The 2021 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders softball team represented Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Islanders played their home games at the softball facility at Chapman Field and were led by second-year head coach Kristen Zaleski. They were members of the Southland Conference.
Preseason
Southland Conference Coaches Poll
The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 5, 2021. Texas A&M–Corpus Christi was picked to finish eleventh in the Southland Conference with 47 votes.[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)
Roster
| 2021 Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders roster | 
|  | Pitchers
 9 Sydney Hoyt - Freshman13 Audrey McNeill - Freshman20 Beatriz Lara - Sophomore'21 Megan Depew - Freshman73 Jenika Lombrana - Sophomore
 Outfielders
 3 Kennedy Jimenez - Junior4 Madison Johnson - Freshman11 Alexandria Torres - Freshman24 Katrina Jackson - Redshirt Sophomore26 Tiler Noyola - Junior49 Alie Alcantar - Freshman
 Utilities
 6 Daisy Gonzalez - Junior22 Skye Koehl - Senior33 Sammi Thomas - Sophomore
 |  | Catchers
 15 Haley Morse - Freshman17 Kayla Keith - Freshman19 Kaylee Hoppens - Redshirt Sophomore
 Infielders
 1 Gabriella Torres - Freshman2 Tiare Lee - Junior5 Alyssa Escamilla - Sophomore7 Mackenzie Purcell - Sophomore10 Ashleigh Sgambelluri - Sophomore12 Bailey Payne - Freshman16 Narianna Hernandez - Freshman18 Kayla Gonzalez - Freshman27 Quinn de Avila - Sophomore55 Pal Egan - Sophomore
 | 
Coaching staff
| 2021 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders coaching staff | 
| Kristen Zaleski – Head Coach – 2nd yearPaige Williams – Assistant Head Coach – 2nd yearAndrew Zeger – Assistant Head Coach – 1st year
 | 
Schedule and results
| Legend | 
|  | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi win | 
|  | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi loss | 
|  | Postponement/Cancellation | 
| Bold | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi team member | 
| 2021 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders Softball Game Log | 
| Regular season (18-30) | 
| 
| February (6-4) |  
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |  
| Aggie Classic |  
| Feb. 12 | at Texas A&M |  | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in College Station |  
| Feb. 13 | at Texas A&M |  | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in College Station |  
| Feb. 13 | vs. Utah Valley |  | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in College Station |  
| Feb. 14 | at Texas A&M |  | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | Game cancelled due to threat of freezing rain/sleet/snow in College Station |  
|  |  
| Scrap Yard Blizzard Challenge |  
| Feb. 20 | vs. No. 11 Oklahoma State |  | Scrap Yard Sports Complex • Conroe, TX | L 1-11 (5 inns) | Simunek (1-0) | Lombrana (0-1) | None |  | 67 | 0-1 |  |  
| Feb. 20 | vs. Tarleton State |  | Scrap Yard Softball Complex • Conroe, TX | W 13-3 (5 inns) | Lara (1-0) | Bridges (0-1) | None |  | 67 | 1-1 |  |  
| Feb. 21 | vs. Wichita State |  | Scrap Yard Softball Complex • Conroe, TX | W 5-1 | Lombrana (1-1) | Martinez (0-1) | None |  | 702 | 2-1 |  |  
| Feb. 21 | vs. No. 11 Oklahoma State |  | Scrap Yard Softball Complex • Conroe, TX | L 0-11 (6 inns) | Maxwell (3-0) | Lara (1-1) | None |  | 702 | 2-2 |  |  
|  |  
| Feb. 24 | Texas Southern |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 5-3 | Lombrana (2-1) | Reyes (0-2) | McNeill (1) |  | 87 | 3-2 |  |  
| Feb. 24 | Texas Southern |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 7-1 | Lara (2-1) | Gendorf (0-1) | None |  | 114 | 4-2 |  |  
| UTSA Classic |  
| Feb. 26 | vs. UT Arlington |  | Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX | L 7-9 | Bumpurs (1-2) | Lombrana (2-2) | Hines (1) |  | 50 | 4-3 |  |  
