ALEXANDRIA, LA – The Louisiana State University of Alexandria softball team is excited to announce the addition of 17 players for the 2026 season.
 
"This is the biggest class I have signed to date," LSUA Head Coach Trent Partridge said. "Saying I am excited would be an understatement. This group has it all. We have multiple arms throwing in the low to mid 60's, sever players with 30-plus stolen base potential, and others with 10-plus home run power. We added left-handed pitching, speed, and power. Every piece we were missing in my first three years at LSUA is now here."
 
Lainee Bailey is a 5-foot-8 pitcher from Walker, Louisiana. She joins LSUA from Southeastern Louisiana. Prior to Southeastern, Bailey played at Pearl River CC where she earned All-Tournament and All-America honors.
 
"I chose LSUA because it felt like family," Bailey said.
 
Sophia Romero is a 5-foot-2 infielder from Lafayette, Louisiana. She joins the Generals from East Central Community College. Romero was a Second Team All-MACCC selection in 2024. At Acadiana High School, she earned First Team All-District, All-All-Acadiana, All-State, and All-Metro in 2023. Romero earned All-District honors in both 2021 and 2022.
 
"I chose LSUA because I believe God placed me here for a reason," Romero said.
 
Caitlyn Riche is a 5-foot-5 catcher and infielder from Walker, Louisiana. She joins LSUA from Pearl River CC. While at Walker High School, Riche earned All-State honors in 2022 and 2023, a trio of First Team All-District, All-Metro, and All-Parish honors.
 
"I chose LSUA because I wanted to come back in state and it felt like home," Riche said.
 
Raeley Duplechin is a 5-foot-6 catcher and outfielder from Youngsville, Louisiana. She joins the Generals from Bossier Parish Community College and Southside High School. Duplechin earned First Team All-District honors in 2023, as well as an LSCA All-State Team selection.
 
"I chose LSUA because I want to be a part of a team that is going to compete and have a great culture," Duplechin said. "I have no doubt that I will find that here at LSUA."
 
Rylee Guillot is a 5-foot-5 right-handed pitcher from Alexandria, Louisiana. She joins LSUA from Grace Christian. Guillot earned District MVP awards from 2022 through 2025, was named an All-State twice, and a pair of All-Cenla nods. She also earned four All-District selections.
 
"I chose LSUA because of the welcoming atmosphere," Guillot said.
 
Livie Thibodeaux is a 5-foot-5 utility player from Napoleonville, Louisiana. She joins the Generals from Assumption High School. Thibodeaux was a First Team All-District selection, as well as being named to LSWA All-State, LHSCA All-State, and All-Bayou Region teams.
 
"I chose LSUA because from the first time I met the coaches, I fell in love with the way they run their program," Thibodeaux said. "They create a family and I knew I wanted to be a part of it."
 
Samantha Hayes is a 5-foot-8 right-handed pitcher and utility player from Kinder, Louisiana. She joins LSUA from Kinder High School. Hayes earned four First Team All-District honors during her high school career, as well as an LSCA 3A All-State selection.
 
"LSUA felt like home the moment I stepped foot on campus," Hayes said. "The atmosphere and people on campus do such a great job at making you feel at home. It is a place that you are welcomed from the start. All the times I've visited the campus, they have never failed to make me feel at home. Coach Trent and Coach B are also very big reasons on my decision. Their visions for the program align with what I want to achieve at the next level. The girls I have talked to have been nothing short of amazing. After the season they had, I'm excited to see where the program is heading and can't wait to be on campus."
 
Cate Nettles is a 5-foot-3 left-handed pitcher from Slidell, Louisiana. She joins the Generals from LSU Eunice and Slidell High School. Nettles played for NOLA Fast Pitch. Off the field, she was a member of Beta Club, and the National Honor Society.
 
"LSUA has a culture that is very hard to find," Nettles said. "Everyone is like one big family which is extremely important to me."
 
Kinsley Coleman is a 5-foot-2 outfielder from Stonewall, Louisiana. She joins LSUA from North Desoto High School. Coleman was a First Team All-District selection and three-time State Champion in Division 2 Non-Select while playing from Prime 18u Gold. She also earned All-Academic Composite Team and Elite Scholar All-Academic Team honors.
 
