HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana University softball team will open the road portion of its Southland Conference schedule with a series at fellow league unbeaten McNeese, beginning Friday in Lake Charles.
 
The series between the Lady Lions (25-10, 3-0 SLC) and the host Cowgirls (22-14, 5-0 SLC) matches up the lone two teams yet to suffer a Southland loss this season and two of the hottest teams in the nation. SLU carries a seven-game win streak into the weekend against a McNeese squad that has won its last 10 games.
 
Friday's series opener is set for 6 p.m. and the series concludes with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday. Friday's game will be televised on ESPN+ while a stream of Saturday's twin bill will be accessible at McNeeseSports.com (Cowboy Insider paid subscription required). Live stats for the series will be available at McNeeseSports.com/sidearmstats/softball.
 
Southeastern leads the Southland with a .327 team batting average, as eight of SLU's nine positional starters are hitting above .300 on the season. Cam Goodman paces the squad with a .456 batting average.
 
Lexi Johnson is the lone starter not hitting at .300 or above, but makes up for it with a team-high six home runs. Madison Rayner leads SLU with 33 RBI and 13 doubles.
 
Southeastern is tops in the nation with 2.63 steals per game, behind the efforts of Aeriyl Mass (23) and Goodman (21). Rayner paces SLU with 25 runs scored, followed by Lindsey Rizzo (24), Johnson (23), Mass (22) and Goodman (21).
 
Seven different arms have combined for a 2.72 team earned run average for Southeastern. Heather Zumo (12-3, 2.14 ERA), KK Ladner (3-1, 3.27 ERA, 1 save) and Mary-Cathryn (MC) Comeaux (8-3, 3.75 ERA, 1 save) are SLU's primary contributors in the circle, while Alyssa Romano (0-2, 2.23 ERA, 1 save), Ellie DuBois (0-1, 3.63 ERA, 1 save) and Alexis Findley (2-0, 0.00 ERA) have all been effective in more limited roles.
 
Jil Poullard (.378, 6 HR, 30 RBI) leads a potent McNeese lineup that features a .274 batting average. Poullard is one of five Cowgirls with double-digit stolen bases, as McNeese is tied atop Divison I with Southeastern with 92 steals.
 
The Cowgirls boast a 2.89 earned run average as a staff. Ashley Vallejo (8-6, 2.84 ERA), Whitney Tate (6-7, 3.56 ERA) and Shaelyn Sanders (6-0, 1.76 ERA, 1 save) are the primary arms for the defending Southland Tournament champions.
 
Following this week's series, Southeastern will return home Tuesday to host UL Lafayette for a 6 p.m. contest that will be televised on ESPN+. Tuesday will also feature the "Flood the Field" Promotion. The first 150 students will receive free food and t-shirts.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on Twitter and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events (softball, baseball, football and basketball), effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.