2023 Nicholls Colonels softball team

The 2023 Nicholls Colonels softball team represented Nicholls State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Colonels played their home games at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park and were led by second-year head coach Justin Lewis. They are members of the Southland Conference.

2023 Nicholls Colonels softball
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	29–24 (13–11 Southland)
Head coach	Justin Lewis (2nd season)
Assistant coaches	Ron Frost Kat Frakes
Home stadium	Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park
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

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 26, 2023. Nicholls was picked to finish ninth in the Southland Conference with 32 votes.^[3]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	McNeese State	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

Two Nicholls players were named to the conference 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 Nicholls Colonels softball team
Players	Coaches
# Pos. Name Bats/throws Height Year Home town 1 OF Brianna McFaddin L/R 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) Fr Keller, Texas 2 OF McKenzie Champagne L/R 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) So Lockport, Louisiana 3 U Claire Cisco L/R 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) Fr College Station, Texas 4 INF Makynli Miller R/R 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Fr Many, Louisiana 5 INF Erin Krause L/R 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) Fr Cypress, Texas 6 RHP Paris Lehman R/R 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) So Tupelo, Mississippi 7 RHP Molly VandenBout R/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) So Temple, Texas 9 INF Alexa Poche' L/L 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Jr New Orleans, Louisiana 10 RHP Kalyn DeHart R/R 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) Fr Houma, Louisiana 13 LHP Averi Padin R/L 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Fr Summit, Mississippi 14 RHP Audrey McNeil R/R 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) Jr Plano, Texas 15 INF Lilianna Robledo R/R 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Fr Converse, Texas 16 OF Reagan Heflin L/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Fr Richmond, Texas 17 C Tal Evans R/R 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Fr Victoria, Texas 18 INF Sydni Stevens R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Fr Seguin, Texas 19 OF Samantha Gwiazda R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Jr Frankfort, Illinois 20 U Melise Gossen R/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Sr Rayne, Louisiana 21 INF Sydnee Shelton R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Jr Fort Worth, Texas 22 LHP Molly Yoo L/L 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Fr Cypress, Texas 23 RHP Brittney Turner R/R 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Jr Albany, Louisiana 24 RHP Jensen Gremillion R/R 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Jr Plaucheville, Louisiana 25 OF Carmella Muccilli R/R 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Fr Santa Cruz, California 26 C Brynne Songy R/R 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) Fr Prairieville, Louisiana 28 C Adie Brake  R/R 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) So Denver, Colorado 42 P Abigail Anderson R/R 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Jr Mesa, Arizona	Head coach Justin Lewis (Louisiana–Monroe) Assistant coach(es) Ron Frost (Alabama State) Kat Frakes (UIS) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Current redshirt Roster Last update: March 10, 2023

Schedule and results

Legend
	Nicholls win
	Nicholls loss
	Postponement/Cancellation
Bold	Nicholls team member

2023 Nicholls State Colonels softball game log
Regular season (29–24)
February (10–6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record Feb. 9 New Mexico Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA 3–12 (5 inn) LINTON, Amber (1-0) Yoo, Molly (0-1) ESPN+ 0–1 Lion Classic Feb. 10 vs. Missouri State North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 8–3 McNeill, Audrey (1-0) Gracie Johnston (0-1) 100 1–1 Feb. 11 vs. Missouri State Game cancelled due to weather LSU Invitational Feb. 12 vs. Oregon State 19 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA 3–6 Ellie Garcia (1-1) Yoo, Molly (0-2) Tarni Stepto (1) 247 1–2 Feb. 12 at LSU 20 Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA 3–4 Alea Johnson (1-0) VandenBout, Molly (0-1) Sydney Berzon (2) SECN+ 1,959 1–3 Mardi Gras Mambo Feb. 17 vs. Gardner–Web Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 11–4 Yoo, Molly (1-2) LYON ANDREA (1-1) 200 2–3 Feb. 17 vs. St. Thomas Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 3–4 (8 inn) Isabelle True (0-0) Paden, Averi (0-0) 29 2–4 Feb. 18 vs. Florida A&M Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 12–2 (5 inn) Turner, Brittney (1-0) Cris'Deona Beasley (1-2) 88 3–4 Feb. 18 vs. Toledo Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 5–2 McNeill, Audrey (2-0) KNIGHT, Sophia (1-3) 75 4–4 Feb. 19 vs. Manhattan Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA 4–1 Yoo, Molly (1-2) CHAREST, Mollie (0-1) 5–4 Feb. 22 Alcorn State Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 9–0 (5 inn) McNeill, Audrey (3-0) Parker, Kiri (0-1) ESPN+ 203 6–4 Feb. 22 Alcorn State Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 12–1 (5 inn) Yoo, Molly (3-2) Fletcher, Ta'Niyah (0-1) ESPN+ 203 7–4 Black and Gold Invitational Feb. 24 vs. Yale Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS 4–1 McNeill, Audrey (4-0) Emma Taylor (0-1) Turner, Brittney (1) 8–4 Feb. 24 vs. Arkansas–Pine Bluff Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS 11–0 (5 inn) Yoo, Molly (4-2) Danika Bryant (0-4) 743 9–4 Feb. 25 vs. Yale Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS 3–5 Maddie Latta (1-1) Paden, Averi (0-2) Nicole Conway (1) 9–5 Feb. 25 vs. Arkansas–Pine Bluff Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS 13–2 (5 inn) Turner, Brittney (2-0) Traelen Humphrey (0-2) 10–5 Feb. 26 at Southern Miss Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS 1–3 Morgan Leinstock (5-1) McNeill, Audrey (4-1) 744 10–6
March (10–7) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record Mar. 1 at Jackson State Jackson State University Softball Stadium • Jackson, MS 13–0 (5 inn) Yoo, Molly (5-2) Macie Kuppenbender (1-2) 11–6 Mar. 1 at Jackson State Jackson State University Softball Stadium • Jackson, MS 8–0 Gremillion, Jensen (1-0) Takiya Hill (1-4) 12–6 Mar. 3 Louisiana–Monroe Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 3–4 Hulett, Gianni (5-1) McNeill, Audrey (4-2) ESPN+ 201 12–7 Mar. 4 Louisiana–Monroe Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–0 Yoo, Molly (6-2) Giddens, Kassidy (1-3) ESPN+ 132 13–7 Mar. 4 Louisiana–Monroe Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–3 Chavarria, Adrianna (4-1) McNeill, Audrey (4-3) Hulett, Gianni (4) ESPN+ 201 13–8 Mar. 7 Mississippi Valley State Game cancelled Mar. 7 Mississippi Valley State Game cancelled Mar. 10 Incarnate Word Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–4 (8 inn) Aaliyah Garcia (3-2) Yoo, Molly (6-3) ESPN+ 102 13–9 0–1 Mar. 10 Incarnate Word Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 10–2 (5 inn) McNeill, Audrey (5-3) Madison Floyd (1-4) ESPN+ 112 14–9 1–1 Mar. 11 Incarnate Word Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 3–0 McNeill, Audrey (6-3) Aaliyah Garcia (3-3) ESPN+ 151 15–9 2–1 Mar. 15 at Southern Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA Cancelled Mar. 17 at Texas A&M–Commerce John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX 4–5 (8 inn) Sanchez, Julia (3-5) Turner, Brittney (2-1) ESPN+ 326 15–10 2–2 Mar. 17 at Texas A&M–Commerce John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX 15–6 (6 inn) Yoo, Molly (7-3) Arredondo, Anissa (2-8) ESPN+ 16–10 3–2 Mar. 18 at Texas A&M–Commerce John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX 6–2 McNeill, Audrey (7-3) Sanchez, Julia (3-6) ESPN+ 203 17–10 4–2 Mar. 21 South Alabama Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–5 Lagle, Madison (1-0) McNeill, Audrey (7-4) Hardy, Jenna (2) ESPN+ 102 17–11 Mar. 24 Northwestern State Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 5–6 Darr, Maggie (7-5) McNeill, Audrey (7-5) ESPN+ 131 17–12 4–3 Mar. 24 Northwestern State Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–3 Seely, Kenzie (4-2) Yoo, Molly (7-4) ESPN+ 102 17–13 4–4 Mar. 25 Northwestern State Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 4–3 (8 inn) Yoo, Molly (7-4) Rhoden, Bronte (2-2) 127 18–13 5–4 Mar. 31 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 3–2 (8 inn) Yoo, Molly (9-4) Aholelei, Primrose (10-9) ESPN+ 19–13 6–4 Mar. 31 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 6–1 Yoo, Molly (10-4) Hoyt, Sydney (2-3) ESPN+ 237 20–13 7–4
April (7–9) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC record Apr. 1 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 4–9 Aholelei, Primrose (11-9) McNeill, Audrey (7-6) ESPN+ 249 20–14 7–5 Apr. 4 at Southern Miss Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS 1–8 Morgan Leinstock (9-10) Yoo, Molly (10-5) 590 20–15 Apr. 6 Lamar Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 5–4 (8 inn) McNeill, Audrey (8-6) Niedenthal, C (2-6) ESPN+ 87 21–15 8–5 Apr. 6 Lamar Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 0–10 (5 inn) Ruiz, A (5-9) Yoo, Molly (10-6) ESPN+ 21–16 8–6 Apr. 7 Lamar Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 1–0 McNeill, Audrey (9-6) Ruiz, Aaliyah (5-10) ESPN+ 66 22–16 9–6 Apr. 11 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL 2–3 Lackie, Olivia (14-6) McNeill, Audrey (9-7) ESPN+ 331 22–17 Apr. 14 at McNeese Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 0–6 Vallejo, Ashley (11-7) McNeill, Audrey (9-8) ESPN+ 22–18 9–7 Apr. 15 at McNeese Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 0–8 (6 inn) Tate, Whitney (13-3) Yoo, Molly (10-7) ESPN+ 807 22–19 9–8 Apr. 15 at McNeese Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 4–5 Vallejo, Ashley (12-7) Yoo, Molly (10-8) ESPN+ 787 22–20 9–9 Apr. 21 at Southeastern North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 8–2 McNeill, Audrey (10-8) Blanchard, Cera (14-6) VandenBout, Molly (1) ESPN+ 219 23–20 10–9 Apr. 21 at Southeastern North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 4–5 Ladner, KK (12-1) Yoo, Molly (10-9) ESPN+ 276 23–21 10–10 Apr. 22 at Southeastern North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 4–8 Ladner, KK (13-1) Yoo, Molly (10-10) ESPN+ 302 23–22 10–11 Apr. 26 Southern Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 6–3 Yoo, Molly (11-10) Chakirrious Parker (2-2) ESPN+ 203 24–22 Apr. 28 Houston Christian Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 6–0 McNeill, Audrey (11-8) Janes, Katy (6-11) ESPN+ 231 25–22 11–11 Apr. 28 Houston Christian Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 3–2 (8 inn) Yoo, Molly (12-10) Swanson, Lyndie (9-7) ESPN+ 231 26–22 12–11 Apr. 29 Houston Christian Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA 2–1 (8 inn) McNeill, Audrey (12-8) Swanson, Lyndie (9-8) ESPN+ 201 27–22 13–11
Post-Season (2–2)
Southland Tournament (2–2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record May 9 vs. (6) Northwestern State (3) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–8 (8 inn) Seely, Kenzie (7-7) Yoo, Molly (12-11) ESPN+ 457 27–23 0–1 May 10 vs. (7) Houston Christian (3) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–1 McNeill, Audrey(13-8) Grofman, Ronni(5-6) ESPN+ 28–23 1–1 May 11 vs. (5) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi (3) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 1–0 Yoo, Molly (13-11) Aholelei, Primrose (18-14) ESPN+ 29–23 2–1 May 12 vs. (4) Lamar (3) Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 4–5 Ruiz, A (15-12) Yoo, Molly (13-12) ESPN+ 29–24 2–2

Schedule Source:^[4]*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.