2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball team

American college softball season

2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball
NCAA Tournament, Runner-up, Seattle Regional
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record47–16 (21–3 Southland)
Head coach
  • James Landreneau (7th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Shellie Landry
  • Shelby Sunseri
Home stadiumJoe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Southland Conference softball standings
  • v
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 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T   PCT W   L   T   PCT
McNeese  ‍†‍‡‍y 21 – 3 – 0   .875 47 – 16 – 0   .746
Southeastern Louisiana  ‍‍‍ 19 – 5 – 0   .792 47 – 14 – 0   .770
Nicholls  ‍‍‍ 13 – 11 – 0   .542 29 – 24 – 0   .547
Lamar  ‍‍‍ 12 – 12 – 0   .500 22 – 34 – 0   .393
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi  ‍‍‍ 11 – 13 – 0   .458 24 – 24 – 0   .500
Northwestern State  ‍‍‍ 10 – 14 – 0   .417 25 – 27 – 0   .481
Houston Christian  ‍‍‍ 9 – 15 – 0   .375 20 – 33 – 0   .377
Incarnate Word  ‍‍‍ 8 – 16 – 0   .333 16 – 30 – 1   .351
Texas A&M–Commerce*  ‍‍‍ 5 – 19 – 0   .208 9 – 39 – 0   .188
* Ineligible for the 2023 NCAA tournament due to transition from Division II[1]
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of May 21, 2023[2]
Rankings from NFCA/USA Today


The 2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball team represented McNeese State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Cowgirls played their home games at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond and were led by seventh-year head coach James Landreneau. They are members of the Southland Conference. 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 January 26, 2023. McNeese was picked to finish first in the Southland Conference with 128 votes and 16 first place votes.[3]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 McNeese 128 (16)
2 Southeastern Louisiana 113 (2)
3 Northwestern State 91
4 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 85
5 Houston Christian 58
6 Lamar 49
7 Texas A&M–Commerce 47
8 Incarnate Word 45
9 Nicholls 32

Preseason All-Southland team

McNeese had six players named to the Southland Conference preseason first team and one player was named to the preseason second team. [3]

First Team

  • Crislyne Moreno (MCNS, SO, 1st Base)
  • Caleigh Cross (MCNS, SR, 2nd Base)
  • Jil Poullard (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base)
  • Maddie Watson (SELA, SO, Shortstop)
  • Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, JR, Catcher)
  • Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SR, Utility)
  • Audrey Greely (SELA, JR, Designated Player)
  • Laney Roos (NSU, JR, Outfielder)
  • Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
  • Cam Goodman (SELA, JR, Outfielder)
  • Ashley Vallejo (MCNS, JR, Pitcher)
  • Bronte Rhoden (NSU, SR, Pitcher)

Second Team

  • Sydney Hoyt (TAMUCC, JR, 1st Base)
  • Madison Rayner (SELA, SR, 2nd Base)
  • Haylie Savage (HCU, SO, 3rd Base)
  • Ryleigh Mata (UIW, SO, Shortstop)
  • Tristin Court (NSU, JR, Catcher)
  • Melise Gossen (NICH, SR, Utility)
  • Chloe Gomez (MCNS, JR, Designated Player)
  • Alexa Poche (NICH, JR, Outfielder)
  • Makenzie Chaffin (NSU, JR, Outfielder)
  • Bailie Ragsdale (NSU, SO, Outfielder)
  • Lyndie Swanson (HCU, JR, Pitcher)
  • Siarah Galvan (TAMUCC, SO, Pitcher)

Roster

2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball team
Players Coaches
# Pos. Name Bats/throws Height Year Home town
1 INF Jada Munoz R/R 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Fr San Antonio, Texas
2 INF Brook Otto R/R 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Fr Smithville, Texas
3 RHP Ashley Vallejo R/R 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) Jr New Waverly, Texas
4 OF Kaylee Lopez L/L 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Sr Indian Bayou, Louisiana
5 RHP Whitney Tate L/R 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) Jr Columbia, Louisiana
6 OF Erin Ardoin L/R 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) So Moss Bluff, Louisiana
7 OF Rylee Eyster L/R 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) Fr Southaven, Mississippi
8 U Grace Janik R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Fr Missouri City, Texas
9 RHP Lindsey Davis R/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Fr Troup, Texas
11 LHP Ryann Schexnayder L/L 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Fr Walker, Louisiana
12 INF Mariana Torres R/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) So Pflugerville, Texas
14 INF Crislyne Moreno R/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) So Converse, Texas
15 U Makynlie Jones R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Fr Vardaman, Mississippi
17 OF Delaney Dunham L/L 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Fr Mont Belvieu, Texas
18 OF Kiley Dehart L/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) So Lake Charles, Louisiana
19 U Corine Poncho R/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Fr Basile, Louisiana
21 U Jil Poullard L/R 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Jr Moss Bluff, Louisiana
22 INF Reese Reyna R/R 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) So Santa Fe, Texas
23 Caleigh Cross L/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Sr Forney, Texas
24 LHP Shaelyn Sanders R/L 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Jr Splendora, Texas
25 C Chloe Gomez R/R 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) Jr Spring, Texas
26 C Kelsey Gaspard Current redshirt R/R 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Fr Roanoke, Louisiana
28 OF Alayis Seneca L/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Sr The Woodlands, Texas
32 INF Rylie Bouvier L/R 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) So Santa Fe, Texas
34 C Emily Phillips R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Jr Chesapeake, Virginia
Head coach

