LAKE CHARLES-- After being on the road for nearly a month since its last home game on Feb. 14 against Louisiana Tech, McNeese softball returns home this week for two midweek games beginning with Houston on Tuesday. The Cowgirls will also host Florida International on Wednesday. First pitch for both games is 6 p.m. Streaming and live stats will be provided for both games. Links can be found on mcneesesports.com.
Tuesday's game is designated as Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer, which is a fundraiser the Cowgirls are taking part in to raise money for Louisiana families affected by pediatric cancer. Donations will be accepted through the remainder of the season and the goal $1,000. To show support, the Cowgirls will be wearing gold shoelaces. Anyone interested in donating to the cause may do so by going to
https://donate.go4thegoal.org/cowgirlssoftball
On Wednesday, McNeese students are encouraged to attend the game to enjoy a free crawfish boil. Students must have a valid McNeese ID in order to receive free admission and free crawfish.
McNeese (16-8) will look to get back into the win column after dropping its last four games including a Southland Conference opening series at Central Arkansas last weekend.
Justyce McClain continues to lead McNeese with a .444 batting average, 36 hits, and 21 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. She enters the week ranked 16
th in the nation in hits. Designated player
Morgan Catron is batting .348 with 23 hits, five home runs, 17 RBI and 14 walks while
Erika Piancastelli is batting .338 with a team high 24 hits, nine doubles, seven home runs and 13 walks. She enters the week with 51 career doubles, one shy of becoming the McNeese career leader in that category. She already holds the McNeese career records for runs scored, RBI, home runs and walks.
In the circle for the Cowgirls,
Alexsandra Flores is 6-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 56.1 innings along with 35 strikeouts.
Caroline Settles is 5-4 with a 3.09 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 54.1 innings and Amber Coons is 4-1 with a 3.30 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 40.1 innings.
Houston (14-7) snapped a three game losing streak on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Penn State at its own Houston Hilton Plaza Classic. Sarah Queen leads the Cougars at the plate with a .397 average, four home runs and 12 RBI while Savannah Heebner is 8-2 in the circle with a 0.78 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 72 innings.
Florida International (14-14) will make a Louisiana swing this week by facing McNeese on Wednesday, UL-Lafayette on Thursday and Louisiana Tech on Saturday and Sunday.
The Panthers opened their conference last weekend by dropping two of three games against UTSA. After dropping the first two games, FIU avoided the sweep with an 8-5 win in the final game of the series.
Jackie Schoff leads the Panthers with a .378 batting average, 37 hits, and 15 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and is tied for a team high six doubles. Kasandra Castle leads the team with 19 RBI and is tied with Vanessa Gallegos with a team best three home runs. Shannon Salle is 9-6 in the circle with a 1.69 ERA, 154 strikeouts in 103.1 innings.
McNeese will return to Southland Conference action this weekend when the Cowgirls travel to Huntsville, Texas to face Sam Houston State in a three game series beginning Friday.
