LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball will step out of conference play for a single game at Southern Miss on Tuesday and a single game at South Alabama on Wednesday. Both games will start at 6 p.m.
 
McNeese (22-6) is coming off its third Southland Conference series sweep by taking three games at Houston Baptist last week. The Cowgirls have won six straight and nine of their last 10 games. The Cowgirls are 19-6 away from Cowgirl Diamond this season.
 
This will be the second meeting of the season against Southern Miss. McNeese picked up a 7-4 win over the Lady Eagles at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic in Gulfport, Mississippi on Feb. 27. Southern Miss will enter the game with a 16-18 overall record and are 7-7 at home.
 
Erika Piancastelli who picked up her third Southland Conference hitter of the week honor on Monday leads the Cowgirls with a .438 average, 35 hits, 14 homeruns, 31 RBI, 23 walks, 34 runs scored and is tied for a team high seven doubles.
 
Junior outfielder Marisa Taunton leads McNeese with 14 stolen bases and is second on the team with a .441 average and 33 hits. Sophomore second baseman Hailey Drew has a .361 average and 13 stolen bases with 26 hits and seven doubles. Also hitting above .300 is Taylor Goree (.313), Emily Vincent (.310), Tori Yanitor (.305), Justyce McClain (.302).
 
The Cowgirl pitching staff is well rounded and has been using a three-pitcher rotation. Vincent is 7-2 on the season with a team low 1.70 ERA and 71 strikeouts. Jamie Allred is 8-1 on the year with a 1.86 ERA and 56 strikeouts while junior Rachel Smith is 6-1 with a 2.80 ERA with 23 strikeouts.
 
South Alabama is 18-10 overall and 7-5 at home. The Jaguars received votes in last week's NFCA-USA Today poll. Pitcher Devin Brown was named the NFCA Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 22 after tossing a perfect game against UL-Monroe. Brown is 10-6 on the season with a 1.59 ERA and 176 strikeouts.