LAKE CHARLES- Due to anticipated rain in the Lake Area this weekend, the McNeese three-game Southland softball series has been adjusted.
 
The series will be moved up to begin with a single game at 6 p.m. Thursday night with the series concluding with a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Friday.
 
Friday's second game will be broadcast live on the McNeese Radio Network (KEZM 1310 AM) and kezmonline.com. All games will be streamed live and live stats will also be available.
 
Thursday's game is Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day and McNeese President-elect Dr. Daryl Burckel will throw out the first pitch.
 
Friday is Senior Day and Cowgirl seniors Marisa Taunton, Taylor Schmidt, Rachel Smith, Tori Yanitor and Baylee Corbello will be honored following the doubleheader.
 
Fans who purchased tickets for the McNeese-LSU softball game on April 11 that was cancelled may use the ticket to enter into Friday's 3 p.m. Southland Conference doubleheader. For more information, call the McNeese ticket office at 337-562-4MSU.
 
McNeese (33-16, 18-3 SLC) enters the series with a two game lead over second place Abilene Christian and have already clinched a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament with one series remaining. McNeese will close out the regular season at Southeastern Louisiana next weekend.
 
The Cowgirls head into Thursday's game having won their last two games in walk-off fashion via a grand slam walk-off home run by Morgan Catron in the final game of the series against Lamar last Saturday. On Tuesday, freshman Alexandria Saldivar's walk-off single gave the Cowgirls a 5-4, eight inning win over Houston.
 
Stephen F. Austin holds a 15-11 overall record against McNeese since 2008. McNeese has won the last two meetings between the teams with the last coming in a 8-2 win in the Southland Conference Tournament semifinal game at Cowgirl Diamond last year. The last conference series between the two teams was in 2014 when McNeese picked up a rain shortened series with a doubleheader win.
 
Sophomore Justyce McClain continues to lead McNeese with a .417 overall batting average and is batting .453 with 15 stolen bases in conference games.
 
Junior Erika Piancastelli leads the league with 47 walks and is eight away from becoming the McNeese and SLC career leader in that category. She is also five RBI away from the McNeese career record. Piancastelli is has an overall .396 average with 11 home runs, 53 hits and 40 RBI. She has a league best .525 batting average, 1.017 slugging percent and eight home runs in SLC games.
 
The Cowgirl trio of pitchers is three of the best in the league. Freshman Alexsandra Saldivar leads the league with a 0.88 ERA and senior Rachel Smith is second with a 1.13 ERA in league play. Senior Baylee Corbello is 7-0 in conference play.