GAME DETAILS
LSU Tiger Classic (Feb. 11-13)
Feb. 11 at #5 LSU (5 p.m./SECN+)
Feb. 12 vs. Kansas (DH) 9 a.m./11:30 a.m.
Feb. 13 vs. Duke 10 a.m.
 
Location: Baton Rouge
Venue: Tiger Park
Watch (LSU game only) | Live Stats | COVID Protocol
 
LAKE CHARLES – It's been 11 months since McNeese softball has played a game and this weekend the Cowgirls will hit the diamond to open its 2021 season.
"This weekend is an exciting time for us," said head coach James Landreneau. "We have been waiting 11 months to get to this point."

Not only has McNeese had to deal with COVID restrictions but Lake Charles and McNeese was hit by two hurricanes (Laura and Delta) six weeks apart in August and September that added to a shortened fall season and facility destruction from the hurricanes.

"Our situation has changed from what is normal. We've had to adapt around facility improvements and reconstruction around the field. Down the road this will become a strength for our kids, they are used to having to get outside the norm and we feel like this is preparing us to be a stronger team mentally."

McNeese will take part in the LSU Tiger Classic scheduled for Feb. 11-13. The Cowgirls, who will play six teams this season ranked in the NFCA Preseason Coaches' Poll, will open tournament action against No. 5 LSU Thursday at 5 p.m. The game will be streamed on SECN+ and WatchESPN with Hall of Famers Lyn Rollins and Yvette Girouard on the call. Live stats will be available for all tournament games.

McNeese will also play Kansas in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. before closing out tournament play with a 10 a.m. game against Duke.

McNeese, under 5th-year head coach James Landreneau, returns 19 student-athletes from the 2020 squad along with seven newcomers. McNeese finished the shortened 2020 season with a 19-7 record.

LSU who posted a 21-3 record last season will be led by NFCA All-American Shelbi Sunseri and All-SEC performer Aliyah Andrews, both were also named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List last week. The Tigers also return Shelby Wickersham who led the nation last season with a 0.40 ERA.

Kansas enters the weekend after a 13-13 overall record in 2020. The Jayhawks were picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 preseason poll. Kansas leads the all-time series record 3-0 over McNeese with the last meeting coming in 1998 with a 10-3 Kansas win.

Duke posted a 23-4, 1-2 ACC record before the season was postponed. It will be the first meeting against the Blue Devils who were picked to finish fourth in the ACC standings.