The 2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks softball team represented the University of Louisiana at Monroe during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Warhawks played their home games at Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex. The Warhawks were led by second-year head coach Molly Fichtner and were members of the Sun Belt Conference.
Preseason
Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2021. Louisiana–Monroe was picked to finish ninth in the Sun Belt Conference with 22 votes.
Coaches poll 1 Louisiana 100 (10) 2 Troy 87 3 Texas State 72 4 Coastal Carolina 68 4 UT Arlington 68 6 Appalachian State 43 7 Georgia Southern 38 8 South Alabama 36 9 Louisiana-Monroe 22 10 Georgia State 16
Preseason All-Sun Belt team Summer Ellyson (LA, SR, Pitcher) Leanna Johnson (TROY, SO, Pitcher) Allisa Dalton *(LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base) Katie Webb (TROY, SR, Infielder/1st Base) Raina O'Neal (LA, JR, Outfielder) Julie Raws (LA, SR, Catcher) Courney Dean (CCU, SR, Outfielder) Mekhia Freeman (GASO, SR, Outfielder) Korie Kreps (ULM, JR, Outfielder) Kaitlyn Alderink (LA, SR, 2nd Base) Jade Gortarez (LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base) Ciara Bryan (LA, SR, Outfielder) Kelly Horne (TROY, SO, Infielder/2nd Base) Makiya Thomas (CCU, SR, Outfielder/Infielder) Tara Oltmann (TXST, SR, Infielder/Shortstop) Jayden Mount (ULM, SR, Infielder) Katie Lively (TROY, SO, Outfielder)
National Softball Signing Day
Lex Chavez Infielder Riverside, California Martin Luther King HS Gabby Davila Outfielder Pearland, Texas Pearland HS Kiley DeHart Outfielder Lake Charles, Louisiana Barbe HS Kinsey Kackley Pitcher McKinney, Texas McKinney Boyd HS
Roster
2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks roster Pitchers 1 Kassidy Giddens - Sophomore 3 Gianni Hulett - Freshman 14 Amber Coons - Senior 24 Murphy Williams - Junior 25 Adrianna Chavarria - Junior
Outfielders 6 Caley McGuff - Freshman 9 Charlie Names - Senior 20 Alysia Anderson - Senior 26 Korie Kreps - Junior Catchers 10 Kelsey Giddens - Sophomore 21 Jessica Williams - Junior 23 Kendall Morton - Sophomore 28 Madison Blount - Freshman
Infielders 5 Jayden Mount - Senior 7 Andie Edwards - Freshman 17 Madelyn Fletcher - Freshman 19 Jacelyn Buck - Sophomore
Utility 2 Kennedy Page - Junior 12 Rylee Lara - Senior 15 Kennedy Johnson - Junior
Coaching staff 2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks coaching staffMolly Fichtner – Head Coach – 3rd year Jessica Thornton – Assistant Head Coach – 6th year Lea Wodach – Assistant Head Coach – 2nd year Rhianna Rich – Graduate Assistant – 1st year
Schedule and results Legend Louisiana–Monroe win Louisiana–Monroe loss Postponement/Cancellation/SuspensionsBoldLouisiana–Monroe team member
2021 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks softball game log Regular season (16-30) February (3-6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Best on the Bayou ClassicFeb. 11 vs. Louisiana Tech Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA L 2-3 Hutchinson (1-0) Chavarria (0-1) None 0-1 Feb. 12 vs. Jacksonville State Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA W 7-6 Chavarria (1-1) Watkins (0-1) None 1-1 Feb. 13 vs. Lipscomb Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in MonroeFeb. 13 vs. No. 18 Arkansas Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in MonroeFeb. 17 at McNeese State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA Game postponed due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in Lake Charles Bearkat ClassicFeb. 19 vs. UTSA Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in HuntsvilleFeb. 19 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in HuntsvilleFeb. 20 vs. UTSA Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in HuntsvilleFeb. 