Who: Incarnate Word (16-12, 6-3 SLC)
When: Friday, March 28 (3 p.m.); Saturday, March 29 (12 p.m./DH)
Where: San Antonio, Texas (H-E-B Field)
TV: ESPN+ (Saturday DH only)
Series Record: McNeese leads the series 21-5 and have won seven of last nine games against UIW.
 
 
LAKE CHARLES— McNeese softball returns to Southland Conference action this weekend when the Cowgirls travel to San Antonio, Texas for a three-game series at Incarnate Word.
 
The series will begin with a single game at 3 p.m. Friday, March 28 and will end with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, March 29.  Only Saturday's doubleheader will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
The series marks the midway point of the conference schedule and it's a series between the preseason No. 2 (McNeese) and No. 3 (UIW) teams in the preseason poll. 
 
McNeese (21-14, 7-2) enters the weekend in second place in the SLC standings behind Southeastern (26-8, 81 SLC), while the Cardinals (15-12, 6-3) are tied with Lamar in third place heading into the series.
 
UIW enters the weekend with the best ERA (2.12) in conference games so far this season.  Samantha Portillo leads the SLC with a 0.49 ERA in three appearances and 14.1 innings.
 
The Cowgirls lead the series 21-15 and have won seven of the last nine games against UIW.  The last two losses to UIW were in the 2024 SLC Tournament. The Cowgirls fell 3-2 in the opening game of the tournament to fall into the loser's bracket.  McNeese made its way all the way back to the semifinals where they fell 8-7 to the Cardinals to end their season.
 
McNeese enters the game after a 10-6 loss at Houston on Tuesday while UIW is coming off a 6-5 home loss to Stephen F. Austin in the final game of the SLC series last Saturday.
 
McNeese Notes
• McNeese has the second-best team batting average (.359) and second lowest ERA (2.73) in conference games.
• Kassidy Chance leads the team with a .411 average, is tied for team high with 11 stolen bases
• Chance enters the series on an 11-game hitting streak and Samantha Mundine is on a 10-game hitting streak
• Jada Munoz leads the team with nine homeruns, 40 hits, 36 runs scored, tied for a team high 23 RBI, second on the team with a .388 batting average and 11 doubles.
• Maddie Taylor leads the pitching staff in wins with eight (8-5), 37 strikeouts, and 72.2 innings
• Ryann Schexnayder has a staff low 3.33 ERA and leads the team with five saves
• Kadence Williams is 5-5 on the year with a 3.54 ERA