2023 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball team American college softball season
The 2023 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball team represented Northwestern State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season . The Lady Demons played their home games at Lady Demon Diamond and were led by fifteenth year head coach Donald Pickett. They are members of the Southland Conference .
Preseason
Southland Conference Coaches Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 26, 2023. Northwestern State was picked to finish third in the Southland Conference with 91 votes.[ 3]
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
McNeese State
128 (16)
2
Southeastern Louisiana
113 (2)
3
Northwestern State
91
4
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
85
5
Houston Christian
58
6
Lamar
49
7
Texas A&M–Commerce
47
8
Incarnate Word
45
9
Nicholls
32
Preseason All-Southland team
Two Lady Demons were named to the conference preseason first team, and three Lady Demons were named as second team members.
[ 3]
First Team
Crislyne Moreno (MCNS, SO, 1st Base)
Caleigh Cross (MCNS, SR, 2nd Base)
Jil Poullard (MCNS, JR, 3rd Base)
Maddie Watson (SELA, SO, Shortstop)
Bailey Krolczyk (SELA, JR, Catcher)
Kaylee Lopez (MCNS, SR, Utility)
Audrey Greely (SELA, JR, Designated Player)
Laney Roos (NSU, JR, Outfielder)
Alayis Seneca (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
Cam Goodman (SELA, JR, Outfielder)
Ashley Vallejo (MCNS, JR, Pitcher)
Bronte Rhoden (NSU, SR, Pitcher)
Second Team
Sydney Hoyt (TAMUCC, JR, 1st Base)
Madison Rayner (SELA, SR, 2nd Base)
Haylie Savage (HCU, SO, 3rd Base)
Ryleigh Mata (UIW, SO, Shortstop)
Tristin Court (NSU, JR, Catcher)
Melise Gossen (NICH, SR, Utility)
Chloe Gomez (MCNS, JR, Designated Player)
Alexa Poche (NICH, JR, Outfielder)
Makenzie Chaffin (NSU, JR, Outfielder)
Bailie Ragsdale (NSU, SO, Outfielder)
Lyndie Swanson (HCU, JR, Pitcher)
Siarah Galvan (TAMUCC, SO, Pitcher)
Roster
2023 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball team
Players
Coaches
#
Pos.
Name
Bats/throws
Height
Year
Home town
0
OF
Vivica Hernandez
L/L
5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
So
Fort Worth, Texas
2
OF
Camryn Ford
L/L
5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Fr
Marthaville, Louisiana
4
C
Ashlyn Walker
R/R
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Jr
Saginaw, Texas
6
OF
Makenzie Chaffin
L/R
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Jr
Bossier City, Louisiana
7
RHP
Bronte Rhoden
R/R
5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Sr
Plano, Texas
9
OF
Laney Roos
L/L
5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Jr
Aubrey, Texas
10
INF
Megan Risher
L/L
5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Fr
Benton, Louisiana
11
RHP
Kenzie Seely
R/R
5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Jr
Whitney, Texas
12
INF
Taylor Williams
L/R
5 ft 3 in (1.6 m)
Jr
Tom Bean, Texas
13
C
Tristin Court
R/R
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Jr
Rockwall, Texas
14
INF
Keely DuBois
R/R
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Jr
Robeline, Louisiana
15
RHP
Nana Vences
R/R
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
RS Fr
Marshall, Texas
17
INF
Kat Marshall
R/R
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Jr
Brenham, Texas
18
RHP
Rylie Denton
L/R
5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Jr
Rotan, Texas
22
OF
Bailie Ragsdale
L/R
5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
So
Lone Oak, Texas
23
OF
Nani Winger
R/R
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
RS So
Friendswood, Texas
24
RHP
Haley Parker
R/R
5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
RS Fr
Fort Worth, Texas
27
C
Derika Castillo
R/R
5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
So
Houston, Texas
28
RHP
Maggie Darr
R/R
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
RS So
Missouri City, Texas
33
C
Lexie Roos
R/R
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Jr
Aubrey, Texas
Head coach
Donald Pickett (UT Chattanooga )
Assistant coach(es)
Lexi Smith (Texas A&M )
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Current redshirt
Roster Last update: January 5, 2023
Schedule and results
Legend
Northwestern State win
