2024 Nicholls Colonels softball team

2024 Nicholls Colonels softball
2024 Nicholls Colonels softball
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	31–26 (16–8 Southland)
Head coach	Justin Lewis (3rd season);
Assistant coaches	Ron Frost; Kat Frakes;
Home stadium	Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Southland Conference softball standings
v t e	Conf				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
McNeese ‍†‍‍	22	–	2	.917	40	–	20	.667
Southeastern Louisiana ‍‍‡‍^y	17	–	7	.708	45	–	13	.776
Nicholls ‍‍‍	16	–	8	.667	31	–	26	.544
Incarnate Word ‍‍‍	14	–	9	.609	34	–	17	.667
Lamar ‍‍‍	12	–	12	.500	26	–	25	.510
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi ‍‍‍	9	–	15	.375	21	–	22	.488
Houston Christian ‍‍‍	9	–	15	.375	23	–	27	.460
Northwestern State ‍‍‍	5	–	18	.217	19	–	31	.380
Texas A&M–Commerce* ‍‍‍	2	–	22	.083	9	–	45	.167
* Ineligible for the 2024 NCAA tournament due to transition from Division II^[1]

† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of May 10, 2024^[2] Rankings from NFCA/USA Today

The 2024 Nicholls Colonels softball team represented Nicholls State University during the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season. The Colonels played their home games at Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park and were led by third-year head coach Justin Lewis. They are members of the Southland Conference. The team compiled a 31–26 overall record and a 16–8 record in conference play finishing in third place. As the third seeded team in the SLC tournament, the Colonels were 2–2 defeating seventh seeded Houston Chrstian 5–4 and fifth seeded Lamar 5–4⁸. They were defeated by second seeded Southeastern Louisiana 1–4 and first seeded McNeese 3–4⁸.

Preseason[edit]

Southland Conference Coaches Poll[edit]

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 2, 2024. Nicholls was picked to finish third in the Southland Conference with 97 votes.^[3]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
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[edit]

Erin Kraus and Alexa Poche were named to the conference preseason first team. ^[3]

First Team[edit]

Lexi Johnson (SELA, SR, 1st Base)
Erin Kraus (NICH, SO, 2nd Base)
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[edit]

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)

Roster[edit]

2024 Nicholls Colonels softball team

Players

Coaches

#	Pos.	Name	Bats/throws	Height	Year	Home town
1		Madisen Levsey	/	—	Fr
2	OF	McKenzie Champagne	L/R	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)	Jr	Lockport, Louisiana
3	U	Claire Cisco	L/R	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)	So	College Station, Texas
4	INF	Makynli Miller	R/R	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)	Fr	Many, Louisiana
5	INF	Erin Krause	L/R	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	So	Cypress, Texas
7	RHP	Molly VandenBout	R/R	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	Jr	Temple, Texas
8		Sydney Mann	/	—	Fr
9	INF	Alexa Poche'	L/L	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	Sr	New Orleans, Louisiana
10		Madisen Fulfer	/	—	Fr
11		Laylin Sturm	/	—	Fr
12		Rylie Rutherford	/	—	Fr
13		Katy Sanders	/	—	Fr
14	RHP	Audrey McNeil	R/R	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	Sr	Plano, Texas
15	INF	Lilianna Robledo	R/R	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)	So	Converse, Texas
16	OF	Reagan Heflin	L/R	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	So	Richmond, Texas
17		Gabee Higbe	/	—	So
18	INF	Sydni Stevens	R/R	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	Fr	Seguin, Texas
19	OF	Samantha Gwiazda	R/R	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	Sr	Frankfort, Illinois
20	OF	Carmella Muccilli	R/R	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	So	Santa Cruz, California
21	INF	Sydnee Shelton	R/R	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	Sr	Fort Worth, Texas
22	LHP	Molly Yoo	L/L	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	So	Cypress, Texas
23		Taylor Efferson	/	—	Fr
24	RHP	Averi Paden	R/L	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)	So	Summit, Mississippi
25		Alyssa Naquin	/	—	Fr
26	C	Brynne Songy	R/R	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)	So	Prairieville, Louisiana
42	P	Abigail Anderson	R/R	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	Sr	Mesa, Arizona

Head coach

Justin Lewis (Louisiana–Monroe)

Assistant coach(es)