| Feb. 27 | vs. UT Arlington |  | Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX | W 12-8 | McNeill (1-0) | Hines (0-3) | None |  | 50 | 5-3 |  |  
| Feb. 27 | vs. Kansas |  | Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX | L 5-9 | Hamilton (1-1) | Lombrana (0-2) | Todd (1) |  | 50 | 5-4 |  |  
| Feb. 28 | at UTSA |  | Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX | W 2-1 | Lara (3-1) | Williams (0-1) | None |  |  | 6-4 |  |  
|  |  | 
| 
| March (8-12) |  
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |  
| Boerner Invitational |  
| Mar. 4 | vs. North Texas |  | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | L 0-5 | Wall (0-1) | Lombrana (2-4) | None |  | 156 | 6-5 |  |  
| Mar. 4 | at UT Arlington |  | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | W 5-4 | Lara (4-1) | Valencia (1-4) | Lombrana (1) |  | 156 | 7-5 |  |  
| Mar. 5 | vs. Wichita State |  | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | L 4-5 | Bingham (1-0) | Hoyt (0-1) | Lange (1) |  | 156 | 7-6 |  |  
| Mar. 5 | vs. Missouri State |  | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | L 0-11 (5 inns) | Johnston (2-0) | Lombrana (2-5) | None |  | 156 | 7-7 |  |  
| Mar. 6 | vs. No. 23 Iowa State |  | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | L 3-6 | Mortimer (3-0) | McNeill (1-1) | None |  | 156 | 7-8 |  |  
|  |  
| Mar. 10 | at No. 10 Texas |  | Red and Charline McCombs Field • Austin, TX | L 6-10 | Day (1-0) | McNeill (1-2) | Adams (1) | LHN | 310 | 7-9 |  |  
| Mar. 12 | Sam Houston State |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 4-2 | Lara (5-1) | Vento (2-2) | None |  | 134 | 8-9 | 1-0 |  
| Mar. 12 | Sam Houston State |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 0-6 | Dunn (2-3) | Lombrana (2-6) | None |  | 224 | 8-10 | 1-1 |  
| Mar. 13 | Sam Houston State |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 5-0 | Lara (6-1) | Billmeier (0-3) | None |  | 204 | 9-10 | 2-1 |  
| Mar. 16 | at Texas State |  | Bobcat Softball Complex • San Marcos, TX | L 0-2 | Mullins (7-2) | Lara (6-2) | None |  | 174 | 9-11 |  |  
| Mar. 19 | at Lamar |  | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | W 6-0 | Lara (7-2) | Mixon (1-5) | None |  | 119 | 10-11 | 3-1 |  
| Mar. 19 | at Lamar |  | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | W 11-0 (5 inns) | Lombrana (3-6) | Reyna (0-6) | None |  | 119 | 11-11 | 4-1 |  
| Mar. 20 | at Lamar |  | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | W 6-0 | Lara (8-2) | Reyna (0-7) | None |  | 119 | 12-11 | 5-1 |  
| Mar. 24 | Tarleton State |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 4-0 | Lara (9-2) | Wernet (6-8) | None |  | 137 | 13-11 |  |  
| Mar. 24 | Tarleton State |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 5-0 | Lombranma (4-6) | Bridges (5-10) | None |  | 137 | 14-11 |  |  
| Mar. 26 | McNeese State |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 2-3 (9 inns) | Edwards (3-1) | Lara (9-3) | None |  | 141 | 14-12 | 5-2 |  
| Mar. 26 | McNeese State |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 1-6 | Tate (5-7) | Lombrana (4-7) | None |  | 141 | 14-13 | 5-3 |  
| Mar. 27 | McNeese State |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 0-9 | Edwards (4-1) | Lara (9-4) | None |  | 151 | 14-14 | 5-4 |  
| Mar. 30 | at RV Texas A&M |  | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | L 0-7 | Poynter (7-1) | Lara (9-5) | None | SECN+ | 156 | 14-15 |  |  
| Mar. 30 | at RV Texas A&M |  | Davis Diamond • College Station, TX | L 2-9 | Uribe (6-1) | Depew (0-1) | None | SECN+ | 227 | 14-16 |  |  | 
| 
| April (4–8) |  
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |  
| Apr. 1 | at Incarnate Word |  | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | L 4-5 | Trapp (3-3) | McNeill (1-3) | None |  | 75 | 14-17 | 5-5 |  
| Apr. 1 | at Incarnate Word |  | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | L 3-6 | Gunther (4-6) | Hoyt (0-2) | None |  | 75 | 14-18 | 5-6 |  
