2014 Southland Conference Softball Tournament Release (PDF)
FRISCO, Texas – McNeese State earned the top seed in the 2014 Southland Conference Softball Tournament that will get underway Thursday, May 8, at North Oak Park on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, La.
The Cowgirls swept Lamar in the final conference series of the season to claim their second-consecutive regular-season championship and fourth overall. McNeese is the first school to win back-to-back titles since former Southland member Texas State (2008-2010). The Cowgirls will be seeking to win their first conference tournament championship since 2010. McNeese State recorded a 38-15 overall record and a 20-6 record against conference foes. The Cowgirls posted their sixth consecutive 30-win season and are making a conference-leading 25th overall tournament. The Cowgirls will play the winner of the Game One matchup between No. 4 Stephen F. Austin and No. 5 Houston Baptist, Thursday at 4 p.m.
Northwestern State, the defending conference tournament champion, finished second to earn the No. 2 seed with a 27-20 overall record and a 15-10 league mark. The Lady Demons will make their 16th appearance at the tournament and are looking to claim their fifth league title. Northwestern will look to become the first team to repeat as tournament champions since Texas State (2011, 2012). Northwestern will play the winner of Game Two between No. 3 Sam Houston State and No. 6 Central Arkansas, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
The tournament opens Thursday at 11 a.m. with game one between No. 4 seed SFA and No. 5 seed HBU. SFA is making its seventh appearance at the conference tournament and first since 2010. The Ladyjacks posted a 24-25 overall record and a 14-11 record in the Southland. SFA won six out of its last seven games to close out the regular season. HBU is making its first trip to the conference tournament after winning their conference series finale against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Huskies finished the regular season with a 21-26 overall record and a 14-13 record in conference play. During the regular season, the Huskies took two of three from the Ladyjacks in Houston, Texas, March 29-30.
In the second game of the tournament, No. 3 Sam Houston will face No. 6 UCA, Thursday at 1:30 p.m. The Bearkats are making their 12th overall and third straight appearance in the conference tournament. The Bearkats have won two tournament titles with their last coming in 2007. Sam Houston finished the season with an overall record of 26-25 and a conference record of 15-11. UCA returns to the tournament for the third straight year after finishing the regular season with a 24-32 overall record and 13-13 in league play. The two teams did not meet during the regular season.
The 2014 Southland Conference Softball Tournament plays a six-team double elimination format with a possibility of 11 games. The 11th game would be played in the event an undefeated team lost in the title game forcing a second game, upholding the double elimination format.
Southland Tournament Streamed Live with Championship Game on ESPN3
The 2014 Southland Softball Tournament, with the exception of the championship game, will be streamed live for free on the Southland Conference Digital Network, including Southland.org/watch and the league’s mobile/tablet apps, available at: Southland.org/apps. The championship game of the tournament will be carried exclusively on ESPN3, Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m. Chris Mycoskie, assistant commissioner of television and electronic media for the Southland Conference, will handle play-by play for all games, while three-time Southland softball coach of the year Yvette Girouard will be the color analyst and former Lady Lion Kati Morse, will join him for the championship as the dugout reporter.
The Southland Digital Network is available at Southland.org/watch, as well as the official SLC mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. ESPN3 programming can be found on WatchESPN.com, plus the WatchESPN app for iPhone, iPad, Android and XBOX Live systems.
NCAA Softball Selection Show on ESPNU
The winner of the 2014 tournament receives an automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show airs Sunday, May 11 at 9 p.m. CDT on ESPNU.
Tickets on Sale Now
Adult all-tournament tickets are available for $20 and $15 for youth. Tickets will also be available for each day of the tournament. A single-day pass is $10 and $8 for youth. To purchase tickets, contact the Southeastern Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at 985-549-5466 or visit the university’s athletic tickets website at www.LionSports.net.
Alanna DiVittorio Named Southland Player and Hitter of the Year
DiVittorio, a first-team all-conference selection, is the first Cowgirl to earn both player and hitter of the year honor since Heather Moreaux took both awards in 2000. DiVittorio, a native of Harahan, La., led the league in Southland play in runs scored (32), stolen bases (29), on-base percentage (.590), walks (24) was second in batting average (.459), sixth in hits (34) and 12th in slugging percentage (.595). She is the second Cowgirl to be named player of the year and third to be named hitter of the year. DiVittorio became the 12th player in Southland history to be named player and hitter of the year in the same season.
