2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team explained

Mode:	softball
Year:	2023
Team:	Lamar Lady Cardinals
Conference:	Southland Conference
Short Conf:	Southland
Record:	22–34
Conf Record:	12–12
Head Coach:	Amy Hooks
Hc Year:	5th
Asst Coach1:	Tara McKenney
Stadium:	Lamar Softball Complex

The 2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex and were led by fifth-year head coach Amy Hooks. The 2023 season marked Lamar's return to the Southland Conference following one season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

Preseason

Early signing

On September 2, 2022, Lamar announced that seven new players would join the team for the 2023 season.^[1]

Mikaila (Kay Kay) Kenney	Outfielder	Highland Village, Texas	Marcus HS / Marshall
Julia Kramer	Infielder	Prairieville, Louisiana	St. Amant HS / Nicholls
Emilee LaRue	Catcher	San Antonio, Texas	Blanco HS
Rien Milliken	Infielder	Victoria, British Columbia Canada	Lambrick Park Secondary School / Utah Valley
Karyana Mitchell	Pitcher	Palm Bay, Florida	Viera HS / UNC Charlotte
Cameron Niedenthal	Infielder/Pitcher	Port Neches, Texas	Port Neches–Groves HS /Lamar State College–Port Arthur

National signing day

On November 10, 2022, National signing day, Lamar announced that ten additional new players would join the team for the 2023 season.^[2]

Raigan Alexis Brannon	Catcher/Infielder	Mansfield, Texas	Lake Ridge HS
Aubrey Brown	Infielder/Utility	Wylie, Texas	Wylie HS
Sam Flores	Infielder	Humble, Texas	Summer Creek HS
Madison Guidry	Pitcher	La Porte, Texas	La Porte HS
Veronica "Roni" Harrison	Infielder	Alvin, Texas	Alvin HS
Lainie Schaefer	Infielder/Outfielder	Houston, Texas	Friendswood HS
Roxy Thompson	Infielder/Outfielder	Dallas, Texas	Rockwall HS
Makayla Valle	Pitcher/Utility	Aurora, Colorado	Grandview HS
Emma Wardlaw	Pitcher	Comfort, Texas	Comfort HS
Makenzie Wright	Pitcher	Pearland, Texas	Pearland HS

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 26, 2023. Lamar was picked to finish sixth in the Southland Conference with 49 votes.^[3]

Coaches poll
1	McNeese State	128 (16)
2	Southeastern Louisiana	113 (2)
3	Northwestern State	91
4	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	85
5	Houston Christian	58
6	Lamar	49
7	Texas A&M–Commerce	47
8	Incarnate Word	45
9	Nicholls	32

Preseason All-Southland team

No Lady Cardinals were named to conference preseason teams.^[3]

First Team

Crislyne Moreno (MCNS, SO, 1st Base)
Caleigh Cross (MCNS, SR, 2nd Base)
Jil Poullard (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base)
Maddie Watson (SELA, SO, Shortstop)
Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, JR, Catcher)
Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SR, Utility)
Audrey Greely (SELA, JR, Designated Player)
Laney Roos (NSU, JR, Outfielder)
Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
Cam Goodman (SELA, JR, Outfielder)
Ashley Vallejo (MCNS, JR, Pitcher)
Bronte Rhoden (NSU, SR, Pitcher)

Second Team

Sydney Hoyt (TAMUCC, JR, 1st Base)
Madison Rayner (SELA, SR, 2nd Base)
Haylie Savage (HCU, SO, 3rd Base)
Ryleigh Mata (UIW, SO, Shortstop)
Tristin Court (NSU, JR, Catcher)
Melise Gossen (NICH, SR, Utility)
Chloe Gomez (MCNS, JR, Designated Player)
Alexa Poche (NICH, JR, Outfielder)
Makenzie Chaffin (NSU, JR, Outfielder)
Bailie Ragsdale (NSU, SO, Outfielder)
Lyndie Swanson (HCU, JR, Pitcher)
Siarah Galvan (TAMUCC, SO, Pitcher)

Schedule and results

Legend
	Lamar win
	Lamar loss
	Postponement/Cancellation
Bold	Lamar team member
	Non-Conference game
†	Make-Up Game

2023 Lamar Lady Cardinals Softball Game Log

Regular season (22–34)

