2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball team

2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record37–19 (21–6 Southland)
Head coach
  • David Kuhn (13th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Jenny Parsons
  • Chris Watford
Home stadiumFarris Field
2021 Southland Conference softball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Stephen F. Austin  ‍†‍‍ 25 – 2   .926 35 – 12   .745
 ‍‍‍ 21 – 6   .778 37 – 19   .661
McNeese State  ‍‍‡‍y 18 – 9   .667 35 – 26   .574
Northwestern State  ‍‍‍ 16 – 11   .593 24 – 22   .522
Southeastern Louisiana  ‍‍‍ 14 – 10   .583 28 – 23   .549
Houston Baptist  ‍‍‍ 15 – 12   .556 22 – 17   .564
Sam Houston State  ‍‍‍ 14 – 13   .519 19 – 31   .380
Abilene Christian  ‍‍‍ 10 – 17   .370 14 – 33   .298
Incarnate Word  ‍‍‍ 9 – 18   .333 16 – 27   .372
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi  ‍‍‍ 8 – 16   .333 18 – 30   .375
Nicholls  ‍‍‍ 5 – 22   .185 12 – 28   .300
Lamar  ‍‍‍ 4 – 23   .148 8 – 43   .157
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of May 22, 2021[1]
Rankings from NFCA

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.[2]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
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

[3]

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

[4]

Player Position Hometown Previous Team
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 staff
  • David 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/Cancellation
Bold Central 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 Classic
Feb. 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 Invitational
Feb. 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 Classic
Feb. 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 Record
Mar. 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 Classic
Mar. 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 0-1
Mar. 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 2-2
Mar. 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 Record
Apr. 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 14-4
Apr. 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 15-6
Apr. 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 Record
May 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 19-6
May 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)
Southland Tournament (0-0)
Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record
May 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:[5]

*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

References:[6]

References

  1. ^ "Southland Softball Standings". www.southland.org. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ladyjacks Tabbed 2021 Softball Preseason Favorites". www.southland.org. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "2021 Southland Preseason All-Conference Softball Teams Announced". www.southland.org. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "Bears Sign Seven to 2021 Recruiting Class". University of Central Arkansas Athletics. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "2021 Softball Schedule". University of Central Arkansas Athletics. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "SFA's Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year". www.southland.org. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
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