May 7, 2008

McNeese State's softball team will kick off the 2008 Southland Conference Softball Tournament today when the fifth seed Cowgirls face eighth seed Southeastern La. at 11 a.m. in the opening game of the tournament in San Marcos, Tx.

The single elimination tournament will conclude Sunday with the winner earning the automatic bid to represent the league in the NCAA Tournament. A victory over Southeastern La. would pit the Cowgirls against fourth seed Stephen F. Austin at 4 p.m. today.

McNeese enters the tournament with an overall record of 22-35 and 15-14 Southland Conference record. Southeastern La. enters the tournament with a 28-27 overall record and 15-14 conference record. McNeese took the regular season series against Southeastern La. 2-1 in Lake Charles one month ago. After dropping the first game of the series 1-0, the Cowgirls came back to win the next two 9-1, 3-1.

McNeese is making its 19th appearance in the 21 year history of the tournament (no tournament from 1991-95) and fourth consecutive appearance under fourth year head coach Chris Malveaux. The appearance is also the ninth in the last 10 years and 11th in last 13th for the Cowgirls. The Cowgirls won the 2005 tournament and earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.