McNeese Cowgirls softball

For all McNeese State University sports, see McNeese Cowboys and Cowgirls.
McNeese Cowgirls
2024 McNeese Cowgirls softball team
UniversityMcNeese State University
All-time Record1,093–1,087–4
Head coachJames Landreneau (5th season)
ConferenceSouthland
LocationLake Charles, LA
Home stadiumJoe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond (Capacity: 1,200)
NicknameCowgirls
ColorsRoyal blue and gold[1]
   
NCAA Tournament appearances
1994, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
Conference Tournament championships
1983, 2005, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
Regular Season Conference championships
1983, 1994(T), 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2024

The McNeese Cowgirls softball team represents McNeese State University, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Cowgirls are a member of the Southland Conference and participate in NCAA Division I college softball. The team is currently led by head coach James Landreneau and play their home games at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond.

History

The first season for McNeese State Cowgirl softball was 1979. The Cowgirls competed as an independent for the first four seasons. The team won the Louisiana championship two of those seasons (1979, 1981). After softball became an NCAA and Southland Conference sponsored sport, the Cowgirls have competed in the conference and at the Division I (NCAA) level. The Cowgirls have won six Southland Conference regular season championships (1983, 1994 (T), 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and seven Southland Conference tournament championships (1983, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021) earning the conference's autobid to the NCAA Division I softball tournament in 2005 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021. The team also competed in the 1994 NCAA tournament as an at-large selection. As of the conclusion of the 2018 season, the Cowgirls have compiled a 1041–1048–4 overall record with an overall conference record of 406–346–3.[2][3] Erika Piancastelli is McNeese State's first and only All-American. She was named an NFCA All-American in 2016.

Career coaching records

Coach Number
of
seasons		 Overall record Winning
percentage
Coaching records
Cathy Cunningham
2
28–22
.560
Jim Draudt
2
59–28
.678
Vicki Chapman
1
19–18
.514
Cheryl Manuel
2
43–58
.426
Cherilyn Lantrip
2
42–38
.525
Rose Ruffino
5
56–186
.231
Scott Eastman
12
311–355–4
.467
Chris Malveaux
4
108–133
.448
Natalie Poole
3
100–84
.543
Mike Smith
3
112–53
.679
Joanna Hardin
2
79–34
.699
James Landreneau
4
172–100
.645
Overall
41
1,089–1,095–4
.496

(Records reflect game results through 2021 season.)

Year-by-year results

Source:[4][2]