20 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in HuntsvilleFeb. 21 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX Game cancelled due to the threat of freezing rain/snow/sleet in HuntsvilleFeb. 21 vs. Northwestern State Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditionsFeb. 21 vs. Northwestern State Ouachita Sportsplex • Monroe, LA Game cancelled due to the inclement field conditionsFeb. 23 Louisiana Tech Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 8-5 Hulett (1-0) Keonig (0-2) Chavarria (1) 185 2-1 Feb. 24 vs. Eastern Illinois Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA L 4-5 Montgomery (1-0) Coons (0-1) None 2-2 Feb. 24 at Southern Lady Jaguar Field • Baton Rouge, LA W 3-2 Giddens (1-0) Donaldson (0-1) Hulett (1) 3-2 Samford TournamentFeb. 27 vs. Northern Iowa Bulldog Softball Field • Homewood, AL L 6-9 Packard (2-1) Hulett (1-1) None ESPN+ 30 3-3 Feb. 27 at Samford Bulldog Softball Field • Homewood, AL L 1-2 Swaney (2-1) Williams (0-1) Barnett (1) ESPN+ 100 3-4 Feb. 28 vs Northern Iowa Bulldog Softball Field • Homewood, AL L 3-11 Packard (3-1) Williams (0-2) None ESPN+ 60 3-5 Feb. 28 at Samford Bulldog Softball Field • Homewood, AL L 2-5 Barnett (4-1) Giddens (1-1) None ESPN+ 125 3-6 March (7-8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC recordMar. 5 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 1-3 Howell (2-1) Hulett (1-2) None 3-7 Oklahoma TournamentMar. 5 vs. No. 18 Missouri OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK L 0-6 Weber (5-0) Coons (0-2) None SoonerSports.TV 100 3-8 Mar. 6 vs. Sam Houston State OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK L 3-5 Vento (2-1) Williams (0-1) None SoonerSports.TV 50 3-9 Mar. 6 at No. 1 Oklahoma OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK L 0-9 (5 inns) Saile (4-0) Chavarria (1-2) None FSOK 216 3-10 Mar. 7 vs. No. 18 Missouri OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK L 0-20 (5 inns) Schumacher (4-1) Williams (0-4) None SoonerSports.TV 100 3-11 Mar. 7 vs. Sam Houston State OU Softball Complex • Norman, OK W 8-6 Hulett (2-2) Dunn (1-2) None SoonerSports.TV 100 4-11 Mar. 10 Grambling State Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 4-2 Giddens (2-1) Shells (0-2) None 5-11 Mar. 10 Grambling State Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 8-0 (5 inns) Coons (1-2) Bonner (1-3) None 287 6-11 Mar. 13 Coastal Carolina Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 6-3 Hulett (3-2) Beasley-Polko (4-4) None ESPN+ 7-11 1-0Mar. 13 Coastal Carolina Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 8-4 Hulett (4-2) De Jesus (1-3) None ESPN+ 305 8-11 2-0Mar. 14 Coastal Carolina Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA L 0-2 Beasley-Polko (5-3) Giddens (1-2) None 257 8-12 2-1Mar. 20 at Georgia Southern Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 5-3 Williams (1-4) Garcia (2-3) Hulett (2) ESPN+ 165 9-12 3-1Mar. 20 at Georgia Southern Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA W 11-9 Williams (2-4) Feil (0-3) None ESPN+ 10-12 4-1Mar. 21 at Georgia Southern Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weather and poor field conditions in StatesboroMar. 24 Southeastern Louisiana Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA L 1-2 Comeaux (6-5) Chavarria (1-3) DuBois (4) 296 10-13 Mar. 30 at No. 15 LSU Tiger Park • Baton Rouge, LA L 5-7 Kilponen (6-4) Chavarria (1-4) None 585 10-14 April (4–13) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC recordApr. 2 UT Arlington Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA L 0-7 Valencia (2-2) Chavarria (1-5) None 261 10-15 4-2Apr. 2 UT Arlington Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA L 1-11 Hines (3-9) Coons (1-3) None 261 10-16 4-3Apr. 3 UT Arlington Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA L 6-10 Gardiner (3-2) Chavarria (1-6) None 209 10-17 4-4Apr. 6 at Grambling State GSU Softball Complex • Grambling, LA Game CancelledApr. 