February (3–15)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC Record
Houston Invitational
Feb. 9	vs. *			0–5	E. Bigham (1-0)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-1)		MaxxSportsTV		0–1
Feb. 10	vs. *		Cougar Softball Complex • Houston, TX	0–8	Wallace (1-0)	Mitchell, Karyana (0-1)		MaxxSportsTV		0–2
Feb. 10	at *		Cougar Softball Complex • Houston, TX	1–9	EDWARDS,Taylor (1-0)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-2)			463	0–3
Feb. 11	vs Virginia*		Cougar Softball Complex • Houston, TX	1–4	J. Bressler (1-0)	Mitchell, Karyana (0-2)	E. Bigham (2)	MaxxSportsTV		0–4
Feb. 11	vs Nebraska*		Cougar Softball Complex • Houston, TX	0–7	Harness (1-0)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-3)		MaxxSportsTV		0–5

Feb. 15	at Texas*			2–8	Gutierrez, Citlaly (1-0)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-4)			1,297	0–6
I-35 Tournament
Feb. 16	at Texas State*			0–9	McCann, Tori (1-1)	Mitchell, Karyana (0-3)			361	0–7
Feb. 17	vs. *			6–4	Mitchell, Karyana (1-3)	Rote, E. (0-2)				1–7
Feb. 17	at *		Roadrunner Field •San Antonio, TX	12–13	GILBERT, Jamie (1-1)	Mitchell, Karyana (1-4)				1–8
Feb. 18	vs. Abilene Christian*		Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX	5–11	White, R. (1-1)	Mitchell, Karyana (0-4)				1–9
Feb. 19	at UTSA*		Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX	11–7	Niedenthal, Cameron (1-0)	ESTELL, Marena (1-1)			265	2–9

Feb. 21	at *			3–2	Mitchell, Karyana (2-5)	A. Telford (3-4)		ESPN+		3–9
Feb. 21	at Stephen F. Austin*		SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX	4–6	S. Hannabas (2-2)	Ben Karim, Fadwa (0-1)	B. Gainous (1)	ESPN+		3–10
Unconquered Invitational
Feb. 24	vs. Troy*		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	0–8 (5 inn)	Cato, Olivia (2-1)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-5)				3–11
Feb. 24	at *	6	JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	0–4	Ali DuBois (2-1)	Ben Karim, Fadwa (0-2)				3–12
Feb. 25	vs. *			0–7	HULME,Ally (4-4)	Mitchell, Karyana (2-6)				3–13
Feb. 25	at Florida State*	6	JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	3–11	Royalty (5-0)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (0-6)	Wilson (1)		1,351	3–14
Feb. 26	vs. Troy*		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	0–2	Johnson, Leanna (7-1)	Mitchell, Karyana (2-7)				3–15

March (7–9)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC Record
Mar. 1	at *			4–8	Garcia, Grace (6-1)	Mitchell, Karyana (2-8)		ESPN+	316	3–16
Boerner Invitational
Mar. 3	vs *			9–1	Ruiz, Aaliyah (1-6)	Stoeckel, F. (2-1)				4–16
Mar. 3	vs. *		Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX	5–4	Mitchell, Karyana(3-8)	Camryn Stickel(1-4)				5–16
Mar. 4	vs. UMKC*		Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX	3–2	Ruiz, Aaliyah (2-6)	Katie Noble (1-3)			372	6–16
Mar. 4	vs. Rider*		Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX	0–1	Schmierer, Kathryn(1-1)	Mitchell, Karyana(3-9)			315	6–17
Mar. 5	at *		Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX	2–0	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-0)	Bumpurs, Gracie (3-4)			388	7–17

Mar. 8	at *			1–3	GUIDON, E. (2-2)	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-1)			302	7–18
Mar. 11				8–2	Mitchell, Karyana (4-9)	Darr, Maggie (6-4)		ESPN+	248	8–18	1–0
Mar. 11	at Northwestern State		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	4–5	Seely, Kenzie (3-1)	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-2)		ESPN+	246	8–19	1–1
Mar. 12	at Northwestern State		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	6–1	Ruiz, Aaliyah (3-6)	Denton, Ryleigh (2-3)		ESPN+	187	9–19	2–1
Mar. 17				2–6	Ladner, KK (1-0)	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-3)		ESPN+	422	9–20	2–2
Mar. 17	Southeastern Louisiana		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	7–14	Blanchard, Cera (10-3)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (3-7)		ESPN+	422	9–21	2–3
Mar. 18	Southeastern Louisiana		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	6–2	Ruiz, Aaliyah (4-7)	Comeaux, MC (3-2)		ESPN+	402	10–21	3–3
Mar. 21			Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	Cancelled
Mar. 28	at *	21		2–3	Leavitt, Emily (7-4)	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-4)		SECN+	1,073	10–22
Mar. 31			Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	4–7	Vallejo, Ashley (7-7)	Mitchell, Karyana (4-10)	Tate, Whitney (1)	ESPN+	410	10–23	3–4
Mar. 31	McNeese		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	2–4	Sanders, Shaelyn (4-0)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (4-8)	Davis, Lindsay (3)	ESPN+	394	10–24	3–5

