2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats softball team explained
| Mode: | softball |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Abilene Christian Wildcats |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Record: | 14–33 |
| Conf Record: | 10–17 |
| Head Coach: | Abigail Farler |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Asst Coach1: | Jessica Twaddle |
| Asst Coach2: | Caty Reeves |
| Stadium: | Poly Wells Field |
The 2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats softball team represented Abilene Christian University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Wildcats played their home games at Poly Wells Field and were led by second-year head coach Abigail Farler. They were members of the Southland Conference.
Preseason
Southland Conference Coaches Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Abilene Christian was picked to finish ninth in the Southland Conference with 82 votes.[1]
| Coaches poll |
| 1 | Stephen F. Austin | 235 (17) |
| 2 | McNeese State | 217 (4) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 183 |
| 4 | Sam Houston State | 172 (1) |
| 5 | Central Arkansas | 162 (1) |
| 6 | Northwestern State | 156 (1) |
| 7 | Nicholls | 131 |
| 8 | Lamar | 86 |
| 9 | Abilene Christian | 82 |
| 10 | Houston Baptist | 81 |
| 11 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 47 |
| 12 | Incarnate Word | 32 |
|
Preseason All-Southland team
[2]
First Team
- Kaylyn Shephard (UCA, R-SR, 1st Base)
- Cayla Joens (NSU, JR, 2nd Base)
- Cylla Hall (UCA, R-SR, 3rd Base)
- Cori McCrary (MCNS, SR, Shortstop)
- Ella Manzer (SELA, SR, Catcher)
- Samantha Bradley (ACU, R-SR, Designated Player)
- Linsey Tomlinson (ACU, R-SR, Outfielder)
- Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
- Elise Vincent (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
- Madisen Blackford (SELA, SR, Outfielder)
- Megan McDonald (SHSU, SR, Outfielder)
- Kayla Beaver (UCA, R-FR, Pitcher)
- Kassidy Wilbur (SFA, JR, Pitcher)
- E. C. Delafield (NSU, JR, Utility)
Second Team
- Shaylon Govan (SFA, SO, 1st Base)
- Brooke Malia (SHSU, SR, 2nd Base)
- Bryana Novegil (SFA, SR, 2nd Base)
- Caitlin Garcia (NICH, JR, 3rd Base)
- Alex Hudspeth (SFA, JR, Shortstop)
- Alexis Perry (NSU, SO, Catcher)
- Bailey Richards (SFA, SR, Catcher)
- Caitlyn Brockway (HBU, SO, Designated Player)
- Reagan Sperling (UCA, R-JR, Outfielder)
- Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
- Hayley Barbazon (NSU, SR, Outfielder)
- Saleen Flores (MCNS, SO, Pitcher)
- MC Comeaux (SELA, FR, Pitcher)
- Sammi Thomas (TAMUCC, SO, Utility)
National Softball Signing Day
[3]
Roster
Coaching staff
Schedule and results
| Legend |
|---|
| | Abilene Christian win |
| | Abilene Christian loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | Abilene Christian team member | |
| 2021 Abilene Christian Wildcats softball game log |
|---|
| Regular season (14-32) |
|---|
| February (3-9) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Miner Invitational |
|---|
| Feb. 11 | | | | W 13-6 | Bradley (1-0) | Calderon (0-1) | None | | | 1-0 | | | Feb. 11 | | | Helen of Troy Softball Complex • El Paso, TX | L 0-9 (5 inns) | May (1-0) | White (0-1) | None | | | 1-1 | | | Feb. 12 | vs. No. 4 Oklahoma | | Helen of Troy Softball Complex • El Paso, TX | L 0-11 (6 inns) | Juarez (2-0) | Sinnott (0-1) | None | | | 1-2 | | | Feb. 12 | at UTEP | | Helen of Troy Softball Complex • El Paso, TX | W 6-0 | White (1-1) | Kelly (0-1) | None | | 65 | 2-2 | | |
|---|
| Maverick Classic |
|---|
| Feb. 21 | | | | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Arlington | | Feb. 21 | | | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Arlington | | Feb. 22 | vs. Texas State | | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Arlington | | Feb. 22 | | | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Arlington | |
|---|
| Feb. 22 | at Texas State | | | L 0-6 | Mullins (1-0) | White (1-2) | None | | 201 | 2-3 | | | Feb. 22 | at Texas State | | Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX | L 2-6 | King (1-0) | Bradley (1-1) | None | | 201 | 2-4 | | | Feb. 23 | | | | L 2-10 (5 inns) | Worthington (1-0) | Bradley (1-2) | None | CUSA.TV | 91 | 2-5 | | | Feb. 26 | | | | L 5-6 | Hertenberger (2-1) | White (1-3) | None | | 64 | 2-6 | | | Feb. 27 | | | Memorial Park • Houston, TX | L 5-6 | Reyes (1-2) | Bradley (1-3) | None | | 83 | 2-7 | | | Feb. 27 | at Texas Southern | | Memorial Park • Houston, TX | W 8-3 | White (2-3) | Gendorf (0-2) | None | | 90 | 3-7 | | | Feb. 28 | at Houston | | Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX | L 8-10 | Lee (2-1) | Bradley (1-3) | None | | | 3-8 | | | Feb. 28 | at Houston | | Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX | L 5-13 (5 inns) | Hudson (3-1) | White (2-4) | None | | | 3-9 | | |
|
| March (4-12) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Mar. 3 | | | | W 6-4 | White (3-4) | Erwin (0-3) | None | | 246 | 4-9 | | | Texas Tech Invitational |
|---|
| Mar. 6 | | | | L 3-6 | Hoveland (5-1) | Bradley (1-5) | None | | 250 | 4-10 | | | Mar. 6 | | | Rocky Johnson Field • Lubbock, TX | L 0-1 | Zoch (4-2) | White (3-5) | None | | 250 | 4-11 | | | Mar. 7 | vs. Kansas City | | Rocky Johnson Field • Lubbock, TX | L 3-4 | Stickel (5-0) | White (3-6) | None | | 250 | 4-12 | | | Mar. 7 | at Texas Tech | | Rocky Johnson Field • Lubbock, TX | L 2-7 | Edmoundson (4-4) | Bradley (1-6) | None | | 250 | 4-13 | | |
|---|
| Mar. 12 | | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 4-2 | Bradley (2-6) | Patak (3-2) | None | | 80 | 5-13 | 1-0 | | Mar. 12 | at Houston Baptist | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 6-10 | Swanson (1-0) | Harris (0-1) | None | | 60 | 5-14 | 1-1 | | Mar. 13 | at Houston Baptist | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 4-0 | Bradley (3-6) | Patak (3-3) | None | | 45 | 6-14 | 2-1 | | Mar. 17 | at Tarleton State | | | L 0-1 | Bridges (3-7) | Bradley (3-7) | None | | 352 | 6-15 | | | Mar. 19 | | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 0-7 | Beaver (7-3) | Bradley (3-8) | None | | 250 | 6-16 | 2-2 | | Mar. 19 | Central Arkansas | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 0-8 (6 inns) | Johnson (4-4) | White (3-7) | None | | 250 | 6-17 | 2-3 | | Mar. 20 | Central Arkansas | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 2-15 (5 inns) | Beaver (8-3) | Bradley (3-9) | None | | 250 | 6-18 | 2-4 | | Mar. 26 | | | | L 2-6 | Hannabas (1-3) | Bradley (3-10) | None | | 245 | 6-19 | 2-5 | | Mar. 26 | at Southeastern Louisiana | | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | W 5-4 | White (4-7) | DuBois (0-2) | None | | 245 | 7-19 | 3-5 | | Mar. 27 | at Southeastern Louisiana | | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | L 0-5 | Zumo (10-2) | Bradley (3-11) | None | | 233 | 7-20 | 3-6 | | Mar. 30 | North Texas | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 2-11 | Wall (7-4) | White (4-8) | None | | 212 | 7-21 | | |
|
| April (3–11) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Apr. 2 | | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 1-9 (6 inns) | Wilbur (15-3) | Bradley (3-12) | None | | 142 | 7-22 | 3-7 | | Apr. 2 | Stephen F. Austin | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 5-10 | Wilbur (16-3) | White (4-9) | None | | 142 | 7-23 | 3-8 | | Apr. 3 | Stephen F. Austin | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 0-8 (5 inns) | Wilbur (17-3) | Sinnott (0-2) | None | | 163 | 7-24 | 3-9 | | Apr. 6 | | | | Game Postponed | | Apr. 6 | at Baylor | | Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX | Game Postponed | | Apr. 9 | | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 10-13 | Vento (4-4) | Bradley (3-13) | None | | 117 | 7-25 | 3-10 | | Apr. 9 | Sam Houston State | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 3-9 | Bachmeyer (2-5) | White (4-10) | None | | 117 | 7-26 | 3-11 | | Apr. 10 | Sam Houston State | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 5-9 | Vento (5-5) | Harris (0-2) | None | | 94 | 7-27 | 3-12 | | Apr. 16 | | | | L 0-7 | Tate (7-7) | White (4-11) | None | | 256 | 7-28 | 3-13 | | Apr. 16 | at McNeese State | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 1-7 | Edwards (6-1) | White(4-12) | None | | 256 | 7-29 | 3-14 | | Apr. 17 | at McNeese State | | Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA | L 0-8 (6 inns) | Vallejo (3-5) | Harris (0-3) | None | | 297 | 7-30 | 3-15 | | Apr. 23 | | | | W 3-2 | Bradley (4-13) | LaBure (3-4) | None | | 105 | 8-30 | 4-15 | | Apr. 23 | at Nicholls | | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | L 1-3 | Westbrook (3-7) | White (4-13) | None | | 137 | 8-31 | 4-16 | | Apr. 24 | at Nicholls | | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | W 9-1 | Bradley (5-13) | Westbrook (3-8) | None | | 201 | 9-31 | 5-16 | | Apr. 30 | | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 3-0 | Bradley (6-13) | Gunther (7-9) | None | | 136 | 10-31 | 6-16 | | Apr. 30 | Incarnate Word | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 2-4 | Trapp (6-6) | White (4-14) | None | | 202 | 10-32 | 6-16 | |
|
| May (4-0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| May 1 | Incarnate Word | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 9-0 (5 inns) | Bradley (7-13) | Trapp (6-7) | None | | 174 | 11-32 | 7-16 | | May 7 | | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 7-5 | Bradley (8-13) | Lara (13-11) | None | | 248 | 12-32 | 8-16 | | May 7 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 5-3 | Bradley (9-13) | McNeill (1-8) | None | | 248 | 13-32 | 9-16 | | May 8 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | W 10-9 | Bradley (10-13) | Johnson (0-1) | None | | 361 | 14-32 | 10-16 | |
|
| Post-Season (0-1) |
|---|
| |
Schedule Source:[4] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
Postseason
Conference accolades
- Player of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
- Hitter of the Year: Shaylon Govan – SFA
- Pitcher of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA
- Freshman of the Year: Jenna Wildeman – UCA
- Newcomer of the Year: Jenna Edwards – MCNS
- Coach of the Year: Nicole Dickson – SFA
All Conference First Team
- Shaylon Govan (SFA)
- Bryana Novegil (SFA)
- Haylee Brinlee (MCNS)
- Cori McCrary (MCNS)
- Heidi Jaquez (HBU)
- E. C. Delafield (NSU)
- Mackenzie Bennett (SFA)
- Jenna Wildeman (UCA)
- Megan McDonald (SHSU)
- Aeriyl Mass (SELA)
- Kayla Beaver (UCA)
- Kassidy Wilbur (SFA)
All Conference Second Team
- Kaylyn Shephard (UCA)
- Mary Kate Brown (UCA)
- Lindsey Rizzo (SELA)
- Camryn Middlebrook (SFA)
- Hannah Scheaffer (SHSU)
- Gaby Garcia (SFA)
- Kaylee Lopez (MCNS)
- Donelle Johnson (ACU)
- Jil Poullard (MCNS)
- Audrey Greely (SELA)
- Jordan Johnson (UCA)
- Whitney Tate (MCNS)
All Conference Third Team
- Caitlyn Brockway (HBU)
- Cayla Jones (NSU)
- Alex Hedspeth (SFA)
- Ashlyn Reavis (NICH)
- Chloe Gomez (MCNS)
- Jasie Roberts (HBU)
- Anna Rodenberg (SELA)
- Kaitlyn St. Clair (NSU)
- Sheridan Fisher (SHSU)
- Pal Egan (TAMUCC)
- Lyndie Swanson (HBU)
- Heather Zumo (SELA)
References:[5]
Notes and References
- Web site: Ladyjacks Tabbed 2021 Softball Preseason Favorites . www.southland.org . 20 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: 2021 Southland Preseason All-Conference Softball Teams Announced . www.southland.org . 20 March 2021 . en.
- Web site: Softball signs eight in '21 recruiting class . Abilene Christian University Athletics . 5 April 2021 . en.
- Web site: 2021 Softball Schedule . Abilene Christian University Athletics . 5 April 2021 . en.
- Web site: SFA’s Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year . www.southland.org . 6 January 2022 . en.