6 at Grambling State GSU Softball Complex • Grambling, LA Game CancelledApr. 10 at Appalachian State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC L 2-8 (6 inns) Longanecker (11-3) Williams (2-5) None ESPN+ 50 10-18 4-5Apr. 11 at Appalachian State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC L 0-1 Holland (5-4) Hulett (4-3) None ESPN+ 50 10-19 4-6Apr. 11 at Appalachian State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC L 0-1 (8 inns) Buckner (3-2) Hulett (4-4) None ESPN+ 10-20 4-7 Apr. 13 at Louisiana Tech Lady Techster Softball Complex • Ruston, LA W 5-4 Coons (2-3) Goff (0-1) None 355 11-20 Apr. 15 at Jackson State JSU Softball Field • Jackson, MS W 10-0 (5 inns) Giddens (3-2) Kippenbender (0-1) None 55 12-20 Apr. 15 at Jackson State JSU Softball Field • Jackson, MS W 10-5 (8 inns) Coons (3-3) Owens (5-7) None 75 13-20 Apr. 17 RV Troy Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA L 2-13 (5 inns) Johnson (16-4) Coons (3-4) None 98 13-21 4-8Apr. 17 RV Troy Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA L 6-10 Johnson (16-4) Hulett (4-5) None 98 13-22 4-9Apr. 18 RV Troy Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA L 2-5 Baker (5-3) Chavarria (1-7) None 73 13-23 4-10Apr. 21 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA L 1-7 Zumo (15-3) Chavarria (1-8) None ESPN+ 245 13-24 Apr. 24 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL Game cancelledApr. 24 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL L 2-4 Lackie (15-6) Hulett (4-6) None ESPN+ 200 13-25 4-11Apr. 25 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL L 2-5 Hardy (2-1) Chavarria (1-9) None ESPN+ 200 13-26 4-12Apr. 27 at Grambling State GSU Softball Complex • Grambling, LA W 5-2 Coons (2-2) Polk (0-1) None 75 14-26 Apr. 28 at McNeese State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 1-6 Edwards (7-1) Hulett (4-7) None 249 14-27 May (2-3) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC recordMay 1 Georgia State Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 2-1 Hulett (5-7) Mooney (2-4) None ESPN+ 271 15-27 5-12May 1 Georgia State Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA L 1-2 Freeman (3-3) Hulett (5-7) Buck (2) ESPN+ 271 15-28 5-13May 2 Georgia State Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA Game cancelled due to threat of inclement weatherMay 6 at No. 14 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 1-10 Ellyson (19-5) Chavarria (1-10) None 543 15-29 5-14May 7 at No. 14 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA L 6-8 Ellyson (20-5) Hulett (5-8) None ESPN+ 894 15-30 5-15May 8 at No. 14 Louisiana Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA W 2-1 Coons (5-4) Ellyson (20-6) None ESPN+ 961 16-30 6-15 Post-Season (1-2) (1-2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC recordMay 11 vs. (8) Coastal Carolina (9) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 8-6 Coons (6-4) Brabham (5-9) Hulett (3) ESPN+ 169 17-30 May 12 vs. (1)/No. 14 Louisiana (9) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 0-7 Lamb (16-4) Hulett (6-10) None ESPN+ 173 17-31 May 13 vs. (3) Troy (9) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 1-5 Johnson (20-7) Hulett (6-11) None ESPN+ 603 17-32 Schedule source: *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
Postseason
Conference accolades Player of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA Pitcher of the Year: Summer Ellyson – LA Freshman of the Year: Sara Vanderford – TXST Newcomer of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco – LA
All Conference First Team Ciara Bryan (LA) Summer Ellyson (LA) Sara Vanderford (TXST) Leanna Johnson (TROY) Jessica Mullins (TXST) Olivia Lackie (USA) Kj Murphy (UTA) Katie Webb (TROY) Jayden Mount (ULM) Kandra Lamb (LA) Kendall Talley (LA)