2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball team

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2021 Central Arkansas Sugar Bears softball
Central Arkansas Athletics wordmark.svg
ConferenceSouthland Conference
2021 record37–19 (21–6 Southland)
Head coach
  • David Kuhn (13th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Jenny Parsons
  • Chris Watford
Home stadiumFarris Field
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Southland Conference softball standings
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Stephen F. Austin  ‍†‍‍ 25 – 2   .926 35 – 12   .745
Central Arkansas  ‍‍‍ 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
‡ – 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 • 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)
(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.


Posteason[]

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