James Landreneau (McNeese State)

Assistant coach(es)

Shellie Landry (Louisiana)
Alyssa Denham (Arizona)
Shelbi Sunseri (LSU)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: December 23, 2022

Schedule and results

Legend
  McNeese win
  McNeese loss
  Postponement/Cancellation
Bold McNeese team member
* Non-Conference game
† Make-Up Game
2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball game log
Regular season (47–16)
February (10–5)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record
Cowgirl Classic I
Feb. 10 Idaho State* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 7–2 Tate (1-0) McMurray (0-1) 1–0
Feb. 10 Texas Southern* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 6–1 Sanders (1-0) Gonzales (0-1) 689 2–0
Feb. 11 Texas Southern* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 8–0
(5 inn)		 Davis (1-0) Gendorf (0-0) 3–0
Feb. 11 Central Arkansas* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 1–2 Johnson (0-0) Vallejo (0-1) Beaver (0) 639 3–1
Feb. 12 UAB* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 4–2 Tate (0-0) Cespedes (0-0) Vallejo (0) 584 4–1
Tracy Beard College Classic
Feb. 17 vs. Kentucky* 15 Old Celina Park • Celina, TX 0–4 Schoonover (2-0) Vallejo (0-2) 4–2
Feb. 18 vs. South Dakota* Old Celina Park • Celina, TX 4–1 Sanders (2-0) Edwards (0-2) Davis (1) 5–2
Feb. 18 vs. UT Arlington* Old Celina Park • Celina, TX 8–0
(5 inn)		 Tate (3-0) Waiters (1-1) 6–2
Feb. 19 vs. North Texas* 22 Old Celina Park • Celina, TX 4–2 Vallejo (1-2) Peters (3-2) 7–2
Feb. 20 Washington* 12 Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 4–2 Tate (4-0) Lynch (0-1) 707 8–2
Feb. 21 South Alabama* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 0–3 Lackie (1-2) Vallejo (1-3) 621 8–3
Cowgirl Classic II
Feb. 24 Stephen F. Austin* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 4–3 Davis (2-0) Gainous (1-2) 757 9–3
Feb. 25 Stephen F. Austin* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 5–4 Vallejo (2-3) Gainous (1-3) 10–3
Feb. 25 Ole Miss* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–8 Furbush (4-1) Vallejo (2-4) Kliethermes (1) 945 10–4
Feb. 26 Ole Miss* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–7 Kliethermes (3-2) Davis (2-1) 807 10–5
March (15–5)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record
Mar. 1 at Grambling* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 8–0
(5 inn)		 Vallejo (3-4) Richard (2-2) 11–5
Longhorn Invitational
Mar. 3 vs. Princeton* Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 1–0 Vallejo (4-4) Laudenslager (1-2) 12–5
Mar. 3 vs. Louisiana* Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 1–7 Landry (5-4) Tate (4-1) 12–6
Mar. 4 vs. Tennessee Tech* Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 8–0 Tate (5-1) Manus (7-5) 13–6
Mar. 4 at Texas* 9 Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX 0–4 LHN 1,673 13–7
Mar. 8 at Louisiana* Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA 2–6 Riassetto (1-1) Vallejo (4-6) 1,522 13–8
Mar. 10 at Louisiana–Monroe* Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA 6–0 Tate (6-1) Abrams (2-3) 750 14–8
Mar. 11 at Louisiana–Monroe* Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA 1–8 Hulett, Gianni (7-1) Vallejo (4-7) 14–9
Mar. 11 at Louisiana–Monroe* Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA 2–1 Tate (7-1) Hulett (7-2) Davis (2) 568 15–9
Mar. 15 Houston* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 9–1
(5 inn)		 Davis (3-1) Boyd (0-3) 683 16–9
Mar. 17 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 9–0
(5 inn)		 Tate (8-1) Garcia (3-5) ESPN+ 78 17–9 1–0
Mar. 17 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 5–1 Vallejo (5-7) Gunther (4-3) ESPN+ 167 18–9 2–0
Mar. 18 at Incarnate Word H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX 10–0 Tate (9-1) Floyd (1-5) ESPN+ 142 19–9 3–0
Mar. 21 at LSU* 10 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA 2–6 Chaffin (3-1) Tate (9-2) SECN+ 1,802 19–10
Mar. 24 Texas A&M–Commerce Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 9–0
(5 inn)		 Tate (10-2) Sanchez (3-7) 708 20–10 4–0
Mar. 25 Texas A&M–Commerce Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 8–0
(5 inn)		 Vallejo (6-7) Meadors (0-5) ESPN+ 21–10 5–0
Mar. 25 Texas A&M–Commerce Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 1–0 Sanders (3-0) Arredondo (2-9) ESPN+ 787 22–10 6–0
Mar. 29 at Sam Houston* Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX 2–0 Tate (11-2) Guindon (4-5) 485 23–10
Mar. 31 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 7–4 Vallejo (7-7) Mitchell (4-10) Tate (1) ESPN+ 410 23–10 7–0
Mar. 31 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 4–2 Sanders (4-0) Ruiz (4-8) Davis, Lindsay (3) ESPN+ 394 24–10 8–0
April (13–4)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record
