LAKE CHARLES---It has been a long wait for fans to see the McNeese softball team play at home, over a month to be exact, but the wait was worth it.
 
"I love the way we are competing right now," said head coach Joanna Hardin. "Everyone is extremely focused, prepared, and having fun playing the game together. Rachel Smith threw extremely well. She pitched to contact and had a lot of early, quick outs, which kept a great tempo to the game. Rachel has been working extremely hard everyday in the pen so I'm really happy she had such a great outing," said Hardin.
 
Cowgirl fans in attendance got to see junior pitcher Rachel Smith throw the programs fifth no-hitter and the second of her career in the Cowgirls' 8-0 (5 inn.) win in game two of Friday's Southland Conference doubleheader. Ironically it was Smith who threw the last McNeese no-hitter against Houston Baptist in 2014. The Cowgirls also won the opening game in five innings by a 12-1 score. The series will conclude with a single game at noon Saturday.
 
"I would have to say that I couldn't have done it without the offense and defense," said Smith. "It makes my job so much easier knowing that our offense is going to put up runs and our defense has by back. Our defense made some outstanding plays tonight that held the no-hitter together.
 
McNeese (18-6, 5-0 SLC) continued its dominance in conference play by recording its fifth straight run-rule conference win this season. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi falls to 11-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
 
The Cowgirls opened up their home opener by scoring a run in the first, four in the second including a three run home run by Erika Piancastelli. McNeese tacked on three more runs in the third on singles by Aubrey Turbeville and Marisa Taunton. Another four run fourth inning was all the Cowgirls needed to seal the win. Piancastelli started things off in the inning with her second home run of the game. Taylor Goree knocked in a run with a double to left center and Taylor Edwards also picked up an RBI with a single.
 
"Erika and really our entire offense is seeing the ball very well and are putting good swings on pitches," Hardin said. "We are just hitting with a lot of confidence right now. Corpus' has a quality pitching staff and we expect them to come out tomorrow ready to compete."
 
Senior Jamie Allred improved to 7-1 on the season with the win, allowing one earned run on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
 
In the nightcap, McNeese jumped out to a 5-0 lead off five hits after three innings including a Tori Yanitor leadoff home run in the second. The Cowgirls added three more runs in the fifth on two hits to pick up another run-rule win.
 
McNeese picked up a total of eight hits and Taunton led the Cowgirls with two. Smith improved to 5-1 on the season with the win.