McNeese Softball (4-1) at Tracy Beard College Classic (Feb. 17-19)
Celina, Texas
Feb. 17 vs. #17 Kentucky (1:30 p.m.)
Feb. 18 vs. South Dakota (1:30 p.m.); UT-Arlington (4 p.m.)
Feb. 19 vs. #22 North Texas (12:30 p.m.)
Livestats: mcneesesports.com
 
 
LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball will get an early test this weekend when the Cowgirls travel to Celina, Texas to take part in the Tracy Beard College Classic where the Cowgirls will face two ranked teams in Kentucky and North Texas.  McNeese will also face South Dakota and UT-Arlington in the tournament.
 
McNeese is coming off a 4-1 record at its own Cowgirl Classic I last weekend where the Cowgirls outscored its opponents 26-7.  McNeese with a season opening 7-2 win over Idaho State.  The Cowgirls also picked up two wins over Texas Southern and closed out tournament play with a 4-2 win over UAB.  The lone Cowgirl blemish was a 2-1 loss to Central Arkansas.
 
Alayis Seneca leads the Cowgirls into the tournament with six hits and several players batting over .300. 
 
The Cowgirls will open tournament play against #17 Kentucky at 1:30 p.m. Friday with Saturday games against South Dakota and UT-Arlington.  McNeese will close out tournament play against North Texas on Sunday.
 
Kentucky is coming off a 2-0-1 showing at the NFCA Leadoff Classic last weekend in Clearwater, Florida.  The Wildcats picked up run rule wins over St. John's and Louisville with its tie coming against nationally ranked Texas. It will be the first meeting against Kentucky.
 
South Dakota posted a 2-0 opening weekend record with its wins coming against Drake and Northern Iowa. This will also be the first meeting against South Dakota.
 
UT-Arlington (3-1) picked up a win over Texas Tech and two wins against Tulsa at the Maverick Invitational.  UTA dropped its game against Texas Tech on Saturday.  The Maverick's lead the series 13-10 with the last meeting resulting in a 5-4 Cowgirl loss at the Easton Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
 
North Texas is coming off a 4-0 record at the Buzz Classic in Georgia with its wins coming over University of Illinois-Chicago, Saint Francis, UConn, and Georgia Tech.
 
NOTES
•- Coming off a 4-1 opening weekend at its own Cowgirl Classic
•- McNeese picked up two wins over Texas Southern and one against Idaho State and UAB.  The loss was to Central Arkansas.
•- McNeese outscored its opponents 26-7 last weekend
•- McNeese is taking part in its first Tracy Beard Classic
•- Former Cowgirl standout and current Hall of Famer Jamie Allred is a pitching coach for North Texas
•- McNeese stole 20 bases in the first week of competition
•- Pitcher Whitney Tate went 2-0, with 12 strikeouts, no walks and a 2.10 ERA last week
•- Freshman Lindsay Davis picked up her first collegiate win in her first collegiate start in the 8-0 run rule win over Texas Southern.
•- Transfer Emily Phillips hit her first home run as a Cowgirl that proved to be the winning hit in 4-2 win over UAB.
•- Chloe Gomez ended the opening weekend with a .400 batting average with four hits including two doubles
•- Alayis Seneca led the Cowgirls with six hits last weekend
•- Crislyne Moreno and Jil Poullard led McNeese with four RBI apiece.