Apr. 1 at Lamar Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 12–0
(5 inn)		 Tate (12-2) Niedenthal (2-5) ESPN+ 455 26–10 9–0
Apr. 4 Louisiana* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 0–7 Landry, S (9-4) Tate (12-3) ESPN+ 837 26–11
Apr. 7 Northwestern State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 6–7 Darr (10-5) Davis (3-2) 26–12 9–1
Apr. 7 Northwestern State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 4–0 Vallejo (8-7) Seely (4-5) ESPN+ 687 27–12 10–1
Apr. 8 Northwestern State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–0 Vallejo (9-7) Darr (10-6) Davis (4) ESPN+ 707 28–12 11–1
Apr. 11 at Houston* Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 4–2
(10 inn)		 Vallejo (10-7) Wilkey (13-8) ESPN+ 376 29–12
Apr. 14 Nicholls Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 6–0 Vallejo (11-7) McNeill (9-8) ESPN+ 30–12 12–1
Apr. 15 Nicholls Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 8–0
(6 inn)		 Tate (13-3) Yoo (10-7) ESPN+ 807 31–12 13–1
Apr. 15 Nicholls Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 5–4 Vallejo (12-7) Yoo (10-8) ESPN+ 787 32–12 14–1
Apr. 18 LSU* 15 Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 4–3 'Vallejo (13-7) Berzon (12-5) ESPN+ 1,488 33–12
Apr. 19 UT Arlington* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 6–2 Sanders (5-0) Bumpurs (6-8) ESPN+ 697 34–12
Apr. 25 at Southeastern North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 1–4 Blanchard (15-6) Vallejo (13-8) ESPN+ 262 34–13 14–2
Apr. 25 at Southeastern North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 3–4 Ladner, KK (14-1) Tate (13-4) ESPN+ 262 34–14 14–3
Apr. 26 at Southeastern North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 2–1 Vallejo (14-8) Comeaux (8-4) Sanders (1) ESPN+ 263 35–14 15–3
Apr. 28 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 4–3 Sanders (6-0) Aholelei (16-11) ESPN+ 827 36–14 16–3
Apr. 28 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 7–2 Vallejo (15-8) Hoyt (2-5) ESPN+ 37–14 17–3
Apr. 29 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 5–2 Tate (14-4) Aholelei (16-12) ESPN+ 802 38–14 18–3
May (3–0)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record
May. 5 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 4–0 Vallejo (16-8) Janes (6-12) ESPN+ 225 39–14 19–3
May. 5 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 5–0 Tate (15-4) Swanson (9-9) ESPN+ 225 40–14 20–3
May. 6 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 1–0 Sanders (7-0) Grofman (5-5) ESPN+ 225 41–14 21–3
Post-Season (6–2)
Southland Tournament (3–0)
Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record
May 10 vs. (5) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi (1) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–1 Tate (16-4) Aholelei (16-4) ESPN+ 42–14 1–0
May 11 vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana (1) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 6–2 Vallejo (17-8) Blanchard (17-7) ESPN+ 43–14 2–0
May 13 vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana (1) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 1–0 (8) Vallejo (18-8) Ladner (15-2) ESPN+ 607 44–14 3–0
NCAA Tournament (3–2)
Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record
May 19 vs. Minnesota Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA 5–4
(13 inn)		 Tate, Whitney (17-4) Sydney Schwartz (2-2) ESPN+ 45–14 1–0
May 20 at Washington 7 Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA 1–3 Ruby Meylan (17-5) Sanders, Shaelyn (7-1) ESPNU 45–15 1–1
May 20 vs. Minnesota Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA 1–0 Vallejo, Ashley (19-8) Jacie Hambrick (7-7) ESPN+ 46–15 2–1
May 21 at Washington 7 Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA 1–0 Tate, Whitney (18-4) Kelley Lynch (9-3) ESPN+ 47–15 3–1
May 21 at Washington 7 Husky Softball Stadium • Seattle, WA 6–7 Brooke Nelson (3-2) Vallejo, Ashley (19-9) ESPNU 47–16 3–2
Schedule Source:[4]*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

References

  1. ^ "Texas A&M University-Commerce Officially Joins NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference". Texas A&M University-Commerce. July 1, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "Southland Conference Softball Standings". Southland.org. Southland Conference. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "McNeese predicted to win 2023 softball race; Preseason poll and all-conference teams announced". Southland Conference. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "2023 Softball Schedule". McNeese Athletics. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
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McNeese Cowgirls softball
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