LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball will open the 2023 season this weekend by hosting the Cowgirl Classic I, the first of two home tournaments this season.  Also taking part in the tournament will be UAB, Central Arkansas, Idaho State, and Texas Southern.
 
Tournament action gets underway at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday.  UAB and Central Arkansas will get the tournament started Friday.  McNeese will face Idaho State at 5:30 p.m. Friday in its season opener followed by an 8 p.m. game against Texas Southern.  
 
Saturday's schedule has the Cowgirls facing Texas Southern at 5:30 p.m. and Central Arkansas at 8 p.m.  McNeese will close out tournament play in a 12:30 p.m. game against UAB Sunday.
 
McNeese is coming off a 40-21 record and its deepest run in the NCAA Tournament in 2022.  The Cowgirls return 11 letterwinners and six starters from last season including three of its four pitchers including the reigning SLC pitcher of the year in junior Ashley Vallejo.  Also returning in the circle is Whitney Tate and Shaelyn Sanders.
 
UAB is coming off a 25-24 overall record and 13-10 Conference USA record.  Central Arkansas, a former member of the SLC posted a 37-21 overall record and a 17-7 record in its first season in the Atlantic Sun Conference.  Idaho State is a member of the Big Sky who posted a 25-27 overall record and an 8-10 conference record in 2022 while Texas Southern, a member of the SWAC finished 2022 with a 26-20 overall record and 21-3 conference record.
 
NOTES
•-It's the 15th overall Cowgirl Classic (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2006, 2004, 2001, 2000)
•- It's the sixth straight year the Cowgirls open their season with the Cowgirl Classic
•- McNeese is picked to finish first in the SLC preseason poll
• Cowgirls are ranked 10th in Justin's (Extra Innings) Mid-Major Top 10 Preseason Poll
• McNeese is ranked 42nd in D1 Softball's Top 50 programs
•-McNeese will play seven teams ranked by either the NFCA Coaches preseason Top 25 or D1 Softball Top 25 poll (Texas, Washington, Kentucky, LSU, UL-Lafayette, North Texas, Ole Miss)
•-Cowgirls have won 40 or more games in four of the last seven years
•- Coming off a 40-21 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Regional Championship game for the first time in program history.
•- Return 11 letterwinners and one redshirt from the 2022 team including eight position players and three pitchers.
•- Cowgirls place a league high seven on SLC preseason team (Ashley Vallejo, Crislyne Moreno, Caleigh Cross, Jil Poullard, Alayis Seneca, Kaylee Lopez, Chloe Gomez).
 
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 10   
10 a.m.             UAB vs. Central Arkansas
12:30 p.m.       Idaho State vs. Central Arkansas
3 p.m.              Texas Southern vs. UAB
5:30 p.m.         McNeese vs. Idaho State
8 p.m.              McNeese vs. Texas Southern
 
Saturday, Feb. 11
10 a.m.             Idaho State vs. UAB
12:30 p.m.       Texas Southern vs. Idaho State
3 p.m.              UAB vs. Central Arkansas
5:30 p.m.         McNeese vs. Texas Southern
8 p.m.              McNeese vs. Central Arkansas
 
Sunday, Feb. 12  
10 a.m.             Texas Southern vs. Idaho State
12:30 p.m.       McNeese vs. UAB