The 2021 Houston Baptist Huskies softball team represented Houston Baptist University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Huskies played their home games at Husky Field and were led by thirtieth year head coach Mary-Ellen Hall. They were members of the Southland Conference.
Preseason
Southland Conference Coaches Poll The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Houston Baptist was picked to finish tenth in the Southland Conference with 81 votes.
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
Abriana Garcia Utility Houston, Texas Cypress Lake HS Breana Herrera Infielder Corpus Christi, Texas Mary Carroll HS Haylie Savage Utility Angleton, Texas Angleton HS
Roster
2021 Houston Baptist Huskies roster Pitchers 7 Madison Cotton - Redshirt Freshman 9 Elliott Estes - Junior 21 Sarah Venker - Sophomore 22 Jessica Patak - Junior 33 Lyndie Swanson - Redshirt Freshman
Outfielders 5 Riley Bullen - Senior 26 Riley Martin - Freshman 32 Sierra Humphrey - Junior Catchers 1 Jasie Roberts - Redshirt Freshman 15 Heidi Jaquez - Senior 23 Caitlyn Brockway - Sophomore
Infielders 2 Baylee Chandler - Freshman 3 Kaicey Hagler - Freshman 8 Shelby Echols - Redshirt Freshman 11 Autumn Sydlik - Sophomore
Utility 4 Avery Drake - Redshirt Freshman 14 Kamryn Parker - Senior 20 Katy Janes - Freshman 27 Jackie Jessup - Freshman
Coaching staff 2021 Houston Baptist Huskies coaching staffMary-Ellen Hall – Head Coach – 29th year Roger Willhite – Assistant Head Coach – 21st year Natali Duron – Assistant Head Coach – 2nd year Shae Bibby – Volunteer Assistant Coach
Schedule and results Legend Houston Baptist win Houston Baptist loss Postponement/CancellationBoldHouston Baptist team member
2021 Houston Baptist Huskies softball game log Regular season (22-16) February (5-1) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Black & Gold InvitationalFeb. 12 vs. North Dakota Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in HattiesburgFeb. 13 at Southern Miss Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in HattiesburgFeb. 13 vs. SIU Edwardsville Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in HattiesburgFeb. 13 vs. SIU Edwardsville Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS Game Cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in Hattiesburg Feb. 20 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA W 9-4 Patak (1-0) Moon (1-1) None 101 1-0 Feb. 20 at Nicholls Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park• Thibodaux, LA W 5-3 Cotton (1-0) LaBure (2-1) None 96 2-0 Feb. 26 UHV Husky Field • Houston, TX W 5-0 Cotton (2-0) Kristoff (0-1) None 103 3-0 Feb. 26 UHV Husky Field • Houston, TX W 5-0 Patak (2-0) Cowan (0-1) None 98 4-0 Feb. 28 at Southern Miss Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS W 2-0 Venker (1-0) Leinstock (3-1) None 5-0 Feb. 28 at Southern Miss Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS L 2-3 Pierce (2-1) Patak (1-1) None 5-1 March (4-8) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMar. 6 Prairie View A&M Husky Field • Houston, TX W 12-1 (5 inns) Patak (3-1) Hall (0-1) None 120 6-1 Mar. 6 Prairie View A&M Husky Field • Houston, TX W 11-0 (5 inns) Venker (2-0) Fucci (0-1) None 110 7-1 Mar. 12 Abilene Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX L 2-4 Bradley (2-6) Patak (2-3) None 80 7-2 0-1Mar. 12 Abilene Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX W 10-6 Swanson (1-0) Harris (0-1) None 60 8-2 1-1Mar. 13 Abilene Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX L 0-4 Bradley (3-6) Patak (3-3) None 45 8-3 1-2Mar. 16 at Texas A&M Davis Diamond • College Station, TX L 0-6 Poynter (5-0) Patak (3-4) None 315 8-4 Mar. 19 Southeastern Louisiana Husky Field • Houston, TX L 1-2 Zumo (8-2) Patak (3-5) DuBois (2) 95 8-5 1-3Mar. 19 Southeastern Louisiana Husky Field • Houston, TX W 6-5 Swanson (2-0) Hannabas (0-3) None 90 9-5 2-3Mar. 20 Southeastern Louisiana Husky Field • Houston, TX L 4-9 Zumo (9-2) Janes (0-1) None 55 9-6 2-4Mar. 26 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 1-2 Howell (5-3) Patak (3-6) None 300 9-7 2-5Mar. 26 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 1-5 Delafield (5-1) Venker (2-1) None 300 9-8 2-6Mar. 27 at Northwestern State Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA L 2-7 Rhoden (4-2) Patak (3-7) None 200 9-9 2-7 April (10-5) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordApr. 2 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX W 8-0 (6 inns) Patak (4-7) Dunn (4-5) None 109 10-9 3-7Apr. 2 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX W 2-0 Swanson (3-0) Vento (3-5) None 109 11-9 4-7Apr. 3 at Sam Houston State Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX L 1-4 Bachmeyer (1-1) Janes (0-2) Vento (1) 111 11-10 4-8Apr. 9 Incarnate Word Husky Field • Houston, TX W 6-4 Patak (5-7) Trapp (3-5) None 40 12-10 5-8Apr. 9 Incarnate Word Husky Field • Houston, TX W 5-1 Swanson (4-0) Gunther (4-7) None 30 13-10 6-8Apr. 10 Incarnate Word Husky Field • Houston, TX W 7-2 Swanson (5-0) Floyd (2-4) None 45 14-10 7-8Apr. 13 at Prairie View A&M Lady Panther Softball Field • Prairie View, TX L 4-7 Fucci (1-0) Estes (0-1) Hall (2) 28 14-11 Apr. 17 Central Arkansas Husky Field • Houston, TX L 2-5 Johnson (9-4) Patak (5-8) None 50 14-12 7-9Apr. 17 Central Arkansas Husky Field • Houston, TX W 1-0 Swanson (6-0) Beaver (13-6) None 50 15-12 8-9Apr. 18 Central Arkansas Husky Field • Houston, TX W 2-1 Patak (5-8) Johnson (9-4) None 16-12 9-9Apr. 24 Lamar Husky Field • Houston, TX W 9-2 Patak (6-8) Mixon (1-10) None 57 17-12 10-9Apr. 24 Lamar Husky Field • Houston, TX W 2-1 Swanson (8-0) Ruiz (0-3) None 150 18-12 11-9Apr. 25 Lamar Husky Field • Houston, TX W 7-0 Venker (3-1) Mixon (2-14) None 115 19-12 12-9Apr. 28 at RV Texas State Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX L 2-4 Mullins (16-6) Patak (6-9) None 234 19-13 Apr. 30 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX L 3-4 Lara (13-9) Swanson (8-1) None 109 19-14 12-10 May (3-2) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMay 2 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX W 2-1 Swanson (9-1) Lara (13-10) None 155 20-14 13-10May 2 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX W 2-0 Patak (7-9) McNeill (1-7) None 155 21-14 14-10May 7 at Stephen F. Austin SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX W 3-1 Patak (8-9) Wilbur (28-4) None 143 22-14 15-10May 7 at Stephen F. Austin SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX L 4-5 Chism (3-1) Swanson (9-2) Wilbur (3) 116 22-15 15-11May 8 at Stephen F. Austin SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX L 0-1 Wilbur (29-4) Patak (8-10) None 135 22-16 15-12 Post-Season (0-1) (0-1) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament recordMay 12 (7) Sam Houston State (6) North Oak Park • Hammond, LA L 3-4 Dunn (8-11) Swanson (9-3) None ESPN+ 172 22-17 0-1 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)
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References