SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word softball team is back on the road after a brief two-game homestand to take on the McNeese State Cowgirls on Friday in the first slate of Southland Conference action.

The Cardinals (2-15) will face a McNeese team (8-13) that was picked to finish second in the preseason conference rankings. The Friday doubleheader begins at 5 p.m. (CT) and finishes with a 7 p.m. (CT) first pitch.

FOLLOW ALONG
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THE OPENING PITCH
The Cardinals are coming off a series split against Texas Southern on Wednesday. When UIW and McNeese met last year, the Cowgirls came away with a sweep, despite winning the last two games by just one run each.

HOFFMAN EMERGES VICTORIOUS

• In Wednesday's matchup against TSU, freshman pitcher Renee Hoffman threw a complete game, pitching a total of eight innings and surrendering just three earned runs on eight hits, picking up the first win of her college career.
• Hoffman struck out six batters in the outing, tying her season high. She now leads the team in opposing batting average (.282).
• In the same game, the freshman also produced at the plate. She finished 1-4 with a run scored, helping her own cause as she lifted the Cardinals to victory.

CAREER DAY FOR SOBOLEWSKI

• Senior outfielder Hope Sobolewski was sensational in both games of Wednesday's doubleheader, finishing 6-9 on the day with four RBIs, including a walkoff two-RBI single to win the second game.
• Her four hits in the win were a career high for the senior out of Moreno Valley, Calif.
• Sobolewski is now leading the team in RBIs (6) and slugging percentage (.474).

COMPLETE COLEMAN

• Brett Coleman tossed her sixth complete game of the season Wednesday, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts, which ties her career high as well.
• The sophomore now leads the team in innings pitched (45.2) and strikeouts (30).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
McNeese State is the defending Southland Conference Tournament champion looking to make a run at the regular season title in 2019. The Cowgirls have lost four out of their last five matchups, including tough defeats against No. 21 Oklahoma State and No. 3 Oklahoma. Justyce McClain leads the team with a .409 batting average, a triple, home run and four RBIs. McNeese's ace is Amber Coons, a 5'9 sophomore from Monroe, LA. She's boasting a 0.79 ERA in 35.2 innings pitched with 23 strikeouts to just eight walks.

STAY TUNED
Be sure to follow the Cardinals this weekend on Twitter @UIWSoftball and visit uiwcardinals.com for post game stories recapping the day's action.