Season Conference Coach Overall Conference Notes
Games Win Loss Tie Games Win Loss Tie
NCAA Year-by-Year Results
1979 Independent Cathy Cunningham 24 16 8 0 0 0 0 0 Louisiana Champions
1980 Independent Cathy Cunningham 26 12 14 0 0 0 0 0
1981 Independent Jim Draudt 45 33 12 0 0 0 0 0 Louisiana Champions
1982 Independent Jim Draudt 42 26 16 0 0 0 0 0
1983 Southland Vicky Chapman 37 19 18 0 8 5 3 0 SLC Regular Season and Tournament champions
1984 Southland Cheryl Manuel 51 24 27 0 8 5 3 0 2nd
1985 Southland Cheryl Manuel 50 19 31 0 12 7 5 0 4th
1986 Southland Cherilyn Lantrip 43 19 24 0 12 6 6 0 3rd
1987 Southland Cherilyn Lantrip 37 23 14 0 12 8 4 0 3rd
1988 Southland Rose Ruffino 42 8 34 0 14 3 11 0 6th
1989 Southland Rose Ruffino 54 9 45 0 14 0 14 0 8th
1990 Southland Rose Ruffino 48 10 38 0 15 2 13 0 8th
1991 Southland Rose Ruffino 44 11 33 0 22 5 17 0 6th
1992 Southland Rose Ruffino 54 18 36 0 28 6 22 0 9th
1993 Southland Scott Eastman 52 23 28 1 25 12 12 1 4th
1994 Southland Scott Eastman 61 35 24 2 30 22 7 1 SLC Champions; NCAA tournament – 1st round
1995 Southland Scott Eastman 62 37 25 0 32 22 10 0 3rd
1996 Southland Scott Eastman 53 31 22 0 24 17 7 0 2nd
1997 Southland Scott Eastman 59 32 27 0 23 13 10 0 3rd
1998 Southland Scott Eastman 47 13 34 0 24 7 17 0 9th
1999 Southland Scott Eastman 60 26 34 0 25 14 11 0 5th
2000 Southland Scott Eastman 60 27 33 0 27 16 11 0 4(T)
2001 Southland Scott Eastman 53 21 32 0 26 13 13 0 6th
2002 Southland Scott Eastman 51 23 28 0 27 17 10 0 4th
2003 Southland Scott Eastman 52 24 27 1 27 15 11 1 3rd
2004 Southland Scott Eastman 60 19 41 0 25 8 17 0 9th
2005 Southland Chris Malveaux 69 34 35 0 27 12 15 0 6th, SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2006 Southland Chris Malveaux 51 21 30 0 26 13 13 0 4th
2007 Southland Chris Malveaux 62 30 32 0 27 16 11 0 5th
2008 Southland Chris Malveaux 59 23 36 0 29 15 14 0 5th
2009 Southland Natalie Poole 59 31 28 0 30 20 10 0 2nd
2010 Southland Natalie Poole 65 38 27 0 30 17 13 0 4th, SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2011 Southland Natalie Poole 60 31 29 0 30 18 12 0 4th
2012 Southland Mike Smith 55 34 21 0 20 12 8 0 3rd
2013 Southland Mike Smith 53 38 15 0 24 19 5 0 1st, SLC regular-season champions
2014 Southland Mike Smith 57 40 17 0 26 20 6 0 1st, SLC regular-season champions
2015 Southland Joanna Hardin 56 36 20 0 26 21 5 0 2nd
2016 Southland Joanna Hardin 57 43 14 0 27 23 4 0 1st, SLC regular-season champions; SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2017 Southland James Landreneau 61 43 18 0 27 24 3 0 1st, SLC regular-season champions; SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2018 Southland James Landreneau 62 41 21 0 27 18 9 0 2nd; SLC tournament champions; NCAA regionals
2019 Southland James Landreneau 65 33 32 0 27 19 8 0 3rd; NISC Regionals
2020 Southland James Landreneau 26 19 7 0 3 3 0 0 2nd (season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 Southland James Landreneau 58 34 24 0 27 18 9 0 3rd; NCAA regionals

Post-season appearances

Conference Tournaments

Sources:[2]

Year Conference Record % Notes
Conference softball tournament Results
1983 Southland 4–0 1.000 Tournament Champion
1984 Southland 2–2 .500
1985 Southland 0–2 .000
1986 Southland 3–2 .600
1987 Southland 2–2 .500
1988 Southland 0–2 .000
1989 Southland 0–2 .000
1990 Southland 2–2 .333
1991–1995 No Tournament
1996 Southland 0–2 .000
1997 Southland 0–2 .000
1999 Southland 3–2 .600
2000 Southland 2–2 .500
2001 Southland 0–2 .500
2002 Southland 0–2 .500
2003 Southland 1–2 .333
2005 Southland 5–1 .833 Tournament Champion
2006 Southland 0–2 .000
2007 Southland 0–2 .000
2008 Southland 1–1 .500
2009 Southland 2–2 .500
2010 Southland 4–0 1.000 Tournament Champion
2011 Southland 2–2 .500
2012 Southland 2–2 .500
2013 Southland 0–2 .000
2014 Southland 2–2 .500
2015[5] Southland 0–2 .000
2016 Southland 3–0 1.000 Tournament Champion
2017 Southland 3–0 1.000 Tournament Champion
2018 Southland 4–0 1.000 Tournament Champion
2019 Southland 1–2 .333
2020 No Tournament (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021 Southland 4–0 1.000 Tournament Champion
Total 52–48 .520 31 appearances

