The 2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball team represented University of Central Arkansas during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Sugar Bears played their home games at Farris Field and were led by thirteenth year head coach David Kuhn. They were members of the Southland Conference.
Preseason
Southland Conference Coaches Poll The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Central Arkansas was picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference with 162 votes and one first place vote.
Coaches poll 1 Stephen F. Austin 235 (17) 2 McNeese State 217 (4) 3 Southeastern Louisiana 183 4 Sam Houston State 172 (1) 5 Central Arkansas 162 (1) 6 Northwestern State 156 (1) 7 Nicholls 131 8 Lamar 86 9 Abilene Christian 82 10 Houston Baptist 81 11 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 47 12 Incarnate Word 32
Preseason All-Southland team
First Team Kaylyn Shephard (UCA, R-SR, 1st Base) Cayla Joens (NSU, JR, 2nd Base) Cylla Hall (UCA, R-SR, 3rd Base) Cori McCrary (MCNS, SR, Shortstop) Ella Manzer (SELA, SR, Catcher) Samantha Bradley (ACU, R-SR, Designated Player) Linsey Tomlinson (ACU, R-SR, Outfielder) Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SO, Outfielder) Elise Vincent (NSU, SR, Outfielder) Madisen Blackford (SELA, SR, Outfielder) Megan McDonald (SHSU, SR, Outfielder) Kayla Beaver (UCA, R-FR, Pitcher) Kassidy Wilbur (SFA, JR, Pitcher) E. C. Delafield (NSU, JR, Utility)
Second Team Shaylon Govan (SFA, SO, 1st Base) Brooke Malia (SHSU, SR, 2nd Base) Bryana Novegil (SFA, SR, 2nd Base) Caitlin Garcia (NICH, JR, 3rd Base) Alex Hudspeth (SFA, JR, Shortstop) Alexis Perry (NSU, SO, Catcher) Bailey Richards (SFA, SR, Catcher) Caitlyn Brockway (HBU, SO, Designated Player) Reagan Sperling (UCA, R-JR, Outfielder) Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SO, Outfielder) Hayley Barbazon (NSU, SR, Outfielder) Saleen Flores (MCNS, SO, Pitcher) MC Comeaux (SELA, FR, Pitcher) Sammi Thomas (TAMUCC, SO, Utility)
National Softball Signing Day
Bella Barnes Infielder Baton Rouge, Louisiana Central HS Jorde Chartland Pitcher/Utility Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada Weyburn Comprehensive Reese Curry Infielder/Utility Oskaloosa, Kansas Oskaloosa HS Regan Curry Infielder/Utility Oskaloosa, Kansas Oskaloosa HS Kylie Griffin Infielder Greenbrier, Arkansas Greenbrier HS Emily Perry Infielder Bentonville, Arkansas Bentonville HS Graci Thomas Infielder Morrilton, Arkansas Morrilton HS
Roster
2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears roster Pitchers 19 Kayla Beaver - Redshirt Freshman 20 Katelyn McMahan - Freshman 30 Rio Sanchez - Senior
Outfielders 1 Tremere Harris - Freshman 3 Jenna Wildeman - Redshirt Freshman 4 Gabbi Scott - Freshman 5 Megan Corwnover - Redshirt Freshman 7 Reagan Sperling - Redshirt Junior 23 Callie Eary - Redshirt Sophomore
Utilities 15 Kristen Whitehouse - Freshman 26 Lindsey Williams - Redshirt Junior Catchers 6 Tylar Vernon - Redshirt Sophomore 27 Emily Sampson - Redshirt Freshman
Infielders 2 Mary Kate Brown - Redshirt Freshman 9 Morgan Nelson - Redshirt Freshman 11 Erin Acors - Senior 13 Kaylyn Shepherd - Redshirt Senior 14 Jordan Johnson - Redshirt Sophomore 17 Erin Blackburn - Redshirt Sophomore 18 Lexi McClellan - Redshirt Junior 22 Jaylee Engelkes - Redshirt Sophomore 24 Cylla Hill - Redshirt Senior
Coaching staff 2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears coaching staffDavid Kuhn – Head coach – 13th year Jenny Parsons – Associate head coach – 9th year Chris Watford – Assistant head coach – 1st year Kayla Lucas – Volunteer assistant coach
Schedule and results Legend Central Arkansas win Central Arkansas loss Postponement/CancellationBoldCentral Arkansas team member