Northwestern State loss
Postponement/Cancellation
Bold
Northwestern State team member
*
Non-Conference game
†
Make-Up Game
2023 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball game log
Regular season (25–27)
February (7–7)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SLC record
Bearkat Classic
Feb. 10
vs. UTSA *
Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX
3–1
Darr, Maggie (1-0)
GILBERT (0-1)
Rhoden, Bronte (1)
105
1–0
Feb. 11
vs. Delaware *
Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX
4–7
Shank (1-0)
Darr, Maggie (0-1)
Winburn (1)
155
1–1
Feb. 12
vs. South Dakota State *
Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX
0–2
Lasey (2-0)
Denton, Ryleigh (0-1)
150
1–2
Feb. 12
at Sam Houston State *
Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX
1–2
GUIDON, EMMA (2-0)
Darr, Maggie (1-2)
305
1–3
2023 Mardi Gras Mambo
Feb. 17
vs. St. Thomas *
Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA
5–3
Seely, Kenzie (1-0)
Keira Murphy (0-2)
102
2–3
Feb. 17
vs. Florida A&M *
Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA
9–0 (5 inn)
Darr, Maggie (2-2)
Lauryn Peppers (0-2)
96
3–3
Feb. 18
vs. Manhattan *
Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA
5–0
Denton, Ryleigh (1-1)
VENEZIALE, Makayla (0-1)
68
4–3
Feb. 18
vs. Gardner–Webb *
Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA
8–2
Rhoden, Bronte (1-0)
KYLE, KALYN (1-1)
75
5–3
Feb. 19
vs. Toledo *
Youngsville Sports Complex • Youngsville, LA
6–0
Darr, Maggie (3-2)
HUNT, Erin (1-4)
89
6–3
Feb. 22
Grambling *
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
2–1
Darr, Maggie (3-2)
Hodge, Jordan (0-1)
Rhoden, Bronte (2)
437
7–3
North Texas Invitational
Feb. 25
vs. Wichita State *
Lovelace Stadium • Denton, TX
1–7
HOWELL, L. (4-1)
Denton, Ryleigh (1-2)
128
7–4
Feb. 25
at North Texas *
Lovelace Stadium • Denton, TX
3–5
Savage, S. (3-0)
Darr, Maggie (4-3)
Peters, A. (1)
354
7–5
Feb. 26
vs. Wichita State*
Lovelace Stadium • Denton, TX
2–5
AGUILAR, A. (3-1)
Seely, Kenzie (1-1)
108
7–6
Feb. 26
at North Texas*
Lovelace Stadium • Denton, TX
1–10 (6 inn)
Peters, A. (4-3)
Rhoden, Bronte (1-1)
400
7–7
March (10–8)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SLC record
Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission Lady Demon Classic
Mar. 3
Arkansas–Pine Bluff *
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
9–1 (5 inn)
Seely, Kenzie (2-1)
LeeAnn Raney (0-3)
ESPN+
689
8–7
Mar. 4
Jackson State *
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
8–0 (5 inn)
Darr, Maggie (5-3)
Victoria Salazar (2-3)
ESPN+
368
9–7
Mar. 5
Arkansas–Pine Bluff*
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
1–0
Darr, Maggie (5-3)
Sydney Green (2-4)
ESPN+
169
10–7
Mar. 5
Jackson State*
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
6–1
Denton, Ryleigh (2-2)
Marissa Medina (2-1)
Seely, Kenzie (1)
ESPN+
148
11–7
Mar. 11
Lamar
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
2–8
Mitchell, Karyana (4-9)
Darr, Maggie (6-4)
ESPN+
248
11–8
0–1
Mar. 11
Lamar
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
5–4
Seely, Kenzie (3-1)
Niedenthal, Cameron (2-2)
ESPN+
246
12–8
1–1
Mar. 12
Lamar
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
1–6
Ruiz, Aaliyah (3-6)
Denton, Ryleigh (2-3)
ESPN+
187
12–9
1–2
Mar. 14
at Louisiana Tech *
Lady Techster Softball Complex • Ruston, LA
0–5
MELNYCHUK, B (4-2)
Darr, Maggie (6-5)
CUSAtv
677
12–10
Memphis Tiger Classic
Mar. 17
vs. Indiana *
Tiger Softball Complex • Memphis, TN
2–4
Copeland (8-0)
Denton, Ryleigh (2-4)
155
12–11
Mar. 17
at Memphis *
Tiger Softball Complex • Memphis, TN
6–3
Rhoden, Bronte (2-1)
Siems, Halli (3-11)
Darr, Maggie (1)
207
13–11
Mar. 18
vs. Indiana*
Tiger Softball Complex • Memphis, TN
6–11
Copeland (9-0)
Seely, Kenzie (3-2)
150
13–12
Mar. 19
vs. Memphis*
Tiger Softball Complex • Memphis, TN
15–5 (5 inn)
Denton, Ryleigh (3-4)
Hoschak, Mik (0-5)
250
14–12
Mar. 24
at Nicholls
Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA
6–5
Darr, Maggie (7-5)
McNeill, Audrey (7-5)
ESPN+
131
15–12
2–2
Mar. 24
at Nicholls
Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA
3–1
Seely, Kenzie (4-2)
Yoo, Molly (7-4)
ESPN+
102
16–12
3–2
Mar. 25
at Nicholls
Swanner Field at Geo Sources Park • Thibodaux, LA
3–4 (8 inn)
Yoo, Molly (8-4)
Rhoden, Bronte (2-2)
