2023 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball team explained

Mode:	softball
Year:	2023
Team:	Northwestern State Lady Demons
Conference:	Southland Conference
Short Conf:	Southland
Record:	25–27
Conf Record:	10–14
Head Coach:	Donald Pickett
Hc Year:	15th
Asst Coach1:	Lexi Smith
Stadium:	Lady Demon Diamond

The 2023 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball team represented Northwestern State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Demons played their home games at Lady Demon Diamond and were led by fifteenth year head coach Donald Pickett. They are members of the Southland Conference.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 26, 2023. Northwestern State was picked to finish third in the Southland Conference with 91 votes.^[1]

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

Two Lady Demons were named to the conference preseason first team, and three Lady Demons were named as second team members.^[1]

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

2023 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball game log

Regular season (25–27)

February (7–7)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
Bearkat Classic
Feb. 10	vs. *			3–1	Darr, Maggie (1-0)	GILBERT (0-1)	Rhoden, Bronte (1)		105	1–0
Feb. 11	vs. *		Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX	4–7	Shank (1-0)	Darr, Maggie (0-1)	Winburn (1)		155	1–1
Feb. 12	vs. *		Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX	0–2	Lasey (2-0)	Denton, Ryleigh (0-1)			150	1–2
Feb. 12	at *		Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX	1–2	GUIDON, EMMA (2-0)	Darr, Maggie (1-2)			305	1–3
2023 Mardi Gras Mambo
Feb. 17	vs. *			5–3	Seely, Kenzie (1-0)	Keira Murphy (0-2)			102	2–3
Feb. 17	vs. *		Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA	9–0 (5 inn)	Darr, Maggie (2-2)	Lauryn Peppers (0-2)			96	3–3
Feb. 18	vs. *		Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA	5–0	Denton, Ryleigh (1-1)	VENEZIALE, Makayla (0-1)			68	4–3
Feb. 18	vs. *		Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA	8–2	Rhoden, Bronte (1-0)	KYLE, KALYN (1-1)			75	5–3
Feb. 19	vs. *		Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA	6–0	Darr, Maggie (3-2)	HUNT, Erin (1-4)			89	6–3

Feb. 22				2–1	Darr, Maggie (3-2)	Hodge, Jordan (0-1)	Rhoden, Bronte (2)		437	7–3
North Texas Invitational
Feb. 25	vs. *			1–7	HOWELL, L. (4-1)	Denton, Ryleigh (1-2)			128	7–4
Feb. 25	at *		Lovelace Stadium • Denton, TX	3–5	Savage, S. (3-0)	Darr, Maggie (4-3)	Peters, A. (1)		354	7–5
Feb. 26	vs. Wichita State*		Lovelace Stadium • Denton, TX	2–5	AGUILAR, A. (3-1)	Seely, Kenzie (1-1)			108	7–6
Feb. 26	at North Texas*		Lovelace Stadium • Denton, TX	1–10 (6 inn)	Peters, A. (4-3)	Rhoden, Bronte (1-1)			400	7–7

March (10–8)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission Lady Demon Classic
Mar. 3			Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	9–1 (5 inn)	Seely, Kenzie (2-1)	LeeAnn Raney (0-3)		ESPN+	689	8–7
Mar. 4			Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	8–0 (5 inn)	Darr, Maggie (5-3)	Victoria Salazar (2-3)		ESPN+	368	9–7
Mar. 5	Arkansas–Pine Bluff*		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	1–0	Darr, Maggie (5-3)	Sydney Green (2-4)		ESPN+	169	10–7
Mar. 5	Jackson State*		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	6–1	Denton, Ryleigh (2-2)	Marissa Medina (2-1)	Seely, Kenzie (1)	ESPN+	148	11–7

Mar. 11			Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	2–8	Mitchell, Karyana (4-9)	Darr, Maggie (6-4)		ESPN+	248	11–8	0–1
Mar. 11	Lamar		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	5–4	Seely, Kenzie (3-1)	Niedenthal, Cameron (2-2)		ESPN+	246	12–8	1–1
Mar. 12	Lamar		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	1–6	Ruiz, Aaliyah (3-6)	Denton, Ryleigh (2-3)		ESPN+	187	12–9	1–2
Mar. 14	at *			0–5	MELNYCHUK, B (4-2)	Darr, Maggie (6-5)		CUSAtv	677	12–10
Memphis Tiger Classic
Mar. 17	vs. *			2–4	Copeland (8-0)	Denton, Ryleigh (2-4)			155	12–11
Mar. 17	at *		Tiger Softball Complex • Memphis, TN	6–3	Rhoden, Bronte (2-1)	Siems, Halli (3-11)	Darr, Maggie (1)		207	13–11
Mar. 18	vs. Indiana*		Tiger Softball Complex • Memphis, TN	6–11	Copeland (9-0)	Seely, Kenzie (3-2)			150	13–12
Mar. 19	vs. Memphis*		Tiger Softball Complex • Memphis, TN	15–5 (5 inn)	Denton, Ryleigh (3-4)	Hoschak, Mik (0-5)			250	14–12