2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball game log Regular season (34-17) February (6-7) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Tiger ClassicFeb. 12 vs. No. 25 Duke Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA L 2-6 Butler (1-0) Johnson (0-1) Walters (1) 76 0-1 Feb. 13 vs. No. 25 Duke Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA L 5-7 Davidson (1-0) Sanchez (0-1) Butler (1) 72 0-2 Feb. 13 vs. Kansas Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA L 2-4 Goff (1-0) Beaver (0-1) None 86 0-3 Texas A&M InvitationalFeb. 20 vs. Texas Tech Davis Diamond • College Station, TX W 6-1 Beaver (1-1) Zoch (1-1) None 306 1-3 Feb. 20 at Texas A&M Davis Diamond • College Station, TX L 0-9 (5 inns) Herzog (1-0) Johnson (0-2) None SECN+ 306 1-4 Feb. 21 vs. Colorado Davis Diamond • College Station, TX W 4-0 Sanchez (1-1) Cabral (0-1) None 95 2-4 Feb. 21 vs. Texas Tech Davis Diamond • College Station, TX W 5-0 Johnson (1-5) Zoch (1-2) None 100 3-4 Feb. 22 at Texas A&M Davis Diamond • College Station, TX L 0-22 Poynter (1-0) Beaver (1-2) Broadus (1) SECN+ 159 3-5 Feb. 23 at No. 11 LSU Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA L 0-3 Wickersham (2-1) Sanchez (1-2) None SECN+ 156 3-6 Feb. 23 at No. 11 LSU Tiger Field • Baton Rouge, LA L 0-2 Kilponen (1-1) Johnson (1-3) None SECN+ 327 3-7 Michelle Short Memorial ClassicFeb. 25 Omaha Farris Field • Conway, AR W 9-1 Sanchez (2-2) Hampton (0-3) None 84 4-7 Feb. 25 Missouri State Farris Field • Conway, AR W 5-0 Beaver (2-2) Hunsaker (2-1) None 88 5-7 Feb. 27 Western Illinois Farris Field • Conway, AR W 9-1 Sanchez (3-2) Carlin (1-2) None 102 6-7 March (13-3) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMar. 3 Arkansas–Monticello Farris Field • Conway, AR W 8-0 (5 inns) Beaver (3-2) Franks (0-2) None 113 7-7 Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock ClassicMar. 5 Mississippi Valley State Farris Field • Conway, AR W 10-0 (5 inns) Johnson (2-3) Page (0-3) None 92 8-7 Mar. 5 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Farris Field • Conway, AR W 10-1 (5 inns) Beaver (4-2) Hubbard (0-2) None 104 9-7 Mar. 6 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Farris Field • Conway, AR W 8-0 (5 inns) Sanchez (4-2) Smith (0-2) None 109 10-7 Mar. 6 Western Michigan Farris Field • Conway, AR W 11-0 (5 inns) Johnson (3-3) Galloway (1-3) None 187 11-7 Mar. 8 Lyon Farris Field • Conway, AR W 3-1 Beaver (5-2) Platt (2-5) None 86 12-7 Mar. 9 No. 19 Arkansas Farris Field • Conway, AR L 1-4 Haff (10-1) Johnson (3-4) None ESPN+ 755 12-8 Mar. 12 at McNeese State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 0-1 Tate (2-5) Beaver (5-3) None ESPN+ 257 12-9 0-1Mar. 13 at McNeese State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA W 5-4 Beaver (6-3) Vallejo (1-4) None 207 13-9 1-1 Mar. 13 at McNeese State Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA L 3-5 Tate (3-5) Sanchez (4-3) None 207 13-10 1-2 Mar. 19 at Abilene Christian Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX W 7-0 Beaver (7-3) Bradley (3-8) None 250 14-10 2-2Mar. 19 at Abilene Christian Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX W 8-0 (6 inns) Johnson (4-4) White (3-7) None 250 15-10 3-2 Mar. 20 at Abilene Christian Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX W 15-2 (5 inns) Beaver (8-3) Bradley (3-9) None 250 16-10 4-2 Mar. 26 Sam Houston State Farris Field • Conway, AR W 11-1 (5 inns) Beaver (9-3) Dunn (4-4) None 218 17-10 5-2 Mar. 26 Sam Houston State Farris Field • Conway, AR W 1-0 Johnson (5-4) Vento (3-3) None 250 18-10 6-2 Mar. 27 Sam Houston State Farris Field • Conway, AR W 5-1 Johnson (6-4) Vento (3-4) None 202 19-10 7-2 Mar. 30 Memphis Farris Field • Conway, AR Game postponed to April 27 April (11–7) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordApr. 