LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball will begin a four game home stand beginning with this weekend's Southland Conference home opening series against Incarnate Word. The series will begin with a single game at 6 p.m. Friday then will conclude with a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday. Saturday's games have been designated as military and first responder's day. All military will be admitted free with an ID.
 
Live streaming and live stats will be available and all three games will be broadcast on the McNeese Radio Network (KEZM 1310). Links are located on mcneesesports.com.
 
McNeese (19-10, 2-4 SLC) returns to the diamond after having a week off since picking up its first SLC series win at Sam Houston State last weekend by taking two of three games. The Cowgirls also enter the weekend having won three of their last four games that includes their last home win, a 9-5 win over Florida International on March 14.
 
Junior Justyce McClain continues to lead McNeese with a .438 batting average, 42 hits, and 26 runs scored and 13 stolen bases. In conference games, McClain is hitting .409.
 
Senior Erika Piancastelli leads the Cowgirls with nine home runs, 27 RBI, 11 doubles and 21 walks and is second on the team with a .354 batting average. Piancastelli has a .563 batting average in conference games along with nine hits. Of her nine hits, six have been extra base hits with four doubles and two home runs.
 
Seniors Morgan Catron and Hailey Drew along with sophomore Alexandria Saldivar are also swinging a hot bat as of late.
 
Catron has a .317 average with 26 hits, 25 RBI and seven home runs. Drew is batting .438 in conference games with seven hits, three doubles and five RBI while Saldivar has a .400 average in conference games with six hits, two home runs and six RBI.
 
The pitching staff is led by sophomore Alexsandra Flores' 8-4 record and a 2.60 ERA. Flores had 44 strikeouts in 72.2 innings. Freshman Caroline Settle is 5-5 overall with a 3.48 ERA, will be looking for her first conference win of the season. Settle will look to get back to form as she has struggled in conference games and is winless at 0-3. Fellow classmate, Amber Coons is 4-1 with a 3.37 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 43.2 innings. Freshman Ashley Koncir is 2-0 on the season and is coming off her first conference win with a 10-2 run-rule win against Sam Houston State in the final game of the series. 
 
Incarnate Word (6-15, 2-4 SLC) is coming off a 1-0 win against Kansas on Wednesday. The Cardinals have won three of their last five games after snapping a seven game losing streak. Their conference wins came last weekend when they won their home opening SLC series against Central Arkansas by taking two of three games.
 
Marcela Lopez leads the squad with a .273 batting average with 15 hits. Hope Sobolewski is batting .259 with a team high nine RBI and 14 hits.
 
Sarah Leal (5-5) has a 4.11 ERA and has done the bulk of the pitching for the Cardinals. She has 29 strikeouts in 59.2 innings. Breanna Hernandez is 1-5 with a 5.25 ERA, 13 strikeouts in 32 innings and Jessica Rodriguez is 0-4 with a 6.56 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.