LAKE CHARLES--  McNeese State's softball team will play their third ranked opponent of the season when the Cowgirls travel to Lafayette Wednesday to face 5^th ranked UL-Lafayette in a single game beginning at 6 p.m. This game as well as selected Cowgirl games throughout the season will be broadcast live on KEZM – 1310 AM and online at kezmonline.com. The game will be streamed live and live stat will also be available. All links can be found on mcneesesports.com.
 
McNeese (16-5) is coming off a Southland Conference opening series sweep over Sam Houston State last weekend. The Cajuns are the highest ranked team McNeese has played so far this season. McNeese is 2-3 against ranked teams with wins over Baylor and Mississippi State.
 
All-American sophomore catcher Erika Piancastelli, the Southland's hitter of the week leads McNeese with a .413 average, 26 hits, nine home runs, 15 walks and a .921 slugging percent. She ranks ninth in the nation in home runs. Last weekend against Sam Houston State, Piancastelli hit .556 with a 1.667 slugging percent, three home runs including two three-run homers and nine RBI.
 
Also batting above .300 for the Cowgirls is junior outfielder Marisa Taunton (.383), sophomore second baseman Hailey Drew (.352), and freshman outfielder Justyce McClain (.333). Taunton leads the Cowgirls with 12 stolen bases and is second on the team with 23 hits and 18 runs scored along with 14 RBI. Drew leads the team with seven doubles and is second behind Taunton in stolen bases with 10. Drew is third on the team with 19 hits and has 10 RBI. Justyce has 16 hits and 10 RBI.
 
Senior Jamie Allred leads the Cowgirl pitching staff with a 6-1 record and has a 2.17 ERA in 48.1 innings. Allred has struck out 51 batters this season. Senior Emily Vincent has a team low 1.71 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 45 innings. Junior Rachel Smith is 4-1 with a 3.92 ERA in 25 innings. Jolie Trahan is 1-2 with a 4.92 ERA in 21.1 innings.
 
UL-Lafayette (19-1) loss its only game of the season to then no. 5 Oregon at the Louisiana Classic on Feb. 19. The Cajuns have one of the most potent offenses in the nation, leading the NCAA in home runs per game (2.15), second in slugging percent (.684) and are eighth with a team .366 batting average. 
 
All-American catcher Lexi Elkins leads the nation with 15 home runs, a 1.463 slugging percent and a .658 on base percent. Elkins also leads the Cajuns with 30 hits, 32 RBI and 18 walks. Kylee Jo Trahan leads the pitching staff with a 7-1 record while Macey Smith has a team low 0.00 ERA in 10 innings and is 1-0 on the season.