Who: Southeastern
When: Thursday, April 2 (4 p.m./DH); Friday, April 3 (1 p.m.)
Where: Lake Charles (Cowgirl Diamond)
TV: ESPN+ (all three games)
 
 
LAKE CHARLES— The Southland's top two softball teams in recent years will face off this weekend when McNeese, the Southland's four-time reigning regular season champions will host Southeastern, the two-time reigning Southland Conference Tournament champions in a three-game series beginning with a 4 p.m. doubleheader on Thursday.  The series will conclude with a single game at 1 p.m. Friday.  All three games will stream on ESPN+.
 
McNeese (23-13, 7-5) enters the series tied for third place in the SLC standings with UIW, Nicholls, and NW State following its series sweep over UIW last weekend.  Southeastern (30-9, 12-0 SLC) sits atop the standings in first place.
 
The Cowgirls enter the series ranked in the Top 5 in the SLC in several statistical categories.  McNeese leads the SLC in double plays, walks drawn and sac flies and are third in the SLC with a .309 batting average.  The Cowgirls are second in homeruns, scoring, and slugging percent.
 
McNeese enters the game with three players hitting above .300.  Nyjah Fontenot leads the team with a .375 batting average followed by Rylee Cloud (.330), and Corine Poncho (.300).  Fontenot also leads the team with a .633 slugging percent, 34 runs scored, 45 hits, 31 RBI, and is tied for a team high with seven homeruns.
 
Maddie Taylor is tied for a team high with seven homeruns and has a team high 27 walks.
 
In the circle for the Cowgirls, they enter the series with a team 4.31 ERA.  Brookelyn Taylor (8-5, 3.28 ERA), Maddie Taylor (7-3, 4.71 ERA), Kynlei Chapman (5-4, 4.27 ERA), Kadence Williams (2-0, 4.60 ERA), Ryann Schexnayder (1-0, 6.46 ERA), and Lindsay Davis (0-1, 9.95 ERA).
 
Southeastern enters the series on a 16-game winning streak and lead the SLC with a team .340 batting average, 346 hits, 18 triples, and 85 stolen bases.  The pitching staff leads the nation with 14 shutouts and has a conference low 1.74 ERA, which ranks them fourth in the nation.
 
Shelby Morris leads the Lions with a .415 batting average 56 hits, 37 runs and four triples, and is tied for a team high 16 stolen bases.
 
The pitching staff is led by Cera Blanchard's 1.07 ERA and wins (11-1).  Hallie Burns (10-3) has a 1.94 ERA.  Haley Crawford also has a 1.07 ERA while Macie LeRue has a 2.42 ERA.