2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball team

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.

2023 McNeese Cowgirls softball
Southland Tournament champion
NCAA Tournament, Runner-up, Seattle Regional
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	47–16 (21–3 Southland)
Head coach	James Landreneau (7th season)
Assistant coaches	Shellie Landry Shelby Sunseri
Home stadium	Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

2023 Southland Conference softball standings

v t e	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
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament * Ineligible for the 2023 NCAA tournament due to transition from Division II[1] As of May 21, 2023[2] Rankings from NFCA/USA Today

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  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 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.