LAKE CHARLES—The two-time reigning Southland Conference softball champions McNeese Cowgirls will open their season on Thursday, Feb. 8 with a doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m. against the University of Virginia on the first day of the Cowgirl Classic. The tournament will run through Sunday.
 
Fans will see a few changes around Cowgirl Diamond this season, most notably is a fully turfed field that was installed in the fall. Also a new scoreboard and outfield wall have been installed.
 
Thursday's game is $1 Hot Dog Night and the first 150 fans will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, courtesy of head coach James Landreneau. Also, McNeese baseball head coach Justin Hill will throw out the first pitch.
 
On Friday, prior to the Cowgirls' 6 p.m. game against #20 Tulsa, the 2017 Southland Conference Championship team will be recognized and the seniors on that team will throw out the first pitch. The Cowgirls will conclude tournament play by facing the Hurricanes at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
McNeese, under second year head coach James Landreneau and the 2017 Southland Conference coach of the year guided the 2017 team to school tying 43 wins and a school record 24 conference wins in his first season as head coach.
 
Landreneau and his staff return seven starters from last year including two-time All-American Erika Piancastelli who is also the three-time Southland Conference player and hitter of the year. She enters her senior season with a total of six McNeese records under her belt including three career records and three single season records to go along with two Southland Conference career records. She was named to the Fastpitch News preseason All-America team as well as a preseason All-SLC selection. Piancastelli is coming off a season where she led the team in home runs, walks, slugging percent, runs scored, RBI and total bases and was second on the team with a .375 batting average and 60 hits.
 
Also returning is junior outfielder Justyce McClain who was also named to the Fastpitch News preseason All-America team. McClain is also a preseason All-SLC pick after leading McNeese with a .435 batting average, 70 hits and 27 stolen bases as a sophomore.
 
The Cowgirls also return preseason All-SLC selections in seniors Carleigh Chaumont and Morgan Catron and sophomore Alexandria Saldivar.
 
In the circle, the Cowgirls return sophomore Alexsandra Flores who poste an 11-4 record and led the team with a 1.66 ERA as a rookie. Flores notched 105.2 innings and picked up 62 strikeouts along with three shutouts. Also returning in the circle will be redshirt freshman Caroline Settle along with true freshmen Ashley Koncir and Amber Coons. 
 
Virginia is coached by former Cowgirl head coach Joanna Hardin, who spent four years at McNeese (2013-2016), two as an assistant coach and two as a head coach. Harding guided the Cowgirls to the 2016 Southland Conference title and a NCAA appearance.
 
In her first season with the Cavaliers, Hardin guided the Hoos to a 22-32 overall record and its first ACC Tournament appearance since 2013.
 
There will be one major change at Cowgirls Diamond that will enhance the fan experience: beer will be sold and allowed in all areas of the ballpark and not just restricted to the "Beer Gardens."
 
Beer will be sold at designated areas of the stadiums and staff will not sell to anyone under the age of 21. Wristbands will be issued after IDs are verified. Sales will end after the fifth inning.
 
The following is a list of rules and policies for Cowgirl Diamond:
 • All persons must have a ticket for admission.
• No re-entry.
• All persons entering the facility are subject to search.
• No backpacks of any kind or any sizes allowed.
• No coolers, ice chests, outside bottles, cans, cups or containers are allowed.
• No outside food or drinks.
• No umbrellas.
• No baby strollers.
• No pets of any kind for the exception of service animals.
• No video cameras.
• No weapons of any kind.
• No banners, flags, flag poles, or projectiles of any kind or any inappropriate obstructive signage.
• No smoking in the seating areas.
• No throwing of objects from the stands.
• No portable cooling or heating devices.
• Should any NCAA postseason games be hosted by McNeese, noise makers will be prohibited.
 
2018 McNeese Cowgirl Classic Schedule
THURSDAY, FEB. 8
5:30 p.m.- McNeese vs. Virginia
7:30 p.m.- McNeese vs. Virginia
FRIDAY, FEB. 9
1 p.m.- Virginia vs. Houston Baptist
3:30 p.m.- Virginia vs. Tulsa
6 p.m.- McNeese vs. Tulsa
SATURDAY, FEB. 10
10 a.m.- Virginia vs. Southern
12:30 p.m.- Tulsa vs. Houston Baptist
3 p.m.- Houston Baptist vs. Southern
5:30 p.m.- McNeese vs. Tulsa
SUNDAY, FEB. 11
10 a.m.- Tulsa vs. Houston Baptist