LAKE CHARLES- McNeese softball will return to Joe Miller Field this weekend to host Austin Peay in a three-game series beginning with a single game at 6 p.m. Friday night concluding with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. All games will be streamed (paid subscription) on mcneesesports.com.
 
McNeese (6-6) is coming off a 7-2 home loss on Wednesday night against Houston that saw the Cowgirls give up six runs in the seventh inning after leading 2-0 after the fifth.
 
Senior Justyce McClain moved into fifth place in McNeese career stolen bases with 67 after swiping two against Houston. McClain ended the game 3 for 4 and scored a run while Cori McCrary went 2 for 4 with one RBI.
 
McClain and Demi Boudreaux are the Cowgirls leading hitters heading into the weekend. McClain is batting .436 and leads the team with 17 hits, five walks and six stolen bases. Boudreaux has a .325 batting average, leads the team with six doubles, and is second on the team with 13 hits and six RBI. McCrary leads the Cowgirls with nine RBI.
 
In the circle, Alexsandra Flores is 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA and 17 strikeouts. Amber Coons, who is coming off a good outing against Houston is 1-0 with a 0.45 ERA in 15.2 innings and has six strikeouts.
 
Austin Peay (5-5) is coming off a tournament at UL-Lafayette where they posted a 2-3 record with both wins over Jackson State. Two of their losses came against UL-Lafayette and the other came against Southland Conference foe Stephen F. Austin.
 
Kelsey Gross and Carly Mattson are both hitting over .400 with Gross coming in with a .455 average and Mattson with a .448 average. Mattson also leads the Govs with 13 hits and five double and is second on the team with 10 RBI. Gross and Kacey Acree both have 10 hits on the year and Acree has a team high 11 RBI.
 
Austin Peay, like McNeese has used several pitchers so far. Gross has the lowest ERA (1.87) in five appearances and 15.0 innings while Morgan Rackel is 3-3 on the year with a 3.73 ERA in 30 innings and Kelly Mardones is 1-1 with a 6.07 ERA in 15 innings.