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 1–4 Blanchard, Cera (18–2) Yoo, Molly (7–9) None ESPN+ 456 30–25 1–1May 8 vs. (5) Lamar (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 5–4(8 inn) Yoo, Molly(8–9) Mitchell, Karyana(13–9) None ESPN+ 322 31–25 2–1May 9 vs. (1) McNeese (3) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 3–4(8 inn) Sanders, Shaelyn (20–10) McNeill, Audrey (14–13) None ESPN+ 520 31–26 2–2 Schedule source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
Conference awards and honors Post-season All-Southland Conference Teams Reglin Heflin was named as a conference first team member. Abby Anderson was named as a second team member.
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
First Team Corine Poncho (MCNS, SO, 1st Base) Mariana Torres (MCNS, SR, 2nd Base) Chloe Magee (SELA, FR, Shortstop) Maddison Guillen (UIW, SR, 3rd Base) Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, SR, Catcher) Victoria Altamirano (UIW, SO, Utility) Audrey Greely (SELA, SR, Designated Player) Reagan Heflin (NICH, SO, Outfielder) Ka'Lyn Watson (SELA, SR, Outfielder) Alexis Dibbley (MCNS, FR, Outfielder) Cera Blanchard (SELA, SR, Pitcher) Shaelyn Sanders (MCNS, SR, Pitcher)
Second Team Lexi Johnson (SELA, SR, 1st Base) Ryleigh Mata (UIW, JR, 2nd Base) Baylee Lemons (UIW, JR, Shortstop) Rylie Bouvier (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base) Bella Perez (MCNS, FR, Catcher) Haylie Savage (HCU, JR, Utility) Crislyne Moreno (MCNS, JR, Designated Player) Jillian Guiterrez (UIW, SO, Outfield) Abby Andersen (NICH, SR, Outfield) Cam Goodman (SELA, SR, Outfield) Primrose Aholelei (TAMUCC, SR, Pitcher)