2015 Southland Softball Season Begins Friday
Southland Conference
Preseason Release (PDF)
FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference begins its 33rd season of softball Friday followed by a full weekend of competition as all 12 league teams will play at least four games over three days. Abilene Christian will be the first team to step on to the diamond this weekend when it faces Missouri State Friday at 9:30 a.m. in the Lady Techster Invitational in Ruston, La.
On Friday, all 12 Southland teams will open the season competing in seven different season-opening tournaments. Central Arkansas and UIW will be competing in Louisiana-Lafayette’s Louisiana Classic in Lafayette, La., as Sam Houston State takes part in the Texas State Tournament in San Marcos, Texas. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Stephen F. Austin will both be at the Getterman Classic hosted by Baylor in Waco, Texas, while Lamar, McNeese State and Houston Baptist will be playing in the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. Northwestern State will be traveling the farthest, as the Lady Demons will take part in the UCLA SoCal Collegiate Classic in Los Angeles. Southeastern Louisiana will host seven schools including Nicholls, at the Lion Classic in Hammond, La.
UIW takes on Tennessee State Friday at 10 a.m., along with Sam Houston State facing Pittsburgh and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi going up against Wichita State. Lamar and McNeese State both play at 12 p.m. as the Lady Cardinals take on Florida International and the Cowgirls battle Florida Gulf Coast. At 12:30 p.m. Central Arkansas faces Tennessee State and Stephen F. Austin goes up against A&M-Corpus Christi in a non-conference matchup. Northwestern State plays Long Beach State at 1:30 p.m., while Houston Baptist faces Florida Gulf Coast at 3 p.m. and Nicholls takes on Southern at 3:30 p.m. Southeastern Louisiana hosts Texas-Arlington at 5:30 p.m. With the exception of UIW and Southeastern, each league team will be in action for a second game on Friday.
Friday through Sunday features 55 games scheduled.
Northwestern State, McNeese State Favored to Win 2015 Southland Title
Northwestern State, the two-time defending Southland Conference tournament champion, was tabbed by the league’s head coaches to win the Southland regular-season softball title, while McNeese State was picked to win its third consecutive regular-season title in a vote by the league’s sports information directors. Northwestern State received 116 points in the coaches’ poll to claim the top spot and 109 points in the SID poll to finish second. The Lady Demons, who have claimed four regular-season championships and five tournament championships, return 13 letter winners, including five starters and four pitchers. Key players returning for the Lady Demons are three all-conference selections from a season ago, including third baseman Brittany Virgoe and designated player Cassandra Barefield, both two-time all-conference honorees, and outfielder Brittney Jones. McNeese finished second in the coaches’ poll with 114 points and was selected first in the SID poll with 115 points. The Cowgirls have won four regular-season championships and three tournament titles. The Cowgirls return 14 letter winners, including six starters and three pitchers. Four all-conference selections from last year return for the Cowgirls, including 2014 Southland Pitcher of the Year and two-time all-conference selection Jamie Allred, outfielders Lauren Langner and Marisa Taunton and pitcher Rachel Smith.
Two Southland Award Winners Return for 2015 Season
McNeese State junior pitcher Jamie Allred, the 2014 Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year, and Central Arkansas senior pitcher Kylee Studioso, last season’s newcomer of the year, highlight a talented list of returning players on the 2015 preseason all-conference softball teams. Allred, a two-time all-conference selection, led the league in conference play in shutouts with seven and was second in strikeouts with 121, including 39 batters looking. The junior pitched 112.1 innings in conference play while holding opponents to a league-leading .170 batting average. Allred made 17 starts and picked up 15 wins while registering a 1.00 earned run average. Overall on the season, Allred was 27-8 with three of her wins coming against nationally ranked opponents (No. 7 Alabama, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 21 UAB). She led the conference with a 1.57 ERA and 218.2 innings pitched and was second in strikeouts (203). Studioso helped UCA make the conference tournament for the third consecutive year and became only the second player in UCA history to win the newcomer of the year award. She led the Southland in league play with 131 strikeouts in 94.2 innings. Studioso posted an 11-4 record in 17 game appearances while registering four shutouts and holding conference opponents to a .207 batting average. Through all games during the season, the first-team all-conference selection was first in the league in strikeouts (219), tied for first in appearances (41) and third in wins with 17.
McNeese State Leads Preseason Teams with Five All-Conference Selections
A total of 19 all-conference selections from a year ago return to appear on the preseason teams. McNeese leads with five returning all-conference selections, two on the first team and three on the second team, including two-time second-team selection junior designated player Emily Vincent. UCA returns four postseason honorees from 2014 led by junior second baseman Sarah Bigej, a two-time all-conference selection, as three Bears appear on the first team and one on the second. Northwestern State has a first-team selection in senior third baseman Brittany Virgoe and a second-team choice in sophomore outfielder Brittney Jones. Virgoe is two-time all-conference selection while Jones is a returning third-team honoree. Sam Houston State places junior catcher Tiffany Castillo, a two-time all-conference selection, on the first team and returning all-conference junior first baseman Sarah Allison on the second team. Nicholls returns sophomore shortstop Brooke Morris on the first team, while two-time all-conference selection junior second basemen Danielle Phillips appears on the second team. Lamar and Abilene Christian both claim two second-team selections while Stephen F. Austin, UIW, Houston Baptist, Southeastern Louisiana and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi each place one player on the preseason teams.
