2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team explained

Mode:	softball
Year:	2024
Team:	Lamar Lady Cardinals
Conference:	Southland Conference
Short Conf:	Southland
Record:	26–25
Conf Record:	12–12
Head Coach:	Amy Hooks
Hc Year:	6th
Asst Coach1:	Tara McKenney
Asst Coach2:	Anthony Aresco
Asst Coach3:	Kaitlin McFarland
Stadium:	Lamar Softball Complex

The 2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represented Lamar University during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals played their home games at Lamar Softball Complex as a member of the Southland Conference and were led by head coach Amy Hooks in her sixth-year at Lamar. The team compiled a 26–25 overall record and a 12–12 record in conference play for a fifth place finish. As the fifth seeded team in the SLC tournament, the Lady Cardinals were defeated in extra innings by fourth seeded Incarnate Word 4–5. Their season ended with another extra inning defeat versus third seeded Nicholls 4–5.

Preseason

Early signing

On August 2, 2023, Lamar announced that five new players would join the team for the 2024 season.^[1]

Trinity Brandon	Utility	Las Vegas, Nevada	Arbor View HS / San Diego State
Rose Gonzalez	Infielder	Dallas, Texas	South Grand Prairie HS / McLennan Community College
Sabrina Jolinhttps://duckduckgo.com/	Pitcher (RHP)	Anchorage, Alaska	South Anchorage HS / UNLV
Jane Sepuvelda	Infielder	Monterey Park, California	St. Paul High School / Southern Utah
Shenita Tucker	Outfield	Richmond, Texas	Lamar Consolidated HS / Florida SouthWestern

National signing day

On November 10, 2023, national signing day, Lamar announced that seven additional new players would join the team for the 2024 season.^[2]

Ava Blakely	Outfielder/Infielder	Wesley Chapel, Florida	Wesley Chapel HS
Kaylee Cuevas	Pitcher/Utility	Teague, Texas	Teague HS
Neveah Hallmark	Outfielder/Utility	Pasadena, Texas	Pasadena HS
Cimara-lei Wessling	Catcher/Utility	Converse, Texas	Veterans Memorial HS
Ava Sanchez	Catcher/Outfielder	San Antonio, Texas	Brennan HS0
Cala Wilson	Pitcher/Infielder	Ruston, Louisiana	Ruston HS
Roxy Thompson	Infielder/Outfielder	Dallas, Texas	Rockwall HS
Sicily Windham	Short-stop	Huntington Beach, California	Crean Lutheran HS

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 2, 2024. Lamar was picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference with 78 votes.^[3]

Coaches poll
1	McNeese State	128 (16)
2	Southeastern Louisiana	114 (2)
3	Nicholls	97
4	Lamar	78
5	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	72
6	Northwestern State	63
7	Houston Christian	49
8	Incarnate Word	30
9	Texas A&M–Commerce	17

Preseason All-Southland team

Brooke Davis and Cameron Niedenthal were named to the conference preseason second team.^[3]

First Team

• Lexi Johnson (SELA, SR, 1st Base)
• Erin Kraus (NICH, SO, 2nd Base)https://duckduckgo.com/
• Haylie Savage HCU, JR, 3rd Base)
• Reese Reyna (MCNS, JR, Shortstop)
• Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, SR, Catcher)
• Chloe Gomez (MCNS, SR, Utility)
• Audrey Greely (SELA, SR, Designated Player)
• Alexa Poche (NICH, SR, Outfielder)
• AB Garcia (HCU, SO, Outfielder)
• Erin Ardoin (MCNS, JR, Outfielder)
• Ashley Vallejo (MCNS, JR, Pitcher)
• Primrose Aholelei (TAMUCC, JR, Pitcher)

Second Team

• Crislyne Mareno (MCNS, JR, 1st Base)
• Mariana Torres (MCNS, JR, 2nd Base)
• Rylie Bouvier (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base)
• Brooke Davis (LU, SR, Shortstop)
• Ashlyn Walker (NWST, SR, Catcher)
• Sydney Hoyt (TAMUCC, SR, Utility)
• Cameron Niedenthal (LU, SR, Designated Player)
• Cam Goodman (SELU, SR, Outfielder)
• Ka'Lyn Watson (SELU, SR, Outfielder)
• Laney Roos (NWST, SR, Outfielder)
• Maggie Darr (NWST, SR, Pitcher)
• Shaelyn Sanders (MCNS, SR, Pitcher)

