April 18, 2008

McNeese State's softball team returns to Southland Conference play this weekend when the Cowgirls travel to Conway, Arkansas to face Central Arkansas in a three game Southland Conference series. The series begins with a 2 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and ends with a single game at noon Sunday.

The Cowgirls (17-32, 10-11 SLC) enter the series in eighth place and are coming off a doubleheader home loss to Louisiana Tech Wednesday. Central Arkansas (4-34, 2-18 SLC) are in 11th place in the league standings but enter the weekend with a 2-1 SLC series victory over Sam Houston State for its only two conference wins this season.

Senior Jenny Clay continues to lead the Cowgirls in several offensive categories. Clay leads the Cowgirls and the SLC with 14 doubles. Clay leads the team with a .381 batting average, .627 slugging percent and a .458 on base percent. She is second on the team with five home runs, and third with 21 RBI's.

As a team, the Cowgirls lead the league with 81 stolen bases and freshman Molly Guidry is tied as the league's individual leader with 21. SFA's Kendal Harper also has 21 stolen bases on the year. Guidry also leads the Cowgirls with six home runs.

Katie Shumaker leads SLC in pinch hit at bats with 13 and pinch hit hits with four. Michelle LaVoie leads the Cowgirls with 28 RBI's, nine pitching victories, 3.75 ERA, 121.1 innings pitched. Bethany Stefinsky leads the pitching staff with 69 strikeouts.

Megan Beard and Tiffany Ritchie are the team leaders with two triples apiece.