LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball will begin a seven game home stand this weekend by hosting Lamar in a three game Southland Conference series. Game times have been altered due to the threat of rain. The series will begin with a 6 p.m. doubleheader on Friday and will conclude with a single game at 5 p.m. Saturday. Streaming and live stats will be provided for all games. The series finale only can be heard on the McNeese Radio Network (KEZM/1310 AM) and kezmonline.com. All links can be found on mcneesesports.com.
 
McNeese (30-15, 16-2 SLC) remain atop the conference standings, one game ahead of second place Abilene Christian. The Cowgirls are coming off a disappointing 5-4 road loss at Texas State that saw the Cowgirls letting a 4-0 lead slip away in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Sophomore Justyce McClain continues to lead McNeese with a .419 batting average and is second in the SLC with a .467 average in conference games. She also leads the team with 21 stolen bases and has a league best 28 hits in conference action.
 
Junior Erika Piancastelli is batting .377 overall on the year but leads the SLC with a .489 average in conference games. She also leads the SLC with a .957 slugging percent, .597 on base percent, 22 RBI, six home runs and 16 walks in league games. She has reached base in the last 21 games.
 
Junior Hailey Drew leads McNeese with 42 runs scored, 15 hit-by-pitches while Taylor Schmidt has a team high 10 doubles on the year. Drew is batting .299 on the season while Schmidt has a .312 average.
 
McNeese has the top two pitchers in the league with freshman Alexsandra Flores having a 0.61 ERA and senior Rachel Smith having a 1.02 ERA in league play. Smith is 12-7 overall and 8-1 in conference games. Flores is 9-3 overall with a 4-1 league record. Senior Baylee Corbello is 6-3 with a 3.79 overall ERA but is undefeated at 4-0 with a 2.28 ERA in conference games.
 
Lamar (22-21, 12-6 SLC) enters the weekend in fourth place and have won five of their last five games including a series win against Central Arkansas April 15.  The Cardinals are led at the plate by Brittany Rodriguez's .397 average and 52 hits. Both Ciara Luna and Laura Napoli both have nine wins apiece. Luna is 9-13 overall with a 2.52 ERA and Napoli is 9-8 with a 3.35 ERA.
 
McNeese leads the all-time series 21-6 and are 11-0 at home against Lamar since 2013.