LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball picked up a doubleheader victory over Missouri State Friday night in its home opener, defeating the Bears 3-2 in game one before taking the nightcap 3-1. The games are part of the UL-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns Invitational.

"These were two tough games played by both teams," said head coach Joanna Hardin. "You've gotta tip your cap off to Missouri State, they have been going through alot as a team and for them to come out and fight was pretty impressive. They are a tough team."

Missouri State's sophomore Allie Alvstad was diagnosed with Leukemia in September and is currently going through treatment. The Bears have dedicated their season to Allie and will wear orange jersey's throughout the season to show their support for their teammate. McNeese also showed their support by wearing orange t-shirts with no. 48 on them in pre-game warm-up. A class act was demonstrated by McNeese by allowing Missouri State's sophomore class to throw out the first pitch.

McNeese (9-3) fell behind 1-0 in the fourth inning of game two but a two run RBI bloop single in the bottom of the inning by Melissa Arriaga gave McNeese a 2-1 lead. Emily Vincent capped off the Cowgirl scoring with a solo home run over the right centerfield wall the following inning for a 3-1 lead. The home run is Vincent's first of the season.

Senior Bianca Lilly picked up her first win of the season to improve to 1-0. Lilly allowed three hits, three walks, one run and struck out two in 4 1/3 innings.  Jamie Allred picked up her second save of the day when she replaced Lilly in the fifth. Allred ended the game with two strikeouts and allowed one hit in the nine batters she faced.

"B got her first start and did a great job. It's exciting for her to get in there, she did a great job in competing. Jamie came in and got two saves today. It's a different role for her but she did a great job as well. It's hard to pick one person because everybody did their job whether it was offensively or defensively."

Lauren Langner led the Cowgirls at the plate in game two with three hits while Arriaga picked up two hits and knocked in two of the three Cowgirl runs.  

McNeese opened the game with two runs in the first inning on singles by Vincent and Tori Yanitor and a double by Erika Piancastelli. Another run in the second on a run by Dakota Matiko gave the Cowgirls a 3-0 lead.

The Bears scored a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Kaitlin Beason then added another run in the sixth on a solo home run by Chelsea Thomas to cut the Cowgirl lead to 3-2. MSU threatened to score more runs in the sixth but with runners on first and second and two outs, reliever Jamie Allred halted the rally by striking out