LAKE CHARLES- McNeese softball will continue its seven game home stand by hosting The University of Houston Tuesday at 6 p.m. in its final regular season non-conference game.
 
The game will be broadcast on the McNeese Radio Network (KEZM 1310 AM) and kezmonline.com. Live streaming and live stats will also be available.
 
McNeese (32-16) is coming off a Southland Conference series win over Lamar last weekend by taking two of three games. The Cowgirls dropped the first game of the series 6-1 before evening the series at one game apiece with a 10-2 (5 inn.) second game. McNeese took the final game of the series 7-3 in dramatic fashion on a walk off grand slam by Morgan Catron. The Cowgirls remain atop the conference standings, two games ahead of second place Abilene Christian with two weeks left in the regular season. McNeese will look to sweep the Cougars after picking up a 1-0 win in Houston on March 29.
 
The Cowgirls will host Stephen F. Austin in a three game Southland Conference series this weekend before concluding the regular season with a three game conference series at Southeastern Louisiana next weekend.
 
Sophomore Justyce McClain continues to lead the Cowgirls with a .422 batting average with 49 hits and a team-high stolen bases. Junior Erika Piancastelli, who was named the Southland's Hitter of the Week for the second straight week has a .392 batting average with a team high 51 hits, 10 home runs, 38 RBI and ranks fourth in the nation with 47 walks.
 
Piancastelli who became McNeese's career home run leader as a sophomore is closing in on four other McNeese career records and one Southland Conference mark. Piancastelli is seven RBI, eight walks, 21 runs scored and 50 hits away from those records. She also needs eight walks to break the conference record of 158 held by former Cowgirl standout Alanna DiVittorio, who played for the Cowgirls from 2011-2014.
 
Senior Rachel Smith leads a McNeese pitching staff that has a combined 2.74 ERA. Smith is 12-7 on the year with a 2.64 ERA, freshman Alexsandra Flores is 9-4 with a 1.60 ERA and senior Baylee Corbello is 8-3 with a 3.68 ERA.
 
Houston (23-20) is coming off a home conference series win over East Carolina. The Cougars are led at the plate by Maya Thomas' .425 bating average and 14 stolen bases. Savannah Heebner and Trystan Melancon have shared the pitching duties. Heebner is 11-8 with a 2.02 ERA and Melancon is 10-7 with a 2.96 ERA.