LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball returns to Southland Conference play this weekend in Nacogdoches, Texas with a three-game series at Stephen F. Austin. The series will begin with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Friday and will conclude with a noon game on Saturday.
 
All three games will be streamed on the SFA softball Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/sfa.softball/.
 
McNeese (11-15, 3-0 SLC) is coming off a home doubleheader loss to Baylor Tuesday night that saw the Cowgirls strand 18 runners in a 5-2 first game and 7-2 second game loss.
 
The Cowgirls opened conference play a week ago with a series sweep over Incarnate Word in Lake Charles.
 
Senior outfielder Justyce McClain leads the Cowgirls with a .393 batting average, 33 hits, 18 runs, and is tied for a team high 12 stolen bases.
 
Junior Cori McCray leads McNeese with 15 RBI, is second on the team with a .338 average, 26 hits, 11 runs and is tied with McClain with 12 stolen bases.  
 
In the circle, the Cowgirls have five arms that they can go to at any time. Sophomore Amber Coons (3-2) leads the staff with a 1.27 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 44 innings. Freshman Saleen Flores (0-3) has a 1.33 ERA in 31.2 innings, Caroline Settle (3-4) has a 3.44 ERA in 40.2 innings and Alexsandra Flores (5-6) has a 4.44 ERA in 58.1 innings. Ashley Koncir (0-0) has a 3.00 ERA in 9.1 innings.   
 
Stephen F. Austin (13-11, 1-2 SLC) will host the Cowgirls for a SLC series in as many years. Last year, the Ladyjacks took two out of three games from McNeese in Nacogdoches.
 
The Ladyjacks are coming off a SLC series road loss at Southeastern Louisiana last weekend in Hammond.
 
SFA has four players batting over .300 with Madison Clements leading the way with a .320 average. Bryana Novegil has a team high 23 hits and Alex Hedspeth and Brittany Crawford lead SFA with 14 RBI apiece.
 
Kassidy Wilbur (7-8) leads the pitching staff with a 2.36 ERA, 83 innings and 105 strikeouts. Ashley Kriesel (4-3) has a 3.52 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 47.2 innings.