LAKE CHARLES— McNeese softball opened its Southland Conference series against Stephen F. Austin Friday night with a 9-4 win at Joe Miller Field.  The series will conclude with a 12 p.m. doubleheader that was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. but has been moved up due to the threat of rain expected in the Lake Area on Saturday.

Following Saturday's the doubleheader, McNeese State University will honor its 2026 senior in a postgame ceremony.

After SFA tied the game at two all with two runs in the third, McNeese scored three in the fourth to take the lead for good then added two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings.  SFA scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

McNeese improved to 29-18 overall and 13-9 in the SLC with the win while SFA falls to 26-22 overall and 10-12 in the SLC.
The Cowgirls ended the game with 13 hits and took advantage of five Lumberjack errors.

Kassidy Chance and Maddie Weeks led the Cowgirls at the plate with three hits apiece.  Taylor also had three RBI while Chance had two.

Maddie Taylor improved to 10-4 overall with the complete game win.  Taylor allowed four runs on six hits, struck out three and walked three.

Lilly Bean led the Lumberjacks with two of their six hits.  Amelia Hatthorn fell to 9-6 on the season with the complete game loss.  She allowed nine runs on 13 hits, walked five and struck out three.

SCORING
B1- McNeese scored two runs on three hits and two Lumberjack errors (McN 2, SFA 0)
T3- SFA tied the game with two runs on a RBI triple by Jamie Varga and a ground out by Ellie Vance. (McN 2, SFA 2)
B4- McNeese retook the lead with three runs on two hits with two outs.  Maddie Weeks' two RBI to center put the Cowgirls up 4-2 and a SFA error allowed Weeks to later score. (McN 5, SFA 2)
T5- SFA got one run back in the top of the inning on a RBI single by Vance. The Cowgirls got out of the inning with the bases loaded when Taylor got Adelyn Becerra to ground out in a double play to end the threat. (5, SFA 3)
B5- McNeese scored two runs on three hits with two outs. A triple by Kassidy Chance scored Corrine Poncho who led the inning off with a double.  Weeks double to center to bring chance home. (McN 7, SFA 3)
T6- SFA scored a run on a sacrifice fly by Hill that scored Paul.  Paul reached base on a single to third. (McN 7, SFA 4)
B6- Two more runs for the Cowgirls on two hits and one SFA error.  Dibbley scored on an error and Dibbley came home on a single up the middle by Chance. (McN 9, SFA 4).