Ron Frost (Alabama State)
Kat Frakes (UIS)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: January 26, 2024

Schedule and results[edit]

Legend
	Nicholls win
	Nicholls loss
	Postponement/Cancellation
Bold	Nicholls team member

2024 Nicholls State Colonels softball game log

Regular season (31–26)

February (11–8)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
Feb. 8	at LSU*		Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA	0–8 5 inn	Sydney Berzon (1-0)	McNeill, Audrey (0-1)	None	SECN+/ESPN+	1,850	0–1
Mardi Gras Mambo
Feb. 9	vs. Green Bay*		Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA	11–1 5 inn	McNeill, Audrey (1-1)	P. Kringel (0-2)	None		60	1–1
Feb. 9	vs. North Dakota*		Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA	2–4	Makaela Carr (1-0)	Yoo, Molly (0-1))	None		101	1–2
Feb. 10	vs. Providence*		Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA	6–1	McNeill, Audrey (2-1)	Tori Grifone (0-1)	None		111	2–2
Feb. 10	vs. UT Arlington*		Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA	8–4	Paden, Averi (1-0)	Moreno, Jade (0-1)	None		101	3–2
Feb. 11	vs. Montana*		Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA	9–2	McNeill, Audrey (3-1)	Brinka, Emmalyn (1-2)	None		123	4–2

Houston Classic
Feb. 17	at Houston*		Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX	1–5	Nicole Bodeux (1-1)	McNeill, Audrey (3-2)	Paris Lehman (1)	ESPN+	268	4–3
Feb. 16	vs. UTSA*		Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX	7–0	Yoo, Molly (1-1)	K. Schultz (0-5)	None			5–3
Feb. 16	vs. UMass*		Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX	1–2	Horton, Natalee (1-1)	McNeill, A. (3-3)	None			5–4
Feb. 17	at Houston*		Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX	3–11 (5 inn)	Shelby Smith (4-0)	McNeill, Audrey (3-4)	None	ESPN+	449	5–5
Feb. 18	vs. UMass*		Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX	11–2 (5 inn)	Paden, Averi (2-0)	Streicher, H (0-2)	None			6–5

Feb. 21	Alcorn State*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	11–1 (6 inn)	VandenBout, Molly (1-0)	Ashanti Carter (0-1)	None		103	7–5
Feb. 21	Alcorn State*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	8–0 (5 inn)	Paden, Averi (3-0)	Kiri Parker (0-1)			103	8–5
Dugout Club Classic
Feb. 23	vs. FIU*		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	11–1	McNeill, Audrey (4-4)	BIRLING, Sydney (1-2)	None			9–5
Feb. 23	vs. FIU*		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	3–0	Yoo, Molly (2-1)	AGES, Jordyn (1-2)	None			10–5
Feb. 24	at Florida State*	11	JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	4–5	Allison Royalty (4-1)	McNeill, Audrey (4-5)	None			10–6
Feb. 24	at Florida State*		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	0–8 (5 inn)	Allison Royalty (5-1)	Yoo, Molly (2-2)	None			10–7
Feb. 25	vs. Charleston Southern*		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	2–1	McNeill, Audrey (5-5)	LAMB, Nealy (2-1)	None			11–7

Feb. 27	Louisiana*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	2–8	Sam Landry (3-5)	Paden, Averi (3-1)	None		213	11–8