ESPN+
127
16–13
3–3
Mar. 28
Louisiana Tech*
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
1–5
FLOYD, Allie (3-4)
Seely, Kenzie (4-3)
ESPN+
248
16–14
Mar. 31
Houston Christian
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchtoches, LA
8–0 (5 inn)
Darr, Maggie (8-5)
Janes, Katy (5-7)
ESPN+
178
17–14
4–3
Mar. 31
Houston Christian
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchtoches, LA
1–2
Swanson, Lyndie (7-5)
Seely, Kenzie (4-4)
ESPN+
163
17–15
4–4
April (7–7)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SLC record
Apr. 1
Houston Christian
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchtoches, LA
6–1
Darr, Maggie (9-5)
Janes, Katy (5-8)
ESPN+
205
19–15
5–4
Apr. 7
at McNeese
Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA
7–6
Darr, Maggie (10-5)
Davis, Lindsay (3-2)
ESPN+
20–15
6–4
Apr. 7
at McNeese
Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA
0–4
Vallejo, Ashley (8-7)
Seely, Kenzie (4-5)
ESPN+
687
20–16
6–5
Apr. 8
at McNeese
Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA
0–2
Vallejo, Ashley (9-7)
Darr, Maggie (10-6)
Davis, Lindsay (4)
ESPN+
707
20–17
6–6
Apr. 11
at Grambling*
GSU Softball Complex • Grambling, LA
9–1
Darr, Maggie (11-6)
Lauren Ervin (1-1)
89
21–17
Apr. 14
at Incarnate Word
H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX
2–3 (10 inn)
Portillo, S (0-0)
Darr, Maggie (0-0)
ESPN+
67
21–18
7–8
Apr. 14
at Incarnate Word
H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX
9–5
Denton, Ryleigh (4-4)
MYERS, N (0-0)
Rhoden, Bronte (3)
ESPN+
120
21–19
8–8
Apr. 15
at Incarnate Word
H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX
3–11 (5 inn)
GUNTHER, A (0-0)
Seely, Kenzie (0-0)
ESPN+
83
21–19
8–9
Apr. 21
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
2–1
Darr, Maggie (12-7)
Aholelei, Primrose (15-10)
ESPN+
189
21–19
8–9
Apr. 21
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
6–3
Seely, Kenzie (5-6)
Galvan, Siarah (3-3)
Denton, Ryleigh (1)
ESPN+
138
22–19
9–9
Apr. 22
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
1–5
Aholelei, Primrose (16-10)
Darr, Maggie (12-8)
ESPN+
208
23–20
9–9
Apr. 28
at Texas A&M–Commerce
John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX
0–2
Sanchez, J. (6-12)
Darr, Maggie (12-9)
ESPN+
173
23–21
9–10
Apr. 28
at Texas A&M–Commerce
John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX
5–4
Seely, Kenzie (6-6)
Sanchez, J. (6-13)
Denton, Ryleigh (2)
ESPN+
24–21
10–10
Apr. 29
at Texas A&M–Commerce
John Cain Family Softball Complex • Commerce, TX
3–4
Sanchez, J. (7-13)
Rhoden, Bronte (2-3)
Arredondo, A (1)
ESPN+
236
24–22
10–11
May (0–3)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SLC record
May. 5
Southeastern Louisiana
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
5–7
DuBois, Ellie (1-0)
Denton, Ryleigh (4-5)
ESPN+
206
24–23
10–12
May. 5
Southeastern Louisiana
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
0–3
Blanchard, Cera (16-6)
Seely, Kenzie (6-7)
ESPN+
208
24–24
10–13
May. 6
Southeastern Louisiana
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA
1–7
DuBois, Ellie (2-0)
Rhoden, Bronte (2-4)
Comeaux, MC (4)
ESPN+
185
24–25
10–14
Post-Season (1–2)
Southland Tournament (1–2)
Date
Opponent
(Seed)/Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
Tournament record
May 9
vs. (3) Nicholls
(6)
Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA
8–2 (8 inn)
Seely, Kenzie (7-7)
Yoo, M. (12-11)
ESPN+
457
25–25
1–0
May 10
vs. (2) Southeastern Louisiana
(6)
Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA
1–13 (5 inn)
Ladner, KK (15-1)
Seely, Kenzie (7-8)
ESPN+
394
25–26
1–1
May 11
vs. (4) Lamar
(6)
Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond • Lake Charles, LA
4–5
Ruiz, Aaliyah (13-11)
Darr, Maggie (12-10)
Ben Karim, Fadwa (1)
ESPN+
25–27
1–2
Schedule Source: [ 4] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.
References
Venues Head coaches
Pam Carey (1979)
Debra Pheil (1980)
James Smith (1981–1984)
Linda Jones (1985–1986)
Rickey McCalister (1987–1994)
Gay McNutt (1995–2000)
Ty Singleton (2001–2002)
Eileen Schmidt (2003–2004)
Mike Perniciaro (2005)
Becky McMurtry (2006–2008)
Donald Pickett (2009– )
Seasons Women's College World Series appearances in italics
Information related to 2023 Northwestern State Lady Demons softball team