Mar. 24				6–5	Darr, Maggie (7-5)	McNeill, Audrey (7-5)			131	15–12	2–2
Mar. 24	at Nicholls		Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA	3–1	Seely, Kenzie (4-2)	Yoo, Molly (7-4)		ESPN+	102	16–12	3–2
Mar. 25	at Nicholls		Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA	3–4 (8 inn)	Yoo, Molly (8-4)	Rhoden, Bronte (2-2)		ESPN+	127	16–13	3–3
Mar. 28	Louisiana Tech*		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	1–5	FLOYD, Allie (3-4)	Seely, Kenzie (4-3)		ESPN+	248	16–14
Mar. 31			Lady Demon Diamond • Natchtoches, LA	8–0 (5 inn)	Darr, Maggie (8-5)	Janes, Katy (5-7)		ESPN+	178	17–14	4–3
Mar. 31	Houston Christian		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchtoches, LA	1–2	Swanson, Lyndie (7-5)	Seely, Kenzie (4-4)		ESPN+	163	17–15	4–4

April (7–7)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
Apr. 1	Houston Christian		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchtoches, LA	6–1	Darr, Maggie (9-5)	Janes, Katy (5-8)		ESPN+	205	19–15	5–4
Apr. 7				7–6	Darr, Maggie (10-5)	Davis, Lindsay (3-2)		ESPN+		20–15	6–4
Apr. 7	at McNeese		Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA	0–4	Vallejo, Ashley (8-7)	Seely, Kenzie (4-5)		ESPN+	687	20–16	6–5
Apr. 8	at McNeese		Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA	0–2	Vallejo, Ashley (9-7)	Darr, Maggie (10-6)	Davis, Lindsay (4)	ESPN+	707	20–17	6–6
Apr. 11	at Grambling*			9–1	Darr, Maggie (11-6)	Lauren Ervin (1-1)			89	21–17
Apr. 14				2–3 (10 inn)	Portillo, S (0-0)	Darr, Maggie (0-0)		ESPN+	67	21–18	7–8
Apr. 14	at Incarnate Word		H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX	9–5	Denton, Ryleigh (4-4)	MYERS, N (0-0)	Rhoden, Bronte (3)	ESPN+	120	21–19	8–8
Apr. 15	at Incarnate Word		H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX	3–11 (5 inn)	GUNTHER, A (0-0)	Seely, Kenzie (0-0)		ESPN+	83	21–19	8–9
Apr. 21			Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	2–1	Darr, Maggie (12-7)	Aholelei, Primrose (15-10)		ESPN+	189	21–19	8–9
Apr. 21	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	6–3	Seely, Kenzie (5-6)	Galvan, Siarah (3-3)	Denton, Ryleigh (1)	ESPN+	138	22–19	9–9
Apr. 22	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	1–5	Aholelei, Primrose (16-10)	Darr, Maggie (12-8)		ESPN+	208	23–20	9–9
Apr. 28				0–2	Sanchez, J. (6-12)	Darr, Maggie (12-9)		ESPN+	173	23–21	9–10
Apr. 28	at Texas A&M–Commerce		John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX	5–4	Seely, Kenzie (6-6)	Sanchez, J. (6-13)	Denton, Ryleigh (2)	ESPN+		24–21	10–10
Apr. 29	at Texas A&M–Commerce		John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX	3–4	Sanchez, J. (7-13)	Rhoden, Bronte (2-3)	Arredondo, A (1)	ESPN+	236	24–22	10–11

May (0–3)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
May. 5			Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	5–7	DuBois, Ellie (1-0)	Denton, Ryleigh (4-5)		ESPN+	206	24–23	10–12
May. 5	Southeastern Louisiana		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	0–3	Blanchard, Cera (16-6)	Seely, Kenzie (6-7)		ESPN+	208	24–24	10–13
May. 6	Southeastern Louisiana		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	1–7	DuBois, Ellie (2-0)	Rhoden, Bronte (2-4)	Comeaux, MC (4)	ESPN+	185	24–25	10–14

Post-Season (1–2)

(1–2)
Date	Opponent	(Seed)/Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	Tournament record
May 9	vs. (3) Nicholls	(6)	Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA	8–2 (8 inn)	Seely, Kenzie (7-7)	Yoo, M. (12-11)		ESPN+	457	25–25	1–0
May 10	vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana	(6)	Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA	1–13 (5 inn)	Ladner, KK (15-1)	Seely, Kenzie (7-8)		ESPN+	394	25–26	1–1
May 11	vs. (4) Lamar	(6)	Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA	4–5	Ruiz, Aaliyah (13-11)	Darr, Maggie (12-10)	Ben Karim, Fadwa (1)	ESPN+		25–27	1–2

Schedule Source:^[2] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

Notes and References

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: 2023 Lady Demon Softball Schedule . Northwestern State University of Louisiana . January 5, 2023 . en.