For the Cowgirls the math is simple: 1=3.

With one win this weekend McNeese State will claim its third consecutive regular-season Southland Conference softball championship.

The title would be the ninth for McNeese of the 42 handed out by the league, the most for any program. It would also mark the Cowgirls’ seventh in 11 seasons.

There was no championship awarded in 2020 due to COVID.

It would also be the fourth championship under James Landreneau, who has five SLC Tournament titles in his eight years at McNeese.

“I’m more happy if the kids get it,” Landreneau said. “I’m excited for them, they have earned this chance.”

McNeese has never before won three consecutive regular-season titles. The last Southland team to do it was Texas State (2008-10).

Of course, none of that happens if McNeese doesn’t get that all-important win over second-place Southeastern Louisiana.

“We know what is out there,” said McNeese shortstop Reese Reyna. “We are not going out there thinking about that. We just focus on the next game.”

The series between Southeastern (42-10, 17-4 SLC) and McNeese (35-18, 19-2) opens today with a 6 p.m. game and concludes with a 1 p.m. Saturday doubleheader.

“They are playing at a very high level,” Landreneau said of the Lions. “For the last two years they have been the team for us to beat. It is great the title comes down to this series.”

SLU enters the series on a five-game winning streak and has the reigning SLC Hitter of the Week, Maddie Watson, who hit .727 over five games last week. Ka’Lyn Watson leads the Lions with a .411 average.

Southeastern leads the nation in stolen bases with 160 and is fourth in batting average at .350. The Lions also are fourth in wins and have the eight-lowest earned run average at 1.76.

But they also haven’t played the same strength of schedule as McNeese, which has played games against nine nationally ranked teams to Southeastern’s two.

“Coach always gives us a tough schedule early to get us ready for big games later,” Reyna said. “We have been in tough situations all year so we are ready at the end.”

Landreneau said McNeese will get a boost from the expected return of Emily Phillips. The catcher missed seven weeks with a broken foot but got her first start since March 5 on Tuesday in a 4-0 loss to Louisiana Tech.

She is hitting .309 with a pair of home runs and while her time in the field might be limited, Landreneau said Phillips’ bat is an expected boost to the lineup.

“She will help us and we can use her in the middle of the order,” he said. “It is good that the fans will get to see the championship decided on the field and not have to check other scores.”

The Cowgirls hope that they can put an end to all the drama as soon as possible.

“We want to take care of it Friday,” Landreneau said. “That would take the stress off the rest of the weekend.”

The champion will earn the No. 1 seed in next week’s SLC Tournament, which will be played in Hammond.