LAKE CHARLES—Coming off its deepest NCAA Tournament run in program history in 2022, McNeese seventh year head softball coach
James Landreneau has announced the 2023 schedule, one that is once again challenging and will prepare the Cowgirls for another deep run into the postseason.
"The schedule is always a challenging schedule," said head coach
James Landreneau. "We like to play a schedule that puts our kids in a tough situation and allows them to compete against elite talent. When you play against elite talent, you have to play at a high level and it's a great opportunity to see where we stand against these types of teams.
"For our fan base, I'm excited to bring top level teams into Lake Charles that will give our fan base the opportunity to see some of these quality teams. Between SEC opponents and a PAC 12 opponent, that should be exciting for our fan base this year as we continue to grow our sport and the McNeese brand."
The schedule includes games against seven teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament including Texas who advanced to the Women's College World Series along with 28 home games that includes two home tournaments. The Cowgirls will also take part in the North Texas and Texas Tournaments.
McNeese will open its season with the first of its two home tournaments on Feb. 10-12 when the Cowgirls welcome Central Arkansas, UAB, Idaho State, and Texas Southern for the Cowgirl Classic I.
A week later, the Cowgirls will take part in the North Texas Tournament where they will face Kentucky, South Dakota, UT-Arlington, and North Texas.
McNeese will remain home for the rest of February, hosting Washington (Feb. 20), South Alabama (Feb. 21), and its second home tournament (Cowgirl Classic II) Feb. 24-26.
Other non-conference home games include Grambling (Mar. 1), Houston (Mar. 15), UL-Lafayette (Apr. 4), LSU (Apr. 18), and UT-Arlington (Apr. 19).
McNeese will travel to UL-Lafayette, UL-Monroe, LSU, Sam Houston, and Houston for non-conference road games.
The Southland Conference opener is set for March 17-18 with the Cowgirls traveling to Incarnate Word. The Cowgirls' home opening conference series is set for March 24-25 against Texas A&M-Commerce. The Cowgirls will also host Northwestern State, Nicholls, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and will travel to Lamar, Southeastern, and Houston Christian for conference series.
The SLC Tournament returns to Lake Charles this season and is slated for May 9-12.
2023 McNEESE SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
FEBRUARY
10-12 COWGIRL CLASSIC I
(Central Arkansas, UAB, Idaho St., Texas Southern)
17-19 at North Texas Tournament
(Kentucky, South Dakota, UT-Arlington, North Texas)
20 WASHINGTON
21 SOUTH ALABAMA
24-26 COWGIRL CLASSIC II
(Stephen F. Austin, Ole Miss)
MARCH
1 GRAMBLING
3-4 at Texas Tournament
(Princeton, UL-Lafayette, Tennessee Tech, Texas)
8 at UL-Lafayette
10 at UL-Monroe
11 at UL-Monroe
15 HOUSTON
17 *at Incarnate Word
18 *at Incarnate Word
21 at LSU
24 *TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
25 *TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
29 at Sam Houston
31 *at Lamar
APRIL
1 *at Lamar
4 UL-LAFAYETTE
7 *NORTHWESTERN STATE
8 *NORTHWESTERN STATE
11 at Houston
14 *NICHOLLS
15 *NICHOLLS
18 LSU
19 UT-ARLINGTON
25 *at Southeastern
26 *at Southeastern
28 *TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
29 *TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
MAY
5 *at Houston Christian
6 *at Houston Christian
9-12 SLC TOURNAMENT LAKE CHARLES
18-20 NCAA Regionals
24-26 NCAA Super Regionals
JUNE
1-9 Women's College World Series Oklahoma City, OK.
*- Southland Conference Game Home Games in BOLD
