April 25, 2008

McNeese State's softball team (19-33, 12-12 SLC) will travel to Thibodaux this weekend for a key Southland Conference series against Nicholls State (25-25, 12-12 SLC). The series will begin with a 5 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Both teams enter the series tied for eighth place in the league standings with two SLC series remaining on the schedule. The Southland Conference tournament is scheduled for May 8-10 and the top eight teams following the regular season qualify for the tournament.

The Cowgirls enter the series after picking up a 2-1 SLC win at Central Arkansas last weekend. McNeese won the opening game 5-1 and the final game of the series 3-2. Central Arkansas defeated the Cowgirls 8-7 in the second game of the series.

Jenny Clay continues to lead the Cowgirls with a .401 batting average, 55 hits, 17 doubles and is tied for a team high with six home runs and is second on the team with 26 RBI's. She leads the SLC with a .672 slugging percent.

Michelle LaVoie leads the pitching staff with nine victories and 124.1 innings pitched. Bethany Stefinsky leads the Cowgirls with 94 strikeouts and is second on the team with six victories.

As a team, McNeese leads the league with 85 stolen bases and have two of the league's top three leaders in this category. Molly Guidry is second in the league with 21 stolen bases, two behind Stephen F. Austin's Kendal Harper. Jenny Clay is third in the standings with 20.

Nicholls State is led by Kathryn Harrell's .398 batting average. Harrell also leads the SLC with 64 hits and five triples.