LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball will conclude its week-long trip this weekend at the Easton Crimson Classic hosted by Alabama.
It will be a challenging weekend as the Cowgirls (14-3) will face two ranked opponents for the first time this season. They will begin play against Texas-Arlington (7-8) at 11 a.m. and #7 Arizona (12-3) at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The Arizona game will be shown on ESPN3.
The Cowgirls will play the same two teams Saturday, playing UT-Arlington at 11 a.m. and Arizona at 6 p.m. Saturday that can be seen on SECN+.
McNeese will conclude tournament play with a 1:30 p.m. game against #8/12 Alabama (9-5). This game can also be seen on SECN+.
The Cowgirls began their week with a 4-1 win at Southern Miss on Tuesday then dropped a 5-0 game at Troy on Wednesday.
It will be the 100
th meeting against UTA as the Mavericks hold a 49-44 series record.
Despite giving up five earned runs at Troy on Wednesday, the Cowgirls pitching staff will carry a 0.97 ERA into the tournament. Sophomore
Saleen Flores leads the staff with a 0.45 ERA with
Caroline Settle right behind with a 0.84 ERA. Flores is 5-1 on the year while Settle is 3-0.
Freshman
Caylon Brabham leads the Cowgirl offense with a .524 batting average, an .833 slugging percent, 22 hits, and seven doubles.
Arizona leads the all-time series 6-0 with the last meeting between the two teams coming in 2012. The Cowgirls fell to the Wildcats, 8-1 at the Arizona State Kajikawa Classic. The Cowgirls and Arizona have a connection- Arizona senior pitcher Alyssa Denham is the younger sister o former Cowgirl pitchers Jessica and Tiffany and shortstop Stephanie.
The Crimson Tide holds a 4-1 all-time record against McNeese, having won the last meeting 11-1 (5 inn.) in 2018. The lone Cowgirl win against Alabama came in a 5-3 win at Rhoads Stadium during the 2014 season.
COWGIRL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, Feb. 28
11 a.m.- UT-Arlington
1:30 p.m.- Arizona (ESPN3)
SATURDAY, Feb. 29
11 a.m.- UT-Arlington
6 p.m.- Arizona (SECN+)
SUNDAY, Mar. 1
1:30 p.m.- Alabama (SECN+)
