Coach: Outfielder Poullard off the team
Published 5:37 pm Monday, February 27, 2023
- McNeese State junior Jil Poullard has learned how to be patient and know when to follow, when to lead and to never stop working at improving. (Rick Hickman / American Press)
Outfielder Jil Poullard is no longer a Cowgirl.
Head coach James Landreneau put an end to a weekend drama that had McNeese State softball fans stretching their heads.
Just a week after leading the Cowgirls to an upset victory over ninth-ranked Washington in which she tripled and hit the game-winning home run, Poullard is off the team.
Landreneau broke the news Monday at his weekly press conference.
Poullard had led the upset of Washington and was hitting .333 for on the young season. She leads the team in homers (2) and is tied in runs batted in (7).
Monday Landreneau addressed the issue.
“Jil and I had a meeting on Friday to clear the air and kind of agreed to disagree on a few things,” Landreneau said. “From there she notified the team and administration that she is no longer going to be a member of the team.
“We understand that and we wish her nothing but the best in her endeavors in the future and we appreciate her, her time at McNeese and what she’s done for us. I think she is scheduled to graduate in May and we wish her nothing but the best.”
According to a source, Landreneau had given Poullard a day to think about her decision before she met with him on Friday.
Landreneau didn’t take further questions on Poullard saying he instead wanted to focus on the team moving forward.
By all appearances Poullard quit the team last Friday according to a tweet from her sister.
In 140 games at McNeese Poullard hit 13 home runs and drove in 73 with 48 stolen bases and a .320 batting average. She was hitting .333 with two homers and seven RBIs this year.
Landreneau said with Poullard gone others will need to make the most of their opportunities.
“It opens up the door for others to get their chance,” said Landreneau. “We feel we have enough depth. We feel we are in a pretty good spot.”
Freshman Brooke Otto took advantage of her shot, going 3-for-3 with a home run in a Saturday start against Stephen F. Austin.
“I love the way our team handled this,” said Landreneau. “For young players there is a lot of maturity in our locker room. We have to keep focus to get where we want to go.”
Also on Monday, senior ace Whitney Tate was named Pitcher of the Week by the Southland Conference. Tate went 1-0 in four appearances, going the distance to beat Washington.
The right-hander worked 23 innings and struck out 11 while walking just one and posted a 2.13 earned run average.
McNeese (10-5) will be back in action Wednesday night when it hosts Grambling at Cowgirl Diamond.
