LAKE CHARLES- McNeese softball returns to Southland Conference action this weekend by hosting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a three game series. The series will begin with a 5 p.m. doubleheader Friday that will be carried on the McNeese Radio Network (KEZM 1310 and mcneesesports.com). The series will conclude with a 1 p.m. game on Saturday. Video streaming will be available on mcneesesports.com as well.
 
Prior to Friday's doubleheader, a ceremony will take place to rename the field "Joe Miller Field" after a man who has been very generous to both the softball and baseball programs in the past few years and most recently provided the funds to fully turf the softball field. Saturday's game is designated as the Cowgirls Cancer Awareness game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink.
 
Miller has served on the McNeese Foundation Board of Directors since 1972. He has served as president and was a chair on the budget committee and served on the investment committee. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from McNeese in 2013 and he has also received the Distinguished Service Award from the McNeese Foundation for his support of the university. He was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Honor in 2014.
 
Miller was president of F. Miller and Sons Construction Co. for almost 50 years until 2006. He has also served as president for the State Highway and Heavy Associated General Contractors of America, board member and president of Louisiana Council of Associated General Contractors and director and president of the Lake Charles Associated General Contractors.
 
He is well known in Southwest Louisiana for his interest and support of baseball.  He coached South Lake Charles Little League Baseball for 40 years and was vice president of the Little League for 36 years. Many of his former players have played baseball at McNeese.
 
Miller has received numerous awards for his community service including the Angel Award for Public Service with area youth by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana and Citizen of the Year by the Chamber Southwest Louisiana.
 
Miller and his late wife, Mary, have supported academic programs at McNeese through endowed scholarships and professorships.
 
McNeese (24-13, 7-5 SLC) will look to pick up its fourth straight Southland Conference series win after taking two of three games at Northwestern State last weekend. The Cowgirls are coming off a 9-1, five inning home loss to 14^th ranked LSU on Tuesday.
 
Justice McClain, who has reached base in 29 consecutive games, leads the Cowgirls with a .426 batting average with 52 hits, 34 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. Morgan Catron is batting .343 with 36 hits, 10 home run, 34 RBI and 18 walks.
Erika Piancastelli has a .336 average with 36 hits and leads the team with 12 home runs, 13 doubles, 35 RBI, and 28 walks.
 
Alexsandra Flores leads the pitching staff with a 12-5 record, a 2.15 ERA and 55 strikeouts. Flores has won six of her last seven games and was the winning pitcher in the two wins at Northwestern State last weekend.
 
Caroline Settle is 6-6 with a 4.40 ERA with 30 strikeouts while Amber Coons is 4-2 with a 3.99 ERA with 30 strikeouts. Ashley Koncir who pitched effectively in 3 1/3 innings and gave up only one hit against LSU is 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA with 10 strikeouts.
 
Texas A&M-CC (9-25-1, 1-11) picked up their first conference win last weekend with a 7-0 shutout win against Abilene Christian.
 
Former Sulphur High's Kayla Sheridan who has a .319 batting average with 38 hits and 14 stolen bases leads the Islanders. Keagan Helson has a team high five home runs and 18 RBI.
 
Kandace Johnson is 5-3 in the circle with a 6.25 ERA and 36 strikeouts. Ashley Smith is 2-14 with a 5.26 ERA with 41 strikeouts.