SAN ANTONIO, Texas---  McNeese softball picked up a 7-3 Southland Conference series opening win over Incarnate Word Friday afternoon in the first of a three-game series.  The series will continue with a 12 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.  The doubleheader is scheduled to stream on ESPN+.
 
McNeese improved to 22-14 overall and 8-2 in the SLC.  The loss drops UIW to 16-13 overall and 6-4 in the SLC.
 
The Cowgirls picked up 11 hits in the game including three doubles, two by Brylie Fontenot and one by Kassidy Chance.
 
Fontenot, Chance and Rylie Bouvier all led the Cowgirls with two hits apiece.  Fontenot also had four RBI in the contest.
 
Kadence Williams improved to 6-5 on the year with the win in relief of Ryann Schexnayder.  Williams tossed the last 3 1/3 innings, allowed one hit and one walk.  Schexnayder allowed three runs on six hits, two walks, and on strikeout in 3 2/3 innings.
 
 UIW took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Jaisy Canceres that scored Dominique Guerra, who reached base with a leadoff walk.
 
McNeese scored four runs on five hits and one UIW error in the second inning to take a 4-1 lead and one they didn't give up.  Brylie Fontenot's two RBI double down the left field line scored Nyjah Fontenot and Rylie Bouvier to put the Cowgirls up 2-1.  A single by Onna McElroy's single scored Brylie Fontenot for a 3-1 lead.  McElroy came home to score the fourth Cowgirl run of the inning on a ground out.
 
A two-run homerun by UIW's Jasmine Sierra in the third inning pulled the Cardinals to within one run (4-3) but the Cowgirls added three insurance runs in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 7-3.
 
After singles by Reese Reyna and Bouvier, Brylie Fontenot came through with her second double of the game to score both Reyna and Bouvier for a 6-3 lead.  One batter later, Fontenot scored on a sacrifice fly by McElroy for the 7-3 lead.
 
Williams entered the circle in the seventh inning and retired the Cardinals in order to end the game.
 
McNeese Notes
• The win is only the second road win of the season for the Cowgirls
• McNeese collected 11 hits, three of which were doubles
• Three Cowgirls picked up at least two hits apiece (Kassidy Chance, Rylie Bouvier, Brylie Fontenot )
• Fontenot's two hits were doubles
• Chance and Samantha Mundine extended their hitting streaks to 12 and 11 games, respectively
• Kadence Williams picked up the win to improve to 6-5 on the season.  Williams has won five of her last six games