Jamie Allred Named Southland Pitcher of the Year
Allred became the first McNeese State player to be tabbed conference pitcher of the year since Angela Harrison in 1994. The sophomore ace from Hallsville, Texas, was named conference pitcher of the week five times during the regular season. In conference play, Allred led the league in shutouts with seven and was second in strikeouts with 121, including 37 batters looking. She pitched 112.1 innings in conference while holding opponents to a league-leading .170 batting average. Allred made 17 starts and picked up 15 wins while registering a 1.00 earned run average. On the season, Allred was 25-7 with three of her wins coming against nationally ranked teams (No. 7 Alabama, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 21 Alabama-Birmingham). She led the conference with a 1.50 ERA, 204.2 innings pitched and was second in strikeouts (195).
Taylor Terrio Garners Top Freshman Award
Taylor Terrio was tabbed as the league’s top freshman as she also earned first-team all-conference honors. Terrio becomes the first Colonel to win freshman of the year honors. In conference play, the freshman from Paulina, La., led the league with a .463 batting average and was tied for first in hits with 37. She ranked fourth in on-base percentage (.494), eighth in total bases (48) and 11th in slugging percentage (.600). On the season, she was tied for first in hits with 65 and finished fifth with a .389 batting average.
Kylee Studioso Named Newcomer of the Year
Kylee Studioso, a first-team all-conference selection, played a major role in ensuring that Central Arkansas would make the conference tournament for the third consecutive year. Studioso joins Holli Hill, who won newcomer of the year in 2010, as the second player in UCA history to ever win the award. The junior from Edmond, Wash., led the Southland in league play with 131 strikeouts in 94.2 innings. She posted an 11-4 record in 17 games while registering four shutouts and holding conference opponents to a .207 batting average. On the season, she led the league in strikeouts (212), appearances (38) and finished second in wins with 16.
Mike Smith Repeats as Coach of the Year
Smith received coach of the year honors for the second consecutive year after leading the Cowgirls to their fourth Southland regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Smith, who is in his third year at the helm of McNeese, becomes the first coach to win back-to-back awards since former Southland member Texas State Ricci Woodard (2001, 2002). McNeese posted a 20-6 mark in conference play, marking the first time the Cowgirls reached 20 wins in league play since 2010. McNeese’s 38-15 overall record marks the sixth consecutive season the Cowgirls have reached the 30-win mark.
Fifteen Players Return as All-Conference Selections
Fifteen players made a return appearance to the all-conference teams led by DiVittorio and junior teammate Ashley Modzelewski, who are both making their third consecutive appearance. Thirteen additional players are making their second all-conference appearance led by McNeese sophomores Allred and Emily Vincent, Northwestern State seniors Brianna Rodriguez, Tara McKenney and Kaylee Guidry and juniors Brittany Virgoe and Cassandra Barefield, Houston Baptist sophomore Kirsten Schwirtlich and senior Lauren Schwirtlich, Central Arkansas sophomore Sarah Bigej, Southeastern Louisiana sophomore Katie Lacour, Sam Houston State sophomore Tiffany Castillo and Nicholls sophomore Danielle Phillips.
TOURNAMENT TEAM NOTES
No. 1 McNeese State (38-15, 20-6 Southland)
McNeese will be making its 10th consecutive tournament appearance and its league-best 25th tournament berth. The Cowgirls also enter the tournament as back-to-back regular season champions and the tournament’s No. 1 seed. Last season the Cowgirls were eliminated from the tournament after losing two straight games. The Cowgirls have a 3-2 record in the title game with their most recent title coming in 2010. McNeese State had a conference-best seven players selected to the all-conference teams, including three first-team members. Southland Player and Hitter of the Year Alanna DiVittorio earned first-team in the outfield while sophomore Jamie Allred was tabbed Southland Pitcher of the Year. Junior catcher Ashley Modzelewski is a three-time all-conference honoree. DiVittorio leads the team with a .397 batting average, a .570 slugging percent, 45 walks and 44 stolen bases. She also has 60 hits and 23 RBI. In the circle, Allred has a league-high 25 wins and enters the tournament with a 25-7 overall record with a 1.50 ERA along with 195 strikeouts. Allred is 8-2 in her last 10 games and six of her last eight wins have been shutouts.