April (7–8)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC Record
Apr. 1	McNeese		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	0–12 (5 inn)	Tate, Whitney (12-2)	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-5)		ESPN+	455	10–25	3–6
Apr. 5	at *			1–2	Raquel Latta (3-4)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (4-9)	Kairah Williams (1)		43	10–26
Apr. 6				4–5	McNeill, Audrey (8-6)	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-6)		ESPN+	87	10–27	3–7
Apr. 6	at Nicholls		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	10–0 (5 inn)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (5-9)	Yoo, Molly (10-6)		ESPN+	87	11–27	4–7
Apr. 7	at Nicholls		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	0–1	McNeill, Audrey (9-6)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (5-10)		ESPN+	66	11–28	4–8
Apr. 14				0–1	Aholelei, Primrose (14-9)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (5-11)		ESPN+		11–29	4–9
Apr. 14	at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX	3–2	Mitchell, Karyana (5-10)	Hoyt, Sydney (2-4)		ESPN+		12–29	5–9
Apr. 15	at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX	1–5	Aholelei, Primrose (15-9)	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-7)		ESPN+	279	12–30	5–10
Apr. 21			Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	3–2	Ruiz, Aaliyah (6-11)	Janes, Katy (6-10)		ESPN+	445	13–30	6–10
Apr. 21	Houston Christian		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	2–6 (9 inn)	Swanson, Lyndie (9-6)	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-8)		ESPN+	463	12–31	6–11
Apr. 22	Houston Christian		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	4–3	Ruiz, Aaliyah (6-10)	Grofman, Ronni (5-3)		ESPN+	500	13–31	7–11
Apr. 25	Texas Southern*		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	3–1	Ruiz, Aaliyah (8-11)	Melonie Guardiola (2-5)		ESPN+	542	14–31
Apr. 28				9–0 (5 inn)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (9-11)	GUNTHER, A (0-0)		ESPN+	52	15–31	8–11
Apr. 28	at Incarnate Word		H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX	8–1	Ruiz, Aaliyah (10-11)	GARCIA, A (0-0)		ESPN+	72	16–31	9–11
Apr. 29	at Incarnate Word		H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX	0–9 (5 inn)	FLOYD, M (3-6)	Mitchell, Karyana (5-11)		ESPN+	145	17–32	9–12

May (3-0)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC Record
May 5			Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	7–0	Ruiz, Aaliyah (11-11)	Sanchez, J. (7-14)		ESPN+	300	18–32	10–12
May 5	Texas A&M–Commerce		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	6–4	Ruiz, Aaliyah (12-11)	Sanchez, J. (7-15)		ESPN+	397	19–32	11–12
May 6	Texas A&M–Commerce		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	2–1	Ruiz, Aaliyah (13-11)	Sanchez, J. (7-16)		ESPN+	397	20–32	12–12

Post-season (2–2)

(2–2)
Date	Opponent	(Seed)/Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	Tournament record
May 9	vs. (5) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	(4)		2–3	Aholelei, Primrose (19-12)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (13-12)		ESPN+		20–31	0–1
May 11	vs. (6) Northwestern State	(4)	Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA	5–4	Ruiz, Aaliyah (13-11)	Darr, Maggie (12-10)	Ben Karim, Fadwa (1)	ESPN+		21–33	1–1
May 12	vs. (3) Nicholls	(4)	Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA	5–4	Ruiz, A (15-12)	Yoo, Molly (13-12)		ESPN+		23–33	2–1
May 12	vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana	(4)	Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA	0–8 (5 inn)	DuBois, Ellie (3-0)	Ruiz, Aaliyah (15-13)		ESPN+	363	22–34	2–2

–

Schedule Source:^[4] ^[5] ^[6] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

Notes and References

Web site: Seven New Cardinals Joining 2023 Squad . Lamar University Athletics . September 2, 2022. Kenneth Cline. December 29, 2022 . en.
Web site: Softball Gains 10 New Red Birds on Signing Day . Lamar University Athletics . November 10, 2022. Kenneth Cline. December 29, 2022 . en.
Web site: McNeese predicted to win 2023 softball race; Preseason poll and all-conference teams announced . Southland Conference . January 26, 2023 . January 26, 2023.
Web site: Kenneth Cline . Cardinals Softball Releases 2023 Schedule . Lamar University Athletics . February 3, 2023 . December 7, 2022.
Web site: Lamar University Cardinals . NCAA.org . December 21, 2022.
Web site: 2023 Southland Softball Schedule Announced . Southland Conference . December 20, 2022 . October 13, 2022.