Schedule and results

Legend
	Lamar win
	Lamar loss
	Postponement/cancellation
Bold	Lamar team member
	Non-conference game
†	Make-up game

2024 Lamar Lady Cardinals Softball game log
Regular season (26–25)
February (9–6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Cowgirl Classic Feb. 9 vs. * 2–7 Rehmeier, Alexa (1-0) Jolin, Sabrina (0-1) Dunbar, Makenzie (1) 0–1 Feb. 10 vs. Tarleton State* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 3–1 Wardlaw, Emma (1-0) Daniel, Kendall (0-1) None 1–1 Feb. 10 vs. * Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 5–9 Castillo, Reina (0-0) Ben Karim, Fadwa (0-1) None 1–2 Feb. 11 vs. Tennessee State* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 7–1 Makayla Valle (1-0) Ayala, Holly (0-0) None 2–2 Cowgirl Challenge Feb. 16 vs. * Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 4–5 Bailie Runner (2-2) Wardlaw, Emma (1-1) None 2–3 Feb. 17 vs. Central Arkansas* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 11–2 Jolin, Sabrina (1-1) Paityn Engemann (0-1) None 3–3 Feb. 17 vs. Oklahoma* 1 Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 0–8 Deal, Kierston (1-0) Guidry, Madison (0-1) None 3–4 Feb. 18 at McNeese* Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–4 Schexnayder, Ryann (2-0) Wardlaw, Emma (1-2) Davis, Lindsay (1) 1,116 3–5 Feb. 20 at * 3–4 Maren Berger (2-0) Jolin, Sabrina (1-2) 82 3–6 Feb. 20 at Texas Southern* Memorial Park • Houston, TX 2–1 Mitchell, Karyana (1-0) Lailah Bell (0-1) Valle, Makayla (1) 65 4–6 Lamar/McNeese Tournament Feb. 23 vs. * Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 6–1 Mitchell, Karyana (2-0) Thompson, Julia (0-1) None 5–6 Feb. 23 vs. * Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–0 Wardlaw, Emma (2-2) Albrecht, Jackie (0-5) None 6–6 Feb. 25 Niagara* 3–2 Wardlaw, Emma (3-2) Hickingbottom, Maddi (1-2) Mitchell, Karyana 300 7–6 Feb. 25 Niagara* Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 0–11 (5 inn) Mitchell, Karyana (3-0) Leone, Cara (0-1) None ESPN+ 300 8–6 Feb. 28 Southern* Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 6–2 Jolin, Sabrina (2-2) J. Jennings (0-1) None ESPN+ 200 9–6
March (14–6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Mar 2 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 1–0 Wardlaw, Emma (4-2) Bean, Payton (0-1) None ESPN+ 350 10–6 Mar 2 Penn* Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 7–4 Mitchell, Karyana (4-0) Riley, Rachel (0-3) None ESPN+ 350 11–6 Mar 3 Penn* Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 5–7 Utschig, Ella (2-1) Guidry, Madison (0-2) None ESPN+ 363 11–7 Mar 5 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 4–3 Mitchell, Karyana (5-0) Aydenne Brown (1-4) Wardlaw, Emma (1) ESPN+ 353 12–7 Mar 9 Husky Field • Houston, TX 2–1 Emma Wardlaw (5-2) R. Grofman (3-3) None 250 13–7 1–0 Mar 9 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 9–3 Mitchell, Karyana (6-0) Swanson, L. (4-2) None 250 14–7 2–0 Mar 10 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 4–3 Mitchell, Karyana (7-0) Grofman, R. (3-4) None ESPN+ 250 15–7 3–0 Mar 12 at * 13 1–5 Kaci West (2-1) Jolin, Sabrina (2-3) None ESPN+ 917 15–8 Mar 12 at Baylor* 13 Getterman Stadium • Waco, TX 1–6 Lexie Warncke (2-0) Guidry, Madison (0-3) None ESPN+ 998 15–9 Mar 15 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 6–5 Mitchell, Karyana (8-0) Seely, Kenzie (5-9) None ESPN+ 500 16–9 4–0 Mar 15 Northwestern State Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 1–6 Darr, Maggie (5-6) Mitchell, Karyana (8-1) None ESPN+ 400 16–10 4–1 Mar 16 