No. 2 Northwestern State (27-20, 15-10 Southland)
Northwestern State secured the No. 2 for the second-consecutive year and will make its 16th overall conference tournament. The Lady Demons are the reigning tournament champions and have won four league series in a row, including a sweep of Southeastern Louisiana in the regular-season finale. The Lady Demons hold a tournament winnings percentage of .635 (40-23), which is the best percentage among current league members. Northwestern had seven all-conference selections, including first-team member Brittany Virgoe at third base. Senior outfielder Tara McKenney and freshman outfielder Kellye Kincannon lead the Lady Demons from the plate with .371 and .369 batting averages, respectively. McKenney has dished out a team-high 59 hits, and Kincannon has picked up 38 RBI off 41 hits, including 12 homers, to make an early mark in her young career. From the circle, senior Kaylee Guidry (10-3) boasts a 2.94 ERA after allowing 38 runs, 35 of them earned, in 83.1 innings.
No. 3 Sam Houston State (26-25, 15-11 Southland)
Sam Houston State returns to the Southland tournament for the third consecutive year and for the 12th time overall. The Bearkats have a 30-18 overall record in the conference tournament and have made it all the way to the championship game the past two seasons. Sam Houston has won two tournament titles (1988, 2007), and have appeared in the title game five times. The Castillo sisters, Cecilia and Tiffany, from Port Lavaca Calhoun, give the Bearkats a one-two punch. Cecilia, the Bearkats senior right fielder, sports a .346 batting average while younger sister. Tiffany, a sophomore catcher, hits .294. The pair rank first and third in hitting for Sam Houston. Sam Houston placed four players on the all-conference teams, including three third-team members. Tiffany garnered second-team honors while junior shortstop Tayler Gray and pitcher Shelby Lancaster earned third-team honors.
No. 4 Stephen F. Austin (24-25, 14-11 Southland)
Stephen F. Austin closed the regular season 5-1 in league play to finish in fourth place and make conference tournament for the first time since 2010. Senior pitcher Carlie Thomas has been one of the top hurlers in the conference with a 16-13 record overall and six complete game shutouts. She threw four shutouts in conference play to rank among the leaders in the league. First baseman Shalie Day is among the top run producers in the Southland, driving in 22 RBI in league games. The Ladyjacks have a balanced offense with three different players driving in 30 or more RBI on the year. The Ladyjacks placed three members on the all-conference teams with Day and Thomas earning first-and-second team honors, respectively.
No. 5 Houston Baptist (21-26, 14-13 Southland)
Houston Baptist makes its first appearance in the conference tournament in the Huskies’ second year in the league. The Huskies’ offense is led by first-team all-conference senior shortstop Kirsten Schwirtlich and sister, second-team member sophomore outfielder Lauren Schwirtlich. Entering the tournament, K. Schwirtlich leads the conference with a .411 batting average, while sophomore third baseman Shay Orsak leads the conference with 22 doubles and is tied for the national lead with 0.49 doubles per game. Freshman Emily Mueller leads the pitchers with a 3.00 ERA, with nine complete games, one shutout, 45 strikeouts, and 49 walks. HBU had four members on the all-conference teams with Orsak earning third-team honors.
No. 6 Central Arkansas (24-32, 13-13 Southland)
Central Arkansas will be making their third conference tournament appearance. Offensively, the Bears are led by third baseman Sam Forrest and catcher Jessie Taylor. Forrest hit .348 with 18 doubles and eight homeruns while driving in 42 runs, and Taylor led Central Arkansas with 10 homeruns and a UCA single-season record 49 RBI. In the circle, Southland Newcomer of the Year Kylee Studioso finished the regular season with a 16-11 record and 3.25 ERA. The junior held opponents to a .248 average while striking out 212 batters in 161.2 innings, a number which led the Southland Conference. Central Arkansas placed four Bears on the all-conference team including sophomore Sarah Bigej who garnered first-team honors and Forrest who notched a spot on the second-team at third base.