| Apr. 2 | at Incarnate Word |  | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | W 1-0 | Lara (10-5) | Trapp (3-4) | None |  | 75 | 15-18 | 6-6 |  
| Apr. 6 | at Prairie View A&M |  | Lady Panthers Softball Field • Prairie View, TX | L 3-5 | Tapia (1-0) | McNeill (1-4) | None |  | 87 | 15-19 |  |  
| Apr. 9 | Stephen F. Austin |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 0-2 | Wilbur (18-3) | Lara (10-6) | None |  | 137 | 15-20 | 6-7 |  
| Apr. 9 | Stephen F. Austin |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 1-6 | Wilbur (19-3) | McNeill (1-5) | None |  | 137 | 15-21 | 6-8 |  
| Apr. 10 | Stephen F. Austin |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 2-7 | Wilbur (20-3) | Lara (10-7) | None |  | 153 | 15-22 | 6-9 |  
| Apr. 14 | UTSA |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 8-0 (5 inns) | Lara (11-7) | Carpenter (0-3) | None |  | 106 | 16-22 |  |  
| Apr. 16 | Nicholls |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 2-4 | Moon (2-5) | Lara (11-8) | Danehower (1) |  | 178 | 16-23 | 6-10 |  
| Apr. 16 | Nicholls |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 3-2 | Lara (12-8) | Westbrook (2-7) | None |  | 172 | 17-23 | 7-10 |  
| Apr. 17 | Nicholls |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 2-8 | LaBure (3-3) | Lara (12-9) | None |  | 172 | 17-24 | 7-11 |  
| Apr. 24 | at Southeastern Louisiana |  | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | Game cancelled |  
| Apr. 24 | at Southeastern Louisiana |  | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | Game cancelled |  
| Apr. 25 | at Southeastern Louisiana |  | North Oak Park • Hammond, LA | Game cancelled |  
| Apr. 28 | at Texas Southern |  | Memorial Park • Houston, TX | L 5-6 (9 inns) | Youngblood (1-0) | McNeill (1-6) | None |  | 50 | 17-25 |  |  
| Apr. 30 | Houston Baptist |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | W 4-3 (8 inns) | Lara (13-9) | Swanson (8-1) | None |  | 109 | 18-25 | 8-11 |  | 
| 
| May (0-5) |  
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |  
| May 2 | Houston Baptist |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 1-2 | Swanson (9-1) | Lara (13-10) | None |  | 155 | 18-26 | 8-12 |  
| May 2 | Houston Baptist |  | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | L 0-2 | Patak (7-9) | McNeill (1-7) | None |  | 155 | 18-27 | 8-13 |  
| May 7 | at Abilene Christian |  | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 5-7 | Bradley (8-13) | Lara (13-11) | None |  | 248 | 18-28 | 8-14 |  
| May 7 | at Abilene Christian |  | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 3-5 | Bradley (9-13) | McNeill (1-8) | None |  | 248 | 18-29 | 8-15 |  
| May 8 | at Abilene Christian |  | Poly Wells Field • Abilene, TX | L 9-10 | Bradley (10-13) | Johnson (0-1) | None |  | 361 | 18-30 | 8-16 |  | 
- Schedule Source:[4]*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
| All Conference First Team
 Shaylon Govan (SFA)Bryana Novegil (SFA)Haylee Brinlee (MCNS)Cori McCrary (MCNS)Heidi Jaquez (HBU)E. C. Delafield (NSU)Mackenzie Bennett (SFA)Jenna Wildeman (UCA)Megan McDonald (SHSU)Aeriyl Mass (SELA)Kayla Beaver (UCA)Kassidy Wilbur (SFA)
 
 | All Conference Second Team
 Kaylyn Shephard (UCA)Mary Kate Brown (UCA)Lindsey Rizzo (SELA)Camryn Middlebrook (SFA)Hannah Scheaffer (SHSU)Gaby Garcia (SFA)Kaylee Lopez (MCNS)Donelle Johnson (ACU)Jil Poullard (MCNS)Audrey Greely (SELA)Jordan Johnson (UCA)Whitney Tate (MCNS)
 
 | All Conference Third Team
 Caitlyn Brockway (HBU)Cayla Jones (NSU)Alex Hedspeth (SFA)Ashlyn Reavis (NICH)Chloe Gomez (MCNS)Jasie Roberts (HBU)Anna Rodenberg (SELA)Kaitlyn St. Clair (NSU)Sheridan Fisher (SHSU)Pal Egan (TAMUCC)Lyndie Swanson (HBU)Heather Zumo (SELA)
  
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References:[5]
References
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