Cowgirls Grab Back-To-Back Southland Softball Tournament Titles
HAMMOND, La. – McNeese claimed its eighth Southland Conference Tournament title in program history with a 10-4 win over Southeastern Friday afternoon at North Oak Park in Hammond, La. The Cowgirls completed a perfect 3-0 run through the tournament, led by the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Crislyne Moreno.
Offense was key in the Cowgirls’ victory over SLU as McNeese scored 10 runs on 10 hits, logging at least one run in all but the sixth frame. Moreno and Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year Kendall Talley combined for four runs scored and five RBIs in the victory. Shaelyn Sanders (7-2) collected the win after striking out six batters in 5.0 innings of work.
Moreno put the Cowgirls on the board with a two-run single to left field in the bottom of the first inning. An error by the Lady Lions center fielder allowed her to move to second scoring Jil Poullard and Talley to put McNeese up 2-0. A sacrifice fly from Chloe Gomez would score Moreno and extend the Cowgirl lead 3-0.
Southeastern responded with one run after an RBI double to left center field from Madisen Blackford scored Maddie Watson.
The Cowgirls’ bats were hot through the next two innings scoring five runs on a wild pitch, a two-run double, a pair of singles and a homerun. Southeastern tested the McNeese defense late in the contest scoring three runs in the top of the fifth inning thanks to a three-run blast from Cam Goodman to cut the lead 9-4.
Talley scored the final run of the game after an RBI single to center field scored Toni Perrin. Whitney Tate closed the door on a late Lady Lion comeback striking out Madison Rayner to seal the deal in a 10-4 victory.
McNeese led the way on the Southland All-Tournament roster with four selections, while Southeastern and HBU registered three honorees each. Northwestern State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi rounded out the all-tournament team with one selection apiece.
With the win, the Cowgirls have earned the Southland’s automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, which will begin with regional play May 20-22, followed by super regionals on May 26-29, or May 28-30. The Women’s College World Series will take place June 2-9, at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oka.
McNeese will learn of its regional site and regional opponents on the NCAA Selection Show at 6 p.m. CT Sunday, May 15, on ESPN2.
2022 Southland Softball All-Tournament Team
| Name |
Institution |
Cl. |
Pos. |
| Caitlin Brockway |
HBU |
Jr. |
1B |
| Madison Cotton |
HBU |
R-Fr. |
P |
| Sarah Venker |
HBU |
Jr. |
UTL |
| Kaylee Lopez |
McNeese |
Jr. |
UTL |
| Crislyne Moreno* |
McNeese |
Fr. |
1B |
| Jil Poullard |
McNeese |
So. |
3B |
| Whitney Tate |
McNeese |
So. |
P |
| Laney Roos |
Northwestern State |
So. |
OF |
| Madisen Blackford |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
1B |
| Aeriyl Mass |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
OF |
| Heather Zumo |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
P |
| Pal Egan |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
Jr. |
OF |
*2022 Tournament MVP
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