NCAA Division I tournament results

The Cowgirls have appeared in six NCAA Division I tournaments. Their record is 5–14.
Source: [3]

Year Part Round Opponent Result/score
NCAA Division I tournament results
1994 Regionals No. 4 First game
Second game		 Louisiana–Lafayette
Princeton		 L 0–3
L 0–2
2005 College Station Regionals First game
Second game
Third game		 Texas A&M
Centenary
Penn State		 L 3–6
W 5–2
L 1–2
2010 Baton Rouge Regionals First game
Second game		 LSU
Texas A&M		 L 0–6
L 0–2
2016 Baton Rouge Regionals First game
Second game
Third game		 Arizona State
LSU
Arizona State		 W 5–2
L 1–4
L 2–3 (14 inn)
2017 Baton Rouge Regionals First game
Second game
Third game		 Louisiana–Lafayette
Fairfield
LSU		 L 0–6
W 6–2
L 1–10 (6 inn)
2018 College Station Regionals First game
Second game
Third game		 Baylor
Texas A&M
Baylor		 W 11–10
L 1–10 (6 inn)
L 0–6
2021 Baton Rouge Regionals First game
Second game
Third game		 LSU
George Washington
Louisiana		 L 2–10 (6 inn)
W 12–0 (5 inn)
L 0–4

NISC Tournament results

The Cowgirls have appeared in one NISC tournament. Their record is 3–2.

Year Part Round Opponent Result/score
NISC Tournament Results
2019 Stephen F. Austin Regionals First game
Second game
Third game
Fourth game
Regional championship		 Middle Tennessee
UT Arlington
Stephen F. Austin
UT Arlington
UT Arlington		 W 7–3
L 3–5
W 3–1
W 6–1
L 3–4 (10 inn)

Awards and honors

Conference awards

Sources:[6]

Southland Conference Player of the Year
Southland Conference Hitter of the Year
  • Kerry Riggs 1994
  • Heather Moreaux 2000
  • Alanna DiVittorio 2014
  • Erika Piancastelli 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year
Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year
  • Angella Harrison 1994
  • Jamie Allred 2014
  • Rachel Smith 2017
Southland Conference Utility Player of the Year
  • Jenny Clay 2007, 08
Southland Conference Coach of the Year
  • Scott Eastman 1994
  • Natalie Poole 2009
  • Mike Smith 2013, 2014
  • James Landreneau 2017
All Conference First Team
  • Tammy Guidry 1983
  • Joni Talbot 1987
  • Angela Harrison 1994
  • Keri Riggs 1994, 1995
  • Shyla Sicks 1994
  • Kerri Chiasson 1995
  • Natalie Poole 1995, 1996, 1997
  • Kathy Sturgeon 1995
  • Sarah Everingham 1997, 1998
  • Heather Moreaux 2000
  • Tania Zanet 2000
  • Beth Jordan 2002, 2005
  • Stephanie Denham 2003
  • Brooke Broadhead 2007
  • Jenny Clay 2008
  • Claire Terracina 2011, 2012
  • Ashley Modzelewski 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Meagan Bond 2013
  • Alanna DiVittorio 2013, 2014
  • Jamie Allred 2014
  • Erika Piancastelli 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
  • Bryanna Castro 2015
  • Lauren Langner 2015
  • Hailey Drew 2016
  • Morgan Catron 2016, 2018
  • Emily Vincent 2016
  • Alexandria Saldivar 2017, 2018
  • Justyce McClain 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Rachel Smith 2017

See also

References

  1. ^ "McNeese State Athletics Style Guide" (PDF). January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Southland Conference 2015 Softball" (PDF). Southland Conference. pp. 11–38. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "McNeese Softball Task Force 36" (PDF). McNeese State University. pp. 42–52. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  4. ^ "Archived Team-by-Team Final Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  5. ^ "2015 Southland Conference softball tournament" (PDF). Southland Conference. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  6. ^ "2020 SB Record Book (PDF) - Southland Conference" (PDF). www.southland.org. Retrieved 17 December 2020.