Cowgirls hope title is just the start
McNeese has won 14 straight SLC games to capture title. (McNeese Athletics photo)
When the season began, James Landreneau wasn't sure exactly what he had as a team.
The McNeese State softball coach knew there was talent, but also knew his club was young.
Still, he expected to be in the Southland Conference race either way.
'I believe this, if you are going to get us, you better get us early,' Landreneau said. 'I think we are going to be pretty good at the end of the year.'
He wasn't wrong.
The Cowgirls overcame early issues, improved as the season progressed, and repeated their previous success, winning the SLC regular season championship.
McNeese became the first team in league history to win four straight titles Saturday when they swept Stephen F. Austin in a doubleheader. The Cowgirls got a lot of help from Nicholls, which won its finale series against Southeastern to open the door for McNeese.
But this club didn't sneak up on a championship; instead, it burst onto the scene as the preseason favorite Lady Lions.
McNeese finished the season winning 14 of its last 15 games, losing only to nationally ranked LSU in Baton Rouge. All 14 of those wins came in league play.
'It is rewarding to see how this team came together, dealt with adversity early, and fought through that,' said Landreneau. 'How we handled that punch in the mouth and bounced back is what impresses me.
'It has been fun to watch them mature.'
Now, they are back on top for the fourth time in a row and 10th overall, double that of Nicholls, which has the second most titles of all time. The Cowgirls have won eight of the last 12 regular-season titles.
No championship was awarded in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
'This is what we expect here, to win,' said senior shortstop Reece Reyna, the only player to ever be on four championship teams. 'I have been blessed to be here for four years.'
McNeese's season turned at what appeared to be its lowest moment. After getting run-ruled in five innings by Southeastern 9-1 in the first game of a doubleheader in Hammond on April 4, the Cowgirls were three games behind the Lady Lions.
Hopes of any four-peat seemed slim. Between games, the players held a meeting, and everything changed.
'We just talked about our goals,' said Reyna. 'We wanted to go down fighting. We did not want that to define us.'
They not only won the next two to take the series over SELA and get back into the race, but they haven't lost a league game since. Their only defeat came at the hands of No. 10 LSU in Baton Rouge.
'What I'm proud of is how this group has matured,' said Landreneau. 'The leaders took it upon themselves to say something and turn things around. I didn't have to do it.'
After sweeping Stephen F. Austin on the road over the weekend, McNeese is 37-18, 23-4, and won the league by two games. That means the Cowgirls gained five games on the Lions in 23 days.
Now they will enter the postseason not only as the hottest team in the league, but also with home-field advantage for as long as they continue to win. The Cowgirls will open postseason play against East Texas A&M, whom they swept earlier this month by a combined 36-6 score.
That game is set for 3 p.m. at Joe Miller Field. Their game against Louisiana Tech, scheduled for Tuesday night, has been cancelled.
'The championship is nice, but our main goal is to get back to the NCAA Tournament,' said Landreneau. 'The only way we do that is to win the Southland postseason championship. That is our only focus.'
That drive opens Thursday.
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