Northwestern State Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 6–2 Emma Wardlaw (6-2) Darr, Maggie (5-7)) None ESPN+ 500 17–10 5–1 Mar 19 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 3–2 Wardlaw, Emma (6-2) Mika Vento (2-6) None ESPN+ 291 18–10 Mar 22 8–2 Wardlaw, Emma (8-2) Sanchez, Julia (3-8) None ESPN+ 19–10 6–1 Mar 22 at Texas A&M–Commerce John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX 10–0 (5 inn) Mitchell, Karyana (9-1) Muller, Maddie (2-12) None ESPN+ 145 20–10 7–1 Mar 23 at Texas A&M–Commerce John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX 5–0 Wardlaw, Emma (8-2) Martinez, Destiny (1-4) Mitchell, Karyana (2) ESPN+ 219 21–10 8–1 Mar 26 at * 4–2 Mitchell, Karyana (4-0) Iliana Saucedo (3-5) None ESPN+ 194 22–10 8–1 Mar 28 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 1–4 (13 inn) Paden, Averi (3-2) Mitchell, Karyana (10-2) None ESPN+ 400 22–11 8 –2 Mar 29 Nicholls Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 2–3 Paden, Averi (5-2) Mitchell, Karyana (10-3) None ESPN+ 400 22–12 8–3 Mar 29 Nicholls Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 2–0 Jolin, Sabrina (3-3) McNeill, Audrey (8-10) None ESPN+ 400 23–12 9–3
April (3–10) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Apr 2 UTSA* Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 0–3 Reagan Smith (2-1) Jolin, Sabrina (3-4) None ESPN+ 200 23–13 Apr 5 at McNeese Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 0–7 Sanders, Shaelyn (12-7) Wardlaw, Emma (9-3) None ESPN+ 758 23–14 9–4 Apr 6 at McNeese Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 2–6 Dibbley, Alexis (3-1) Mitchell, Karyana (10-4) None ESPN+ 23–15 9–5 Apr 6 at McNeese Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA 3–6 Davis, Lindsay (5-5) Mitchell, Karyana (10-5) None ESPN+ 742 23–16 9–6 Apr 12 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 2–4 Aholelei, Primrose (14-7) Wardlaw, Emma (9-4) None ESPN+ 300 23–17 9–7 Apr 12 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 5–1 Mitchell, Karyana (11-5) Saenz, Ariella (2-4) None ESPN+ 587 24–17 10–7 Apr 13 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 2–1 Mitchell, Karyana (12-5) Aholelei, Primrose (14-8) None ESPN+ 620 25–17 11–7 Apr 16 at * Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX 7–15 (5 inn) Edwards, Taylor (3-1) Jolin, Sabrina (3-5) Waiters,Tamya (1) ESPN+ 299 25–18 Apr 19 Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 2–4 (9 inn) Larissa Jacquez (9-4) Wardlaw, Emma (9-5) None ESPN+ 500 25–19 11–8 Apr 19 Incarnate Word Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 0–8 (6 inn) Samantha Portillo (7-3) Mitchell, Karyana (12-6) None ESPN+ 590 25–20 11–9 Apr 20 Incarnate Word Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX 5–4 Mitchell, Karyana (13-6) Samantha Portillo (7-4) None ESPN+ 750 26–20 12–9 Apr 26 1–9 (5 inn) Blanchard, Cera (17-2) Wardlaw, Emma (9-6) None ESPN+ 205 26–21 12–10 Apr 26 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 0–8 (5 inn) DuBois, Ellie (13-4) Mitchell, Karyana (13-7) None ESPN+ 205 26–22 12–11 Apr 27 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 0–10 (5 inn) Comeaux, MC (5-3) Wardlaw, Emma (9-7) None ESPN+ 186 26–23 12–12
Post-season (0–2)
(0–2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record May 7 vs. (4) Incarnate Word (5) 4–5 (8 inn) Samantha Portillo (9-6) Mitchell, Karyana (13-8) None ESPN+ 322 26–24 0–1 May 8 vs. (3) Nicholls (5) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA 4–5 (8 inn) Yoo, Molly(8-9) Mitchell, Karyana (13-9) None ESPN+ 322 26–25 0–2 –

