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LAKE CHARLES, La. – With momentum high in the University of the Incarnate Word softball locker room following a Southland Conference series win over Central Arkansas and a doubleheader split against Big 12 member Kansas, the Cardinals will be put to one of their toughest challenges this season when they play a three-game series at preseason favorite, McNeese, Friday and Saturday from Cowgirl Stadium.
 
FIRST PITCH
 
Friday's single game is scheduled for 6 p.m., while Saturday's doubleheader is set for a noon start. McNeese is the two-time defending Southland Conference championships and was picked to three-peat this season.
 
McNeese leads the all-time series, 8-2, and has won the last five matchups. The Cardinals' last win came in a 3-2 result on Apr. 12, 2014, in San Antonio.
 
SCOUTING THE MCNEESE COWGIRLS
 
2018: 19-10 overall, 2-4 SLC
Last Game: W 10-2 (5 innings) at Sam Houston State (3/17)
Head Coach: James Landreneau
Offensive Leaders:
#2 Justyce McClain – 29 GP, .438 BA, 42 H, 26 R, 9 RBIs, 13 SB
#16 Erika Piancastelli – 29 GP, .354 BA, 29 H, 25 R, 11 2B, 9 HR, 27 RBIs, 6 SB
#14 Morgan Catron – 29 GP, .317 BA, 26 H, 11 R, 2 2B, 7 HR, 25 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#1 Alexsandra Flores – 18 GP, 8-4, 2.60 ERA, 4 CG, 2/1 SHO, 44 SO
Summary: Preaseason favorite, McNeese, had a terrific pre-conference run, going 17-6 to lead all conference teams. Among those wins were a doubleheader sweep of No. 20 Virginia and a 6-1 win at No. 9 Florida State. The Cowgirls opened Southland action getting swept at Central Arkansas, then lost game one against Sam Houston State. McNeese took games two and three to win the series over the Bearkats.
 
The Cowgirls are led at the plate by Justyce McClain, who boasts the third-best batting average in the conference (.438), with a conference-high 43 hits, a team-best 26 runs scored, one home run, and nine RBIs. Her 13 stolen bases also lead the team. Three-time SLC Player of the Year, Erika Piancastelli, is second in batting average (.354), but first in doubles (SLC-leading 11), home runs (SLC-leading 9), and RBIs (27, tied for SLC lead). Her .800 slugging percentage ranks second in the conference. In the circle, Alexsandra Flores is 8-4 with a 2.60 ERA, four complete games, three shutouts (one combined), 28 walks, and 44 strikeouts. As a team, the Cowgirls are fourth in the SLC in batting average (.279) and third in ERA (3.27).
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2018: 6-15 overall, 2-4 SLC
Last Game: W 1-0 vs. Kansas (3/21)
Head Coach: Joe DiPietro (1^st season)
Offensive Leaders:
#0 Marcela Lopez – 20 GP, .286 BA, 16 H, 3 R, 1 2B, 3 RBIs, 2 SB
#10 Hope Sobolewski – 20 GP, .259 BA, 14 H, 3 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs
#11 Victoria Bratcher – 19 GP, .254 BA, 15 H, 4 R, 3 2B, 4 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#25 Sarah Leal – 11 GP, 5-5, 4.11 ERA, 6 CG, 29 SO
Summary: After taking a conference series from Central Arkansas for the first time in program history last weekend, UIW split a doubleheader against the Big 12's Kansas, losing game one, 5-0, and winning the nightcap, 1-0. Game one was much closer than the score indicated, as one bad inning (a four-run fifth) sunk the Cardinals. In game two, Breanna Hernandez earned her first-collegiate win in a complete-game effort, Nina Flores singled home Angel Villanueva in the bottom of the sixth for the game's only run, and Teanna Lucio gunned down a Jayhawk trying to score from second to home in the top of the seventh to preserve the win. UIW has won three of its last five games after snapping a seven-game losing streak.
 
On the season, Marcela Lopez leads the Cardinals in batting average (.286), hits (16), and stolen bases (2). Victoria Bratcher's 15 hits places her second, while her three doubles put her in a tie for first with Shelby Neatherlin and Delaney Guzman. Hope Sobolewski, who is batting .259, leads the team with nine RBIs and joins Guzman and Emily Castro for the team lead of two home runs. In the circle, Sarah Leal leads the team in ERA (4.11), wins (5), complete games (6), and strikeouts (29). In the conference, the Cardinals are last in both batting average (.212) and ERA (5.01).
 
UP NEXT

UIW hosts HBU in a Southland Conference series next Thursday and Friday, Mar. 29-30, from Cardinals Field. The series was originally slated for Friday and Saturday, but has been moved ahead one day due to the Easter holiday. Thursday's single game is scheduled for 6 p.m., while Friday's doubleheader will be at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals play a doubleheader at Texas Southern on Tuesday, Apr. 3 beginning at 3 p.m. from Memorial Park in Houston.

To purchase tickets, contact UIW Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Incarnate Word Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow Incarnate Word Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like Incarnate Word Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.