LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball returns home this weekend to host first place Nicholls in a pivotal three game Southland Conference series. Due to the threat of rain, game times have been changed. The series will begin with a 5 p.m. doubleheader Friday and will conclude with a single game at 12 p.m. Saturday. Friday's first game will be carried on the McNeese Radio Network (KEZM 1310 AM). Streaming and live stats will be available for all games on mcneesesports.com.
Several activities are scheduled for the series beginning with Faculty Appreciation Night on Friday. All McNeese faculty (with ID) will receive free admission and a T-shirt. Ticket prices for Friday's doubleheader are $12 for adults and $8 for child (ages 5-12). For Saturday's single game ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for child.
Saturday has been designated as Alumni and Little League Day. All McNeese softball alumni are welcomed back to watch the Cowgirls take on the Colonels. All Little League players wearing their uniform or jersey will be admitted free.
McNeese (28-14, 10-5 SLC) enters the series in third place in the league standings, one game behind both Nicholls (26-11) and Northwestern State (24-12), who both head into the weekend tied in first place with 11-4 conference records. Northwestern State will host Southeastern Louisiana this weekend.
The Cowgirls are coming off a non-conference split at 16
th ranked Baylor. McNeese dropped the opening game 10-2 (5 innings) on Tuesday before taking game two on Wednesday by a 7-3 score.
Justyce McClain continues to lead McNeese with a .441 batting average, 60 hits, and 40 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.
Erika Piancastelli has a team high 14 home runs, 14 doubles, 42 RBI, and 30 walks along with 43 hits.
Morgan Catron is batting .319 with 37 hits, 10 home runs, 35 RBI and 20 walks.
Other Cowgirls batting over .300 are
Alexandria Saldivar (.329) and
Lauren Brown (.306). Saldivar has 24 RBI, 28 hits and five home runs while Brown has 19 hits, 10 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
Two of the league's top two pitchers will be on display this weekend in McNeese's
Alexsandra Flores (13-6) and Nicholls' Megan Landry (14-6). Landry has a conference low 1.21 ERA in conference games while Flores is second with a 1.44 conference ERA.
Flores enters the game with a team high 62 strikeouts and 108.0 innings. Landry has 101 strikeouts in 119.2 innings.
At the plate, Nicholls is led by Kasey Frederick's .364 average. She is tied with Amanda Gianelloni (.342) for a team high 40 hits. Gianelloni leads the Colonels with five home runs, 29 RBI, and 17 walks.
