Jil Poullard, Kassidy Wilbur Names Southland Softball Players of the Week
FRISCO, Texas – McNeese’s Jil Poullard and Stephen F. Austin’s Kassidy Wilbur are the Southland Conference Softball Players of the Week, the league announced Monday. Southland weekly honors are presented by
Hercules Tires.
Poullard was integral in McNeese’s (22-15, 12-6 SLC) sweep of Abilene Christian over the weekend, recording four runs on five hits for a .500 average at the plate. She registered five RBI and a pair of stolen bases for the series and placed a shot over the fence to put the exclamation mark on game three for McNeese. The Cowgirls are back in action at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, on the road against UTSA. Poullard’s Hitter of the Week honor marks her first of the season.
Wilbur snagged her second-consecutive Pitcher of the Week honor, and her third of the season, after pushing the Ladyjacks (27-8, 18-0 SLC) to a sweep at home over Northwestern State last weekend. The junior was red hot in the circle with 14 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of work, limiting the Lady Demons to a 1.40 batting average. She delivered a pair of complete-game shutouts in the first and third games of the series and gave up just one run throughout the weekend. SFA returns to the diamond Friday, April 23, at 5 p.m. for a doubleheader on the road against Central Arkansas.
Softball Hitter of the Week – Jil Poullard, McNeese – OF – Fr. – Moss Bluff, La.
Poullard helped McNeese to a conference sweep over Abilene Christian in its only games last week. She picked up at least one hit in all three games and had two games with multiple hits. The freshman scored in each game and ended her week with five RBI, a .500 batting average and .800 slugging percentage. Her walk off home run in the final game of the series gave McNeese the run-rule win.
Honorable Mention: Kristen Whitehouse, Central Arkansas; Jazmine Torres, UIW; Skylar Hamilton, Nicholls; Cameron Goodman, Southeastern Louisiana; Pal Egan, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Softball Pitcher of the Week – Kassidy Wilbur, Stephen F. Austin – Jr. – Bridge City, Texas
Wilbur was dominant in the circle for SFA over the weekend, earning three wins in a sweep of rival Northwestern State. She pitched two complete-game shutouts in the first and third game of the series and pitched 2.1 innings of relief to also gain the victory in game two. Wilbur also struck out 14 more batters over the weekend to increase her total to 205, which ranks fifth in the nation. Wilbur currently stands at 23 wins this season and leads all NCAA Division I pitchers.
Honorable Mention: Jordan Johnson, Central Arkansas; Lyndie Swanson, Houston Baptist; Annie Gunther, UIW; Ashley Vallejo, McNeese; Jordan Moon, Nicholls; Mika Vento, Sam Houston.
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on at least 25 percent of ballots.
2021 Southland Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 16 – Hitter: Ashlyn Reavis, Nicholls; Pitcher: Heather Zumo, Southeastern Louisiana
Feb. 23 – Hitter: Tylar Vernon, Central Arkansas; Pitcher: Kayla Beaver, Central Arkansas
March 2 – Hitter: Lindsey Rizzo, Southeastern Louisiana; Pitcher: Heather Rizzo, Southeastern Louisiana
March 9 – Hitter: Mary Kate Brown, Central Arkansas; Pitcher: Jordan Johnson, Central Arkansas
March 16 – Hitter: Shaylon Govan, Stephen F. Austin; Pitcher: Kassidy Wilbur, Stephen F. Austin
March 22 – Hitter: Jaylee Engelkes, Central Arkansas; Pitcher: E.C. Delafield, Northwestern State
March 29 – Hitter: Hayley Barbazon, Northwestern State; Pitcher: Ashley Trapp, UIW
April 5 – Hitter: Gaby Garcia, Stephen F. Austin; Pitcher: Kayla Beaver, Central Arkansas
April 12 – Hitter: Autumn Sydlik, Houston Baptist; Pitcher: Kassidy Wilbur, Stephen F. Austin
April 19 – Hitter: Jil Poullard, McNeese; Pitcher: Kassidy Wilbur, Stephen F. Austin