March (8–8)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
Mar 1	Louisiana–Monroe*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	3–4	Abrams,Victoria (6-2)	Yoo, Molly (2-3)	None	ESPN+	566	11–9
Mar 2	Louisiana–Monroe*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	5–4	Yoo, Molly (3-3)	Nichols,Maddie (6-3)	None	ESPN+	564	12–9
Mar 2	Louisiana–Monroe*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	0–12 (5 inn)	Kassidy,Giddens (4-1)	McNeill, Audrey (5-6)	None	ESPN+	614	12–10
Mar 5	at Southern*		Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA	–	(-)	Postponed (weather)				–
Mar 9	at Northwestern State		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	9–5	Yoo, Molly (4-3)	Seely, Kenzie (5-6)	Paden, Averi (1)	ESPN+	228	13–10	1–0
Mar 9	at Northwestern State		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	5–0	McNeill, Audrey (6-6)	Darr, Maggie (4-6)	None	ESPN+	218	14–10	2–0
Mar 10	at Northwestern State		Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA	2–0	McNeill, Audrey (7-6)	Seely, Kenzie (5-7)	None	ESPN+	204	15–10	3–0
Mar 13	Ole Miss*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	1–4	Makenna Kliethermes (8-2)	Paden, Averi (3-2)	None	ESPN+	467	15–11
Mar 13	Ole Miss*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	1–9	Catelyn Riley (2-2)	McNeill, Audrey (7-7)	None	ESPN+	202	15–12
Mar 15	McNeese		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	1–4	Sanders, Shaelyn (7-6)	McNeill, Audrey (7-8)	None	ESPN+	189	15–13	3–1
Mar 15	McNeese		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	1–0	Yoo, Molly (5-3)	Schexnayder, Ryann (4-2)	None	ESPN+	122	16–13	4–1
Mar 16	McNeese		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	0–2	Sanders, Shaelyn (8-6)	McNeill, Audrey (7-9)	None	ESPN+	190	16–14	4–2
Mar 20	Southern Miss*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	7–6 (9 inn)	McNeill, Audrey (8-9)	Jana Lee (1-3)	None		124	17–14
Mar 26	LSU*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	2–10	Raelin Chaffin (8-2)	Yoo, Molly (5-4)	None	ESPN+	703	17–15
Mar 28	at Lamar		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	4–1 (13 inn)	Paden, Averi (3-2)	Mitchell, Karyana (10-2)	None	ESPN+	400	18–15	5–2
Mar 29	at Lamar		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	3–2	Paden, Averi (5-2)	Mitchell, Karyana (10-3)	None	ESPN+	400	19–15	6–2
Mar 29	at Lamar		Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX	0–2	Jolin, Sabrina (3-3)	McNeill, Audrey (8-10)	None	ESPN+	400	19–16	6–3

April (7–8)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
Apr 3	at Southern Miss*		Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS	3–5	Jana Lee (5-5)	Yoo, Molly (5-5)	None	ESPN+	617	19–17
Apr 5	Texas A&M–Commerce		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	6–2	McNeill, Audrey (9-10)	Sanchez, Julia (4-9)	None	ESPN+	101	20–17	7–3
Apr 5	Texas A&M–Commerce		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	4–2	Paden, Averi (6-2)	Muller, Maddie (3-14)	None	ESPN+	101	21–17	8–3
Apr 6	Texas A&M–Commerce		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	8–0 (5 inn)	Yoo, Molly (6-5)	Muller, Maddie (3-15)	None		100	22–17	9–3
Apr 10	Southern*		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	–	(-)	Postponed				–
Apr 12	at Houston Christian		Husky Field • Houston, TX	0–4	Swanson, L. (5-6)	McNeill, Audrey (9-11)	None		300	22–18	9–4
Apr 12	at Houston Christian		Husky Field • Houston, TX	7–1	(-)	(-)				23–18	10–4
Apr 13	at Houston Christian		Husky Field • Houston, TX	1–5 (10 inn)	Swanson, L. (6-6)	Paden, Averi (7-3)	None		400	23–19	10–5
Apr 17	at Louisiana*	19	Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA	0–9 (6 inn)	Sam Landry (16-7)	Yoo, Molly (6-6)	None		1,164	23–20
Apr 19	Southeastern Louisiana		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	1–3	Blanchard, Cera (16-2)	Yoo, Molly (6-7)	None	ESPN+		23–21	10–6
Apr 19	Southeastern Louisiana		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	4–3	McNeill, Audrey (10-11)	DuBois, Ellie (12-4)	None	ESPN+	202	24–21	11–6
Apr 20	Southeastern Louisiana		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	7–5	McNeill, Audrey (11-11)	Comeaux, MC (3-3)	Yoo, Molly (1)		123	25–21	12–6
Apr 25	at Texas*	1	Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX	3–10	Czech, Estelle (8-3)	Paden, Averi (7-4)	Simpson, Sophia (2)	LHN	1,625	25–22
Apr 26	at Incarnate Word		H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX	3–11 (5 inn)	Larissa Jacquez (10-5)	McNeill, Audrey (11-12)	None	ESPN+	115	25–23	12–7
Apr 26	at Incarnate Word		H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX	3–4	Maddy Blake (3-0)	Yoo, Molly (6-8)	None	ESPN+	115	25–24	12–8
Apr 27	at Incarnate Word		H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX	4–2 (9 inn)	McNeill, Audrey (12-11)	Samantha Portillo (8-4)	None	ESPN+	170	26–24	13–8