Southland Faces 12 NFCA and USA Softball Top 25 Teams
Eleven Southland programs will face 12 teams that appear on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason top 25 poll and/or the USA Softball preseason poll. In all, there will be 53 contests against teams who are ranked or have received votes in at least one of the preseason polls.
Friday through Sunday will feature six matchups against top-25 teams as Stephen F. Austin and A&M-Corpus Christi face No. 10/11 Baylor, Central Arkansas plays No. 9/9 Louisiana-Lafayette, Northwestern State goes up against No. 22/21 Notre Dame and McNeese State takes on both No. 23/23 South Alabama and No. 3/4 Alabama. Sam Houston State and Abilene Christian will both play the nation’s second-best team when the Bearkats take on Oregon on Feb. 18 while the Wildcats face the Ducks Feb. 20. McNeese State will take on two of the top-five teams in the nations when the Cowgirls face No. 3/4 Alabama this Sunday and travel to No. 4/3 Oklahoma March 22.
· Feb. 6 –
Central Arkansas vs. RV/RV NC State, 5:30 p.m.
· Feb. 6 –
Stephen F. Austin at No. 10/11 Baylor, 5:30 p.m.
· Feb. 7 –
Central Arkansas at No. 9/9 Louisiana-Lafayette, 12:30 p.m.
· Feb. 7 –
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at No. 10/11 Baylor, 12:30 p.m.
· Feb. 7 –
Northwestern State vs. No. 22/21 Notre Dame, 1 p.m.
· Feb. 7 –
McNeese State vs. No. 23/23 South Alabama, 6 p.m.
· Feb. 7 –
Northwestern State vs. RV/RV Cal State Fullerton, 6 p.m.
· Feb. 8 –
McNeese State vs. No. 3/4 Alabama, 1 p.m.
· Feb. 12 – RV/RV Wisconsin at
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 1 p.m. (DH)
· Feb. 13 –
Stephen F. Austin vs. No. 25/RV DePaul, 11:30 a.m.
· Feb. 13 –
Central Arkansas vs. RV/- Hofstra, 1 p.m.
· Feb. 13 –
Central Arkansas at No. 19/18 LSU, 6:30 p.m.
· Feb. 14 –
Central Arkansas vs. No. 22/21 Notre Dame, 10 a.m.
· Feb. 14 –
Central Arkansas vs. RV/- Hofstra, 12:30 p.m.
· Feb. 14 –
Lamar at -/RV Mississippi State, 2 p.m.
· Feb. 14 – No. 10/11 Baylor at
Northwestern State, 4:30 p.m.
· Feb. 15 –
McNeese State vs. No. 25/RV DePaul, 11:30 a.m.
· Feb. 15 – No. 10/11 Baylor at
Northwestern State, 3 p.m.
· Feb. 17 – No. 23/23 South Alabama at
Nicholls, 3 p.m.
· Feb. 18 –
Sam Houston State vs. No. 2/2 Oregon, 2:30 p.m.
· Feb. 19 –
Southeastern Louisiana at -/RV Mississippi State, 5 p.m.
· Feb. 20 –
Abilene Christian vs. No. 2/2 Oregon, 11:45 a.m.
· Feb. 21 –
Abilene Christian vs. No. 21/22 Tulsa, 2 p.m.
· Feb. 21 –
Sam Houston State at No. 23/23 South Alabama, 6 p.m.
· Feb. 21 –
Abilene Christian at No. 10/11 Baylor, 6:30 p.m.
· Feb. 22 –
McNeese State vs. RV/- Hofstra, 12:30 p.m.
· Feb. 22 –
McNeese State vs. No. 9/9 Louisiana-Lafayette, 3 p.m.
· Feb. 27 –
Stephen F. Austin at No. 19/18 LSU, 5 p.m.
· Feb. 28 –
Lamar at RV/No. 25 Texas, 1 p.m.
· Feb. 28 –
Northwestern State at No. 19/18 LSU, 7:30 p.m.
· March 1 –
Stephen F. Austin at No. 19/18 LSU, 11:30 a.m.
· March 3 –
Northwestern State at No. 19/18 LSU, 6 p.m.
· March 11 – No. 9/9 Louisiana-Lafayette at
Northwestern State, 6 p.m.
· March 11 –
Sam Houston State at No. 24/24 Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m.
