McNeese State's softball team will be making its 19th overall Southland Conference Tournament appearance in the 21 year history of the tournament this Thursday when it will face Southeastern La. at 11 a.m. in the opening game of the single elimination tournament in San Marcos, Texas.

From 1991-1995 there wasn't a postseason tournament. The appearance is the fourth consecutive appearance under fourth year head coach Chris Malveaux. McNeese won the tournament as the sixth seed in Malveaux's first season as head coach (2005) and represented McNeese and the SLC in the NCAA tournament.

McNeese enters this week's tournament as the fifth seed after posting a 15-14 conference record and 22-35 overall record. Southeastern La. enters the tournament as the eighth seed with a 14-15 SLC record and 27-24 overall record.

During the regular season, McNeese won the SLC series 2-1 against Southeastern La. in Lake Charles. After dropping the first game of the series 1-0, McNeese bounced back to win the next two games 9-1, 3-1.

Texas State is the regular season champion and Texas-Arlington finished second, both team received a first round bye. The championship game is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday with the winner earning the right to represent the Southland Conference in the NCAA Tournament.

2008 Southland Conference Tournament Seeds

1. - Texas State

2. - UT Arlington

3. - UTSA

4. - Stephen F. Austin

5. - McNeese State

6. - Nicholls State

7. - Sam Houston State

8. - Southeastern La.