2 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 3-1 Johnson (7-4) Howell (5-4) None 250 20-10 8-2 Apr. 2 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 4-0 Beaver (10-3) Delafield (5-2) None 250 21-10 9-2 Apr. 3 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA W 4-3 Beaver (11-3) Rhoden (4-3) Johnson (1) 203 22-10 10-2 Apr. 6 at RV Ole Miss Ole Miss Softball Complex • Oxford, MS L 1-4 Borgen (8-4) Beaver (11-4) Diederich (1) SECN+ 201 22-11 Apr. 7 at Mississippi State Nusz Park • Mississippi State, MS L 3-4 Willis (11-4) Beaver (11-5) None SECN+ 66 22-12 Apr. 9 Nicholls Farris Field • Conway, AR W 14-2 Johnson (8-4) Danehower (3-5) None 125 23-12 11-2 Apr. 9 Nicholls Farris Field • Conway, AR W 2-0 Beaver (12-5) Moon (1-5) None 152 24-12 12-2 Apr. 10 Nicholls Farris Field • Conway, AR W 7-1 Beaver (13-5) Westbrook (2-6) Johnson (2) 132 25-12 13-2 Apr. 17 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX W 5-2 Johnson (9-4) Patak (5-8) None 50 26-12 14-2 Apr. 17 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX L 0-1 Swanson (6-0) Beaver (13-6) None 50 26-13 14-3 Apr. 18 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX L 1-2 Patak (5-8) Johnson (9-4) None 26-14 14-4Apr. 21 at No. 8 Arkansas Bogle Field • Fayetteville, AR L 6-7 (8 inns) Haff (20-3) Johnson (9-6) None SECN+ 873 26-15 Apr. 24 Stephen F. Austin Farris Field • Conway, AR L 0-3 Wilbur (24-3) Johnson (9-7) None 119 26-16 14-5 Apr. 24 Stephen F. Austin Farris Field • Conway, AR W 7-2 Beaver (14-6) Chism (3-1) None 206 27-16 15-5 Apr. 25 Stephen F. Austin Farris Field • Conway, AR L 0-6 Wilbur (25-3) Sanchez (4-4) None 136 27-17 15-6Apr. 27 Memphis Farris Field • Conway, AR W 4-3 (9 inns) Beaver (15-6) Ellett (2-9) None 107 28-17 Apr. 30 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 6-0 Johnson (10-7) Zumo (15-4) None ESPN+ 224 29-17 16-6 Apr. 30 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 5-0 Beaver (16-6) Hannabas (2-5) None ESPN+ 224 30-17 17-6 May (4-0) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMay 1 at Southeastern Louisiana North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 7-6 (10 inns) Beaver (17-6) Zumo (15-5) None ESPN+ 245 31-17 18-6 May 7 Lamar Farris Field • Conway, AR W 7-0 Johnson (11-7) Ruiz (3-9) None 219 32-17 19-6May 8 Lamar Farris Field • Conway, AR W 12-1 (5 inns) Beaver (18-6) Mixon (3-16) None 218 33-17 20-6 May 8 Lamar Farris Field • Conway, AR W 11-2 (6 inns) Engelkes (1-0) Ruiz (3-10) None 218 34-17 21-6 Post-Season (3-2) (0-0) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament recordMay 13 vs. (3) McNeese State (2) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA L 5-6 Tate (12-7) Johnson (11-8) Flores (3) ESPN+ 335 34-18 May 14 vs. (5) Southeastern Louisiana (2) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 2-1 Beaver (19-6) Zumo (16-7) None ESPN+ 275 35-18 May 14 vs. (4) Northwestern State (2) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 5-2 Beaver (20-6) Delafield (12-5) None ESPN+ 339 36-18 May 15 vs. (1) Stephen F. Austin (2) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA W 5-4 Beaver (21-6) Wilbur (30-6) None ESPN+ 307 37-18 May 15 vs. (3) McNeese State (2) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA L 0-1 Edwards (9-2) Johnson (11-9) Tate (3) ESPN+ 345 37-19 Schedule source: *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
Postseason
Conference accolades Player of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA Hitter of the Year: Shaylon Govan – SFA Pitcher of the Year: Kassidy Wilbur – SFA Freshman of the Year: Jenna Wildeman – UCA Newcomer of the Year: Jenna Edwards – MCNS Coach of the Year: Nicole Dickson – SFA
All Conference First Team Shaylon Govan (SFA) Bryana Novegil (SFA) Haylee Brinlee (MCNS) Cori McCrary (MCNS) Heidi Jaquez (HBU) E. C. Delafield (NSU) Mackenzie Bennett (SFA) Jenna Wildeman (UCA) Megan McDonald (SHSU) Aeriyl Mass (SELA) Kayla Beaver (UCA) Kassidy Wilbur (SFA)
All Conference Second Team Kaylyn Shephard (UCA) Mary Kate Brown (UCA) Lindsey Rizzo (SELA) Camryn Middlebrook (SFA) Hannah Scheaffer (SHSU) Gaby Garcia (SFA) Kaylee Lopez (MCNS) Donelle Johnson (ACU) Jil Poullard (MCNS) Audrey Greely (SELA) Jordan Johnson (UCA) Whitney Tate (MCNS)
All Conference Third Team Caitlyn Brockway (HBU) Cayla Jones (NSU) Alex Hedspeth (SFA) Ashlyn Reavis (NICH) Chloe Gomez (MCNS) Jasie Roberts (HBU) Anna Rodenberg (SELA) Kaitlyn St. Clair (NSU) Sheridan Fisher (SHSU) Pal Egan (TAMUCC) Lyndie Swanson (HBU) Heather Zumo (SELA)
References:
References