Schedule Source:^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

Conference awards and honors

Post-season All-Southland Conference Teams

Shenita Tucker was named Newcomer of the Year. No Lady Cardinals were named to either the first or second teams.^[8]

Player of the Year: Victoria Altamirano, UIW

Hitter of the Year: Ka'Lyn Watson, Southeastern

Pitcher of the Year: Shaelyn Sanders, McNeese

Freshman of the Year: Alexis Dibbley, McNeese

Newcomer of the Year: Shenita Tucker, Lamar

Coach of the Year: James Landreneau, McNeese

First Team

• Corine Poncho (MCNS, SO, 1st Base)
• Mariana Torres (MCNS, SR, 2nd Base)
• Chloe Magee (SELA, FR, Shortstop)
• Maddison Guillen (UIW, SR, 3rd Base)
• Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, SR, Catcher)
• Victoria Altamirano (UIW, SO, Utility)
• Audrey Greely (SELA, SR, Designated Player)
• Reagan Heflin (NICH, SO, Outfielder)
• Ka'Lyn Watson (SELA, SR, Outfielder)
• Alexis Dibbley (MCNS, FR, Outfielder)
• Cera Blanchard (SELA, SR, Pitcher)
• Shaelyn Sanders (MCNS, SR, Pitcher)

Second Team

• Lexi Johnson (SELA, SR, 1st Base)
• Ryleigh Mata (UIW, JR, 2nd Base)
• Baylee Lemons (UIW, JR, Shortstop)
• Rylie Bouvier (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base)
• Bella Perez (MCNS, FR, Catcher)
• Haylie Savage (HCU, JR, Utility)
• Crislyne Moreno (MCNS, JR, Designated Player)
• Jillian Guiterrez (UIW, SO, Outfield)
• Abby Andersen (NICH, SR, Outfield)
• Cam Goodman (SELA, SR, Outfield)
• Primrose Aholelei (TAMUCC, SR, Pitcher)
• Ellie DuBois (SELA, SR, Pitcher)

Weekly awards

Weekly honors!style=""

Honors	Player	Position	Date Awarded	Ref.
SLC Pitcher of the Week	Karyana Mitchell	RHP	February 26, 2024	^[9]

See also

• 2024 Lamar Cardinals baseball team

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cardinals Add Five Transfers for 12th Softball Squad . Lamar University Athletics . August 2, 2023. Kenneth Cline. February 1, 2024 . en.
2. Web site: LU Bringing In Seven Signees to Cardinal Family . Lamar University Athletics . November 10, 2023. Kenneth Cline. February 1, 2024 . en.
3. Web site: McNeese predicted to repeat as SLC Softball Champions; Preseason poll and all-conference teams announced . Southland Conference . February 2, 2024 . February 4, 2024.
4. Web site: John Morgan . Cardinal Softball Unveils 2024 Schedule . Lamar University Athletics . December 27, 2023 . December 19, 2023.
5. Web site: WarrenNolan.com Lamar Cardinals (Southland) . Nolan Analytics, LLC . January 25, 2024.
6. Web site: D1SOFTBALL Lamar (Southland) . D1Softball . January 25, 2024.
7. Web site: Lamar University Cardinals . NCAA.org . December 27, 2023.
8. Web site: 2024-05-06 . Altamirano wins Player of the Year, Watson and Sanders lead strong showings for McNeese at Southeastern on SLC All-Conference Teams . 2024-05-26 . www.southland.org . en.
9. Web site: James Hill . Nicholls' VandenBout, Lamar's Mitchell Named Jersey Mike's Softball Players of the Week . March 1, 2024 . February 26, 2024.