May (3–0)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
May 3	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	2–0	McNeill, Audrey (13-12)	Aholelei, Primrose (15-10)	None		177	27–24	14–8
May 3	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	7–1	Yoo, Molly (7-8)	Saenz, Ariella (2-6)	Paden, Averi (2)		201	28–24	15–8
May 4	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA	1–0	McNeill, Audrey (14-12)	Williams, Malia (3-3)	None		201	29–24	16–8

Post-Season (2–2)

Southland Tournament (2–2)
Date	Opponent	(Seed)/Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	Tournament record
May 7	vs. (7) Houston Christian	(3)	North Oak Park • Hammond, LA	5–4	Paden, Averi (8-4)	Swanson, Lyndie (10-8)	None	ESPN+	322	30–24	1–0
May 8	vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana	(3)	North Oak Park • Hammond, LA	1–4	Blanchard, Cera (18-2)	Yoo, Molly (7-9)	None	ESPN+	456	30–25	1–1
May 8	vs. (5) Lamar	(3)	North Oak Park • Hammond, LA	5–4 (8 inn)	Yoo, Molly(8-9)	Mitchell, Karyana(13-9)	None	ESPN+	322	31–25	2–1
May 9	vs. (1) McNeese	(3)	North Oak Park • Hammond, LA	3–4 (8 inn)	Sanders, Shaelyn (20-10)	McNeill, Audrey (14-13)	None	ESPN+	520	31–26	2–2

Schedule source:^[4]^[5]^[6]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

Conference awards and honors[edit]

Weekly awards[edit]

Weekly honors
Honors	Player	Position	Date Awarded	Ref.
SLC Pitcher of the week	Audrey McNeill	RHP	February 12, 2024	^[7]
SLC Hitter of the week	Molly VandenBout	DP	February 26, 2024	^[8]

References[edit]

^ "Texas A&M University-Commerce Officially Joins NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference". Texas A&M University-Commerce. July 1, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
^ "Southland Standings". D1Softball. D1SOFTBALL. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "McNeese predicted to repeat as SLC Softball Champions; Preseason poll and all-conference teams announced". Southland Conference. February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
^ "2024 Softball Schedule". Nicholls State University. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
^ "D1SOFTBALL - Nicholls State (Southland)". D1 Softball. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ "WarrenNolan.com - Nicholls Colonels - Southland". Nolan Analytics, LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
^ "Softball season opens with SLU's Krolczyk and Nicholls' McNeill winning Player of the Week honors". February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
^ "Nicholls' VandenBout, Lamar's Mitchell Named Jersey Mike's Softball Players of the Week". February 26, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.

[1] "Texas A&M University-Commerce Officially Joins NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference". Texas A&M University-Commerce. July 1, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2024.

[2] "Southland Standings". D1Softball. D1SOFTBALL. Retrieved May 9, 2024.

[Polls-3] "McNeese predicted to repeat as SLC Softball Champions; Preseason poll and all-conference teams announced". Southland Conference. February 4, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

[4] "2024 Softball Schedule". Nicholls State University. Retrieved December 28, 2023.

[5] "D1SOFTBALL - Nicholls State (Southland)". D1 Softball. Retrieved January 25, 2024.

[6] "WarrenNolan.com - Nicholls Colonels - Southland". Nolan Analytics, LLC. Retrieved January 25, 2024.

[7] "Softball season opens with SLU's Krolczyk and Nicholls' McNeill winning Player of the Week honors". February 12, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.

[8] "Nicholls' VandenBout, Lamar's Mitchell Named Jersey Mike's Softball Players of the Week". February 26, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.

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v t e Nicholls Colonels softball
Venues	Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park (1981–present)
Culture & lore	Championships History Colonel Tillou
Coaches	Lynn Oberbillig (1983–1990) Cathy Compton (1991–1995) Lu Harris-Champer (1996–1997) Patti Holthaus (1998–2001) Phyllis Guedry (2002–2004) Jenny Parson (2005–2011) Angel Santiago (2012– )
Seasons	1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024