"As soon as I came to LSUA it felt like home," Coleman said. "The people treat you like family."
 
Hayden Cary is a 5-foot-3 utility player from Rayne, Louisiana. She joins the Generals from Rayne High School. Cary earned five All-District honors, an All-Metro and All-Parrish selection. She also earned Academic All-State Composite Softball Team honors.
 
"I chose LSUA because the environment feels like a place where I can not only grow as a player, but as a person as well," Cary said.
 
Marina Bourgeois is a 5-foot-5 catcher from Liberty, Texas. She joins LSUA from Liberty High School. Bourgeois is a two-time All-District selection in softball and won the 2022 4A State Championship. A dual-sport athlete, she competed in cross country. Bourgeois was an Academic All-State selection in 2024.
 
"I chose LSUA because when I went on my visit I really felt like home," Bourgeois said. "I felt very welcomed by the coaching staff and during camps all the girls were very welcoming. I never felt out of place while I was there."
 
Alyssa Boutte is a 5-foot-4 right-handed pitcher from Erath, Louisiana. She joins the Generals from LSU Eunice and Erath High School. Boutte earned three First Team All-District and three First Team All-Parish honors while at Erath.
 
"I chose LSUA because when I visited, I immediately felt a strong sense of community both on and off the field," Boutte said. "The coaches believed in me and I knew it was a place where I could grow not only as an athlete, but also as a person. It felt like the right fit for me spiritually, academically, and athletically."
 
Ryleigh Moran is a 5-foot-5 outfielder from Darrow, Louisiana. She joins LSUA from St. Amant High School. While at St. Amant, Moran was named a Second Team All-District selection and helped guide her squad to three 5A State Championships.
 
"I chose LSUA because of the supportive community and the opportunity to be a part of a growing program," Moran said.
 
Audrey Mitchem is a 5-foot-4 utility player from Zachary, Louisiana. She joins the Generals from Zachary High School. Mitchem earned three First Team All-District and one Second Team All-District honors during her career. She helped guide the Louisiana Blazers Elite to a number of tournament wins and made a semi-finals appearance in the OKC USA Softball Tournament.
 
"I chose LSUA because I felt genuinely welcomed and supported," Mitchem said. "The atmosphere on campus, the staff that greeted me, and the kind coaching staff told me that LSUA was the right place for me to continue my softball career. LSUA is a place I can thrive athletically, academically, and personally and I couldn't be more excited."
 
A'aliyah Gonzales is a 5-foot-5 infielder from Gretna, Louisiana. She joins LSUA from Academy of Our Lady. Gonzales won the Teammate Award, Leadership Award, Hit-a-Thon Award, and Outstanding Athlete Award during her time at Academy of Our Lady.
 
"I chose LSUA because it felt like the perfect fit for my academic and athletic goals," Gonzales said. "The campus has a great atmosphere and I really connected with the coaches and team. Plus, the academic programs are strong, so I know I'll get a great education while playing the sport I love!"
 
Jenna Chauvin is a 5-foot-5 infielder from Albany, Louisiana. She joins the Generals from Albany High School. Chauvin earned First Team All-District, All-Parish, and All-Metro. She was also named All-State Honorable Mention.
 
"I chose LSUA because of the amazing atmosphere, not only within the softball field but also in the classrooms," Chauvin said. "I can tell it is truly one big family and I couldn't be more excited to spend the next four years here."
 
Shelby Vitrano is a 5-foot-5 outfielder from Meraux, Louisiana. She joins LSUA from Chalmette High School. Vitrano played for John Curtis High School from her freshman to junior year. She hit .480 over the course of her career and earned two First Team All-District honors. Vitrano was also an LHSAA Spring Sports All-Academic Team honoree.
 
"After a long recruiting process and a setback from a torn ACL, once I found LSUA I knew immediately it was where I belonged," Vitrano said. "From the coaches, to the academics, to campus, I loved every second I got to spend talking to my coaches and seeing the campus. I knew I would have no worries being three hours away from home with the environment I will be surrounded by at LSUA."
 
"The future is bright in Alexandria," Partridge added. "This class is the exclamation point to the rest of the country: LSUA is here to stay."