· March 17 – -/RV Mississippi State at
Southeastern Louisiana, 5 p.m.
· March 17 –
Nicholls at No. 19/18 LSU, 6 p.m.
· March 18 – No. 24/24 Texas A&M at
Sam Houston State, 6:30 p.m.
· March 22 –
McNeese State at No. 4/3 Oklahoma, 12 p.m.
· April 1 –
Stephen F. Austin at No. 24/24 Texas A&M, 4 p.m. (DH)
· April 1 – No. 9/9 Louisiana-Lafayette at
McNeese State, 6 p.m.
· April 7 –
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at RV/No. 25 Texas, 4:30 p.m.
· April 7 – No. 9/9 Louisiana-Lafayette at
Sam Houston State, 6:30 p.m.
· April 8 –
Nicholls at No. 23/23 South Alabama, 5 p.m.
· April 9 – No. 10/11 Baylor at
McNeese State, 6 p.m.
· April 14 –
Houston Baptist at No. 10/11 Baylor, 6 p.m.
· April 15 –
Lamar at No. 24/24 Texas A&M, 6:30 a.m.
· April 15 – No. 19/18 LSU at
McNeese State, 4 p.m. (DH)
· April 22 –
Sam Houston State at No. 10/11 Baylor, 4 p.m. (DH)
· April 28 –
Southeastern Louisiana at No. 19/18 LSU, 6 p.m.
Southland Softball Tournament Returns to Natchitoches, La.
Southland teams open the season Friday, Feb. 6 with conference play beginning Friday, March 6. The 2015 Southland Conference Softball Tournament will be hosted by Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., May 7-9 at Lady Demon Diamond. The top six teams, based on win-loss percentage, will qualify for the tournament, which will play in a double-elimination format in two brackets, similar to the Women’s College World Series. The championship round will air live exclusively on ESPN3, available at
watchespn.com and the WatchESPN app. In addition, all other games of the tournament will be streamed live for free on the Southland Conference Digital Network, available via
southland.org/watch and the Southland Conference app.
2014 Season Recap…
McNeese State Claims Second Consecutive Regular-Season Championship
The Cowgirls swept Lamar in the final conference series of the season to claim their second-consecutive regular-season championship and fourth overall. McNeese became the first school to win back-to-back titles since former Southland member Texas State (2008-2010). McNeese State recorded a 38-15 overall record and a 20-6 record against conference foes, earning the top seed in the 2014 Southland Conference Softball Tournament. The Cowgirls posted their sixth consecutive 30-win season and made the conference tournament for a league-leading 25th time.
Northwestern State Repeats as Southland Softball Tournament Champions
No. 2 seed Northwestern State used a five-run third inning to defeat No. 1 seed McNeese State 11-0 to claim the 2014 Southland Conference Softball Championship at North Oak Park in Hammond, La. Northwestern State won its second-consecutive tournament title and fifth overall. The Lady Demons claimed the leagues’ automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and were the first team to repeat as tournament champions since former Southland member Texas State (2011, 2012). Tara McKenney led the Lady Demons at the plate with a perfect 4-for-4 on the day including a RBI-single in the third inning to spark the Northwestern State scoring. McKenney also recorded four runs and a stolen base. Tournament MVP Kaylee Guidry picked up the win in the circle for Northwestern to improve to 12-3. Guidry allowed only two hits in five innings to get the shutout the victory.
Northwestern State Falls to No. 17 Baylor and Houston in NCAA Regionals
No. 17 Baylor 6, Northwestern State 1
Northwestern State didn't get the start it needed against No. 17 Baylor. Just the opposite, and by the time the Lady Demons created problems for All-America pitcher Whitney Canion, it was late in a 6-1 first-round NCAA Tournament win for the Bears. Leadoff hitter Tara McKenney had a lengthy at bat but went down swinging in a 20-pitch first frame for Canion, whose two-out walk in the first gave the Lady Demons its only base runner until the sixth. After Baylor's first two hitters singled and walked, Holly Holl bombed a three-run homer that proved to be more than enough in front of 1,117 fans at Getterman Stadium.
Houston 7, Northwestern State 6
Northwestern season ended with a 7-6 loss as the Cougars recovered from 5-1 and 6-4 deficits, scoring a decisive three runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Lady Demons (30-22) saw their second straight NCAA appearance halted despite smacking 11 hits and again playing error-free defense, highlighted by a spectacular diving snag of a looping line drive into short left field by senior shortstop Tara McKenney. All but one of Northwestern's starters had at least one hit, with Cali Burke, Cassandra Barefield and Kellye Kincannon collecting a pair. Kincannon and Barefield each drove in two. But Houston's cleanup hitter, Kayla Holland, plated four on a home run and double, leadoff hitter Selena Hernandez brought home two with a sixth-inning double that tied the game 6-all, and UH (33-22) then scored the game-winner on a two-out base hit by Haley Outen.