2021 Houston Baptist Huskies softball team explained
| Mode: | softball |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Houston Baptist Huskies |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Record: | 22–17 |
| Conf Record: | 15–12 |
| Head Coach: | Mary-Ellen Hall |
| Hc Year: | 30th |
| Asst Coach1: | Roger Willhite |
| Asst Coach2: | Natali Duron |
| Stadium: | Husky Field |
The 2021 Houston Baptist Huskies softball team represented Houston Baptist University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Huskies played their home games at Husky Field and were led by thirtieth year head coach Mary-Ellen Hall. They were members of the Southland Conference.
Preseason
Southland Conference Coaches Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Houston Baptist was picked to finish tenth in the Southland Conference with 81 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 |
|---|
| | Houston Baptist win |
| | Houston Baptist loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation |
| Bold | Houston Baptist team member | |
| 2021 Houston Baptist Huskies softball game log |
|---|
| Regular season (22-16) |
|---|
| February (5-1) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Black & Gold Invitational |
|---|
| Feb. 12 | | | | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | | Feb. 13 | | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | | Feb. 13 | | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | | Feb. 13 | vs. SIU Edwardsville | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg | |
|---|
| Feb. 20 | | | | W 9-4 | Patak (1-0) | Moon (1-1) | None | | 101 | 1-0 | | | Feb. 20 | at Nicholls | | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park• Thibodaux, LA | W 5-3 | Cotton (1-0) | LaBure (2-1) | None | | 96 | 2-0 | | | Feb. 26 | | | | W 5-0 | Cotton (2-0) | Kristoff (0-1) | None | | 103 | 3-0 | | | Feb. 26 | UHV | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 5-0 | Patak (2-0) | Cowan (0-1) | None | | 98 | 4-0 | | | Feb. 28 | at Southern Miss | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | W 2-0 | Venker (1-0) | Leinstock (3-1) | None | | | 5-0 | | | Feb. 28 | at Southern Miss | | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | L 2-3 | Pierce (2-1) | Patak (1-1) | None | | | 5-1 | | |
|
| March (4-8) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Mar. 6 | | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 12-1 (5 inns) | Patak (3-1) | Hall (0-1) | None | | 120 | 6-1 | | | Mar. 6 | Prairie View A&M | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 11-0 (5 inns) | Venker (2-0) | Fucci (0-1) | None | | 110 | 7-1 | | | Mar. 12 | | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 2-4 | Bradley (2-6) | Patak (2-3) | None | | 80 | 7-2 | 0-1 | | Mar. 12 | Abilene Christian | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 10-6 | Swanson (1-0) | Harris (0-1) | None | | 60 | 8-2 | 1-1 | | Mar. 13 | Abilene Christian | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 0-4 | Bradley (3-6) | Patak (3-3) | None | | 45 | 8-3 | 1-2 | | Mar. 16 | | | | L 0-6 | Poynter (5-0) | Patak (3-4) | None | | 315 | 8-4 | | | Mar. 19 | | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 1-2 | Zumo (8-2) | Patak (3-5) | DuBois (2) | | 95 | 8-5 | 1-3 | | Mar. 19 | Southeastern Louisiana | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 6-5 | Swanson (2-0) | Hannabas (0-3) | None | | 90 | 9-5 | 2-3 | | Mar. 20 | Southeastern Louisiana | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 4-9 | Zumo (9-2) | Janes (0-1) | None | | 55 | 9-6 | 2-4 | | Mar. 26 | | | | L 1-2 | Howell (5-3) | Patak (3-6) | None | | 300 | 9-7 | 2-5 | | Mar. 26 | at Northwestern State | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 1-5 | Delafield (5-1) | Venker (2-1) | None | | 300 | 9-8 | 2-6 | | Mar. 27 | at Northwestern State | | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | L 2-7 | Rhoden (4-2) | Patak (3-7) | None | | 200 | 9-9 | 2-7 | |
|
| April (10-5) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| Apr. 2 | | | | W 8-0 (6 inns) | Patak (4-7) | Dunn (4-5) | None | | 109 | 10-9 | 3-7 | | Apr. 2 | at Sam Houston State | | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | W 2-0 | Swanson (3-0) | Vento (3-5) | None | | 109 | 11-9 | 4-7 | | Apr. 3 | at Sam Houston State | | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | L 1-4 | Bachmeyer (1-1) | Janes (0-2) | Vento (1) | | 111 | 11-10 | 4-8 | | Apr. 9 | | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 6-4 | Patak (5-7) | Trapp (3-5) | None | | 40 | 12-10 | 5-8 | | Apr. 9 | Incarnate Word | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 5-1 | Swanson (4-0) | Gunther (4-7) | None | | 30 | 13-10 | 6-8 | | Apr. 10 | Incarnate Word | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 7-2 | Swanson (5-0) | Floyd (2-4) | None | | 45 | 14-10 | 7-8 | | Apr. 13 | at Prairie View A&M | | | L 4-7 | Fucci (1-0) | Estes (0-1) | Hall (2) | | 28 | 14-11 | | | Apr. 17 | | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 2-5 | Johnson (9-4) | Patak (5-8) | None | | 50 | 14-12 | 7-9 | | Apr. 17 | Central Arkansas | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 1-0 | Swanson (6-0) | Beaver (13-6) | None | | 50 | 15-12 | 8-9 | | Apr. 18 | Central Arkansas | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 2-1 | Patak (5-8) | Johnson (9-4) | None | | | 16-12 | 9-9 | | Apr. 24 | | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 9-2 | Patak (6-8) | Mixon (1-10) | None | | 57 | 17-12 | 10-9 | | Apr. 24 | Lamar | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 2-1 | Swanson (8-0) | Ruiz (0-3) | None | | 150 | 18-12 | 11-9 | | Apr. 25 | Lamar | | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 7-0 | Venker (3-1) | Mixon (2-14) | None | | 115 | 19-12 | 12-9 | | Apr. 28 | | | | L 2-4 | Mullins (16-6) | Patak (6-9) | None | | 234 | 19-13 | | | Apr. 30 | | | | L 3-4 | Lara (13-9) | Swanson (8-1) | None | | 109 | 19-14 | 12-10 | |
|
| May (3-2) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
|---|
| May 2 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 2-1 | Swanson (9-1) | Lara (13-10) | None | | 155 | 20-14 | 13-10 | | May 2 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 2-0 | Patak (7-9) | McNeill (1-7) | None | | 155 | 21-14 | 14-10 | | May 7 | | | | W 3-1 | Patak (8-9) | Wilbur (28-4) | None | | 143 | 22-14 | 15-10 | | May 7 | at Stephen F. Austin | | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 4-5 | Chism (3-1) | Swanson (9-2) | Wilbur (3) | | 116 | 22-15 | 15-11 | | May 8 | at Stephen F. Austin | | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 0-1 | Wilbur (29-4) | Patak (8-10) | None | | 135 | 22-16 | 15-12 | |
|
| 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: SB: HBU Signs Three Early . Houston Baptist University Athletics . 1 April 2021 . en.
- Web site: 2021 Softball Schedule . Houston Baptist University Athletics . 1 April 2021 . en.
- Web site: SFA’s Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year . www.southland.org . 6 January 2022 . en.
