LAKE CHARLES--  McNeese softball will return to the diamond this weekend after a week off to host Sam Houston State in a Southland Conference series beginning Friday night.
 
McNeese (16-10, 3-0 SLC), winners of its last four games and 11 of its last 12 games will open the series against Sam Houston State (12-11, 3-0 SLC) with a single game at 6 p.m. Friday night. The series will conclude with a doubleheader Saturday. The Bearkats enter the weekend on a five game winning streak and picked up a series sweep over Incarnate Word last weekend.
 
Junior Morgan Catron continues to lead the Cowgirls with a .359 batting average, 28 hits, 29 doubles, and six home runs and is tied for a team best seven doubles.
 
Freshman Alexsandra Flores and senior Rachel Smith both lead the pitching staff with five wins apiece. Flores is 5-2 on the year with a 2.49 ERA, 23 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. Smith is 5-4 on the year with a 2.82 ERA, 40 strikeouts in 67.0 innings. Smith opened conference play against UCA last weekend by throwing a one-hit shutout in the 8-0 (6 inn.) opening game last Friday night.
 
Sam Houston State is led by Kaitlynn Dawson's .412 average, six doubles, 14 RBI and three home runs. Tayler Atkinson is 5-7 n the year with a 2.22 ERA with 31 strikeouts.