McNeese (29-12, 11-1 SLC) vs. Nicholls (22-17, 9-6 SLC)
Friday, April 14 (5 p.m./DH)
Saturday, April 15 (1 p.m.)
Lake Charles/ Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond
Stream: ESPN+ (all 3 games)
 
LAKE CHARLES- McNeese softball returns to Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond this weekend for a Southland Conference series against Nicholls.  The schedule has been altered due to potential rain in the area this weekend.  The teams will now play a 5 p.m. doubleheader on Friday and a single game at 1 p.m. Saturday. 
 
Saturday's game has been designated as the Cowgirls' Alumni Day and it's the 40^th anniversary of the first Southland Conference regular season and tournament champions. The 1983 Cowgirl team won both titles and will be recognized prior to Saturday's 1 p.m. game.
 
McNeese (29-12, 11-1 SLC) is coming off a its first extra inning game of the season, a 4-2 (9 inn.) win at Houston on Tuesday.
 
The Cowgirls are led at the plate by Alayis Seneca and Mariana Torres' .330 average while Reese Reyna is hitting .324.  Torres is second in the SLC with a .487 conference game average.
 
In the circle, Whitney Tate is 12-3 on the season and 4-0 in the SLC this season with a 1.49 overall ERA and 0.30 ERA in conference games. Tate is 8-1 in league games dating back to last season where she was 4-1 in league play.
 
Ashley Vallejo is 10-7 on the year with a 2.61 overall ERA. Vallejo is 5-0 in the SLC with a 0.72 ERA and is 14-0 in conference games dating back to last season where she was 9-0.   
 
McNeese leads the SLC with a team .367 batting average, pitching staff low 0.74 ERA, .162 opponent batting average, a .978 fielding percent, 50 stolen bases, and eight shutouts.
 
Nicholls (22-17, 9-6 SLC) was picked to finish in ninth place in the preseason poll but the Colonels enter the series in third place following its series win over Lamar last weekend.  The Colonels are coming off a 3-2 road loss at South Alabama Tuesday night.
 
Erin Krause leads the Colonels with a .404 batting average, 46 hits, 10 doubles, and three triples.  Audrey McNeil leads the staff with a 2.39 ERA and is 9-7 on the season while Molly Yoo is 10-6 with a 2.76 ERA.
 
McNEESE NOTES
•- Rank 2^nd in the NCAA in double plays per game, sixth in stolen bases and stolen bases per game, and ninth in shutouts
•- Coming off its first extra inning game of the season in a 4-2 (9 inn.) win at Houston
•- Have at least 10 hits in 13 games
•- Have outscored SLC opponents 77-14
•- Have outhit SLC opponents 115-44
•- McNeese leads the league with a .367 batting average, 0.74 ERA, .162 opponent batting average, .978 fielding percent in league play
•- The Cowgirls also have stolen a league best 50 stolen bases in conference games
•- Have 15 shutouts this season and 8 shutouts in 12 SLC games
•- Have eight run-rule wins
•- Whitney Tate is 12-3 on the season and 4-0 in the SLC.  She has an 8-1 SLC record dating back to last season where she was 4-1
•- Ashley Vallejo is 10-7 overall and 5-0 in the SLC.  Vallejo is 14-0 in SLC games dating back to last season where she was 9-0.
•- Tate ranks 7^th in the NCAA in shutouts and 16^th in walks allowed per 7 innings
•- Reese Rayna ranks 5^th in the NCAA in sacrifice flies
•- Lindsay Davis ranks 13^th in the NCAA in saves