LAKE CHARLES—The McNeese softball team will take to the road Wednesday for a non-conference game at the University of Houston. First pitch for the single game is set for 6 p.m. at Cougar Stadium. Fans can follow the Cowgirls through in-game updates and other information by logging on to Twitter @McNeeseSoftball. Lives streaming and live stats will also be available. All links can be found on mcneesesports.com.
McNeese (26-7) has won 10 of its last 11 games and are coming off a Southland Conference series win over Abilene Christian over the weekend. After dropping its first SLC game of the season 4-2 in the opening game of the series, the Cowgirls bounced back to pick up a 4-3 (10 inn.) win in game 2 and secured the series with a 5-1 win in the rubber game.
The Cowgirls have won their last two mid-week games with a 6-0 shutout at Southern Miss and a 2-1 come from behind victory over South Alabama in eight innings last week. The Cowgirls and Cougars will face off again in Lake Charles on May 3 in a game that was originally scheduled for March 9 but was postponed due to inclement weather.
Sophomore
Erika Piancastelli, who is tied for the nations lead in home runs with 17, is two away from breaking the McNeese single season record and four away from the McNeese career record of 38 held by Heather Moreaux.
Piancastelli leads the Cowgirls with a .433 batting average, 39 hits, 34 RBI, 41 runs scored and 34 walks. She was walked 11 times in 13 plate appearances in the ACU series over the weekend.
Junior
Marisa Taunton has a team high 16 stolen bases and is second on the team with a .369 average.
As a team, the Cowgirls have a .312 average with 29 home runs, 112 walks and rank seventh in the nation with 86 stolen bases.
The Cowgirls' pitching staff has a combined 2.11 ERA and senior hurler
Emily Vincent leads the staff with a 1.51 ERA. Vincent is 9-2 on the season with 95 strikeouts. Fellow senior
Jamie Allred is 10-1 on the year with a 1.76 ERA and 71 strikeouts. Junior
Rachel Smith has a 6-2 record with a 2.56 ERA along with 25 strikeouts.
Houston (17-18), are members of the American Conference have lost three of their last four games. The Cougars avoided a series sweep against South Florida with a 5-2 win in the final game of the series. Houston holds a 10-10 home record and 14 of their last 19 games have been played at Cougar Stadium.
Maya Thomas has a .434 average with 43 hits. Julana Schrum is 6-5 on the year with a 2.98 ERA and 28 strikeouts.
