LAKE CHARLES — Expectations remain sky high in Cowgirl Country.

McNeese State started off the 2017 softball season by going 8-9 in February but then caught fire, going 16-2 in March and ended up going 43-18 overall, winning the Southland Conference for the fourth time in the last five years, and earning a spot in the NCAA Regional in Baton Rouge. 

“We had a rough start last season but were fortunate enough to start playing well at the right time,” McNeese coach James Landreneau said. “Strong leadership developed for us, and we played really well at conference time.”

That strong finish, and the amount of talented players returning, has once again raised expectations, and the level of excitement, for the Cowgirls’ 2018 season. McNeese State opens up the season with the Cowgirl Classic on Thursday, Feb. 8, against the University of Virginia.

In 2017, McNeese State was especially dominant in SLC play, posting a stellar 24-3 mark and going undefeated in the conference tournament, which propelled them into a NCAA Regional.

“We got better as we went along,” Landreneau said. “But we got into a tough regional, made a couple of mistakes, and that wasn’t the way we wanted to finish.”

In the regional, McNeese State lost to Louisiana-Layette 6-0 but then bounced back and defeated Fairfield 6-2 before getting eliminated by LSU, 10-1.

McNeese returns some big bats from last year’s regional team, including catcher/infielder Erika Piancastelli, who is the most decorated player in school history.

Piancastelli is the defending Southland Conference Player of the Year and Hitter of the Year, also is a two-time All-American and holds numerous school records, including career and single-season home runs.

In 2017, the 5-foot-9 senior from Carlsbad, California, hit 13 home runs and was second on the squad with a .375 batting average.

“She is an extremely talented player,” Landreneau said. “Her ability changes the entire complexion of our lineup. She is a true team player, a team leader who really affects things in the locker room.”

The top of the lineup also boasts dangerous outfielder Justyce McClain, a speedy 5-foot-3 junior from Phoenix, Arizona.

“In the leadoff spot, Justyce is a fast runner who can get on base in so many different ways,” Landreneau said. “She flies around the field, can work both sides of the field at the plate, and also has power.”

McClain led MSU last year with a sizzling .435 batting average. She owns the school record consecutive-game hitting streak (20) and also notched a single-game record with four stolen bases versus Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Although the Cowgirls lost SLC Pitcher of the Year Rachel Smith to graduation, Landreneau said there are multiple arms ready to emerge this spring.

“We don’t have a clear-cut number one starter,” he said. “But Alexsandra Flores will pitch a lot of innings.”

Flores, a 5-foot-10 sophomore from Lufkin, Texas, went 11-4 last year with a team-low 1.77 ERA.

“Caroline Settle (Many HS) has pitched really well in the off-season and during the intrasquad scrimmages. Ashley Koncir and Amber Coons will also see significant innings.

“It’s a big loss when you lose a pitcher like Smith with the stuff she had, but I like the staff we have. Everything in softball revolves around the circle, so we’ll need to pitch well to win.”

The Cowgirls are set at shortstop with experienced California native Hailey Drew.

“She’s a four-year starter at a crucial position,” Landreneau said. “We lean on her. 

“She is a true leader by example, a savvy player who is a versatile hitter with a little pop in her bat.”

In 2017, Drew was second on the team in runs scored, doubles, walks and total bases.

The Cowgirls also expect to receive big contributions from a pair of senior infielders — Morgan Catron and Carleigh Chaumont — as well as sophomore utility player Alexandria Saldivar.

Catron, who missed a portion of the 2017 campaign due to injury, was second in homers (nine) and RBIs (43). She also had the squad’s third-best batting average (.308).

“Chaumont got hot near the end of the year and Saldivar, as a freshman, snuck up on us with her good play,” Landreneau said.

The second-year head coach stated what his team needs to do in order to continue dominating the conference, earn another regional berth and possibly make a run to the Women’s College World Series.

“Our main focus right now is to get together, play good defense and just play fundamentally good softball,” Landreneau said. “We want to play clean and smart softball.”

McNeese is the preseason favorite to win the SOuthland conference championship again in a vote of league coaches and sports information directors.