LAKE CHARLES—After dropping out of the weekly polls last week, McNeese softball returns this week, coming in at no. 23 in the USA Today/NFCA and the D1 Softball News.com polls while the Fastpitch News has McNeese at no. 18 this week after an undefeated 7-0 record last week that included a 6-1 win at then no. 9 Florida State and a 5-0 record at the Eastern Michigan Madeira Beach Invitational.
McNeese (13-3) will turn its focus to games in its home state this week beginning with a single game at UL-Monroe (8-4) this Wednesday, February 28. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
The Cowgirls will then take part in its third tournament in as many weekends when they will travel to Baton Rouge for the LSU Invitational Friday and Saturday.
Junior
Justyce McClain leads the Cowgirls at the plate with a .471 batting average, 24 hits, 15 runs scored with 10 stolen bases. She is one of seven players batting above .300. Senior designated player
Morgan Catron is batting .349 with 15 hits, 12 RBI and three home runs. Senior
Erika Piancastelli, who was named this week's Southland Conference Hitter of the Week leads the team with six home runs, 16 RBI and is tied for a team high 10 walks. Piancastelli is coming off a week that saw her hit .348 with eight hits, six of which were extra base hits including four home runs and two doubles.
In the circle, McNeese has utilized its four young pitchers in sophomore
Alexsandra Flores (5-2) this week's SLC Pitcher of the Week after 3-0 record last week with a 0.49 ERA in 14.1 innings, giving up one earned run. Flores will head into the ULM game with a 4.09 ERA in 33.0 innings and a team high 19 strikeouts.
Freshman
Caroline Settle is 4-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 39.1 innings with 15 strikeouts. Freshman Amber Coons is undefeated at 3-0 with a 4.85 ERA in 26 innings and has 18 strikeouts while Ashley Koncir is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 9.1 innings.
The Warhawks went 4-0 last week at the Central Arkansas Tournament with their wins coming against Coppin State, Austin Peay, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and South Dakota State.
Sydney McKay, Hunter Hogan and Victoria Pederson are all batting over .400. McKay leads ULM with a .468 average with 22 hits and 13 RBI. Hogan has a .405 average with 17 hits, four doubles and 11 RBI while Pederson is batting .400 with 10 hits. Jayden Mount leads the team with two home runs and 10 walks.
Jessie Watts leads the pitchers with a 2-0 record and a 4.26 ERA in 12.2 innings while Paige Murray is 4-2 with a 7.12 ERA in 30.1 innings.
