LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball will make their home opening appearance this weekend when the Cowgirls host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a Southland Conference series beginning with a 5 p.m. doubleheader Friday. The series will conclude with a single game at noon Saturday. All games will be broadcast on kezmonline.com.
 
There will be several activities going on before and during all games this weekend. Friday night is designated as Joe Miller and FCA night. All FCA members are encouraged to attend the game.
 
Miller, a local businessman and civic leader is also an avid softball fan that has provided the funds to purchase turf for the foul territory behind home plate and the first and third base lines. Miller will throw out the first pitch in the opening game Friday.
 
Saturday's game is military appreciation day. All active veteran military personnel will be admitted free. The Parapokes skydiving team will make an appearance prior to the game.
 
McNeese athletics will be collecting canned goods and non-perishable food items at all games this weekend. The canned good items are for those affected by the devastating floods in Southwest Louisiana along the Sabine River. Items will be collected at the ticket booth upon entering Cowgirl Diamond.  
 
McNeese (16-6, 3-0 SLC) opened the Southland Conference season with three run-rule wins at Sam Houston State. The Cowgirls are coming off a 5-4 (9 inning) road loss at no. 5 UL-Lafayette Wednesday night.
 
Sophomore Erika Piancastelli and junior Marisa Taunton are leading McNeese at the plate. Both players are batting .400 or better. Piancastelli leads with a .403 average, 27 hits, nine home runs, 21 RBI, 15 walks and 24 runs scored. Taunton is right at .400 and leads the Cowgirls with 12 stolen bases. Taunton is second on the team with 26 hits, 14 RBI and 19 runs scored.
 
Senior Emily Vincent leads the pitching staff with a 1.98 ERA. 53 innings pitched and 61 strikeouts. Vincent is 5-2 on the season. Jamie Allred is 6-1 on the season with a 2.17 ERA, 51 strikeouts in 48.1 innings. Junior Rachel Smith is 4-1 with a 3.92 ERA, 17 strikeouts in 25 innings.
 
Texas A&M-CC (11-13, 1-2 SLC) have lost their last four games and are coming off back-to-back home losses against Texas State on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Islanders opened up SLC play last weekend at home against UCA, dropping two of three games.
 
Dani Teffi leads TAMU-CC with a .379 batting average and 25 hits. Candice Hadd is batting .309 and leads the team with 11 RBI. Liz Carter has a 7-6 record in the circle with a 2.79 ERA while Stephanie Flores has a team low 1.91 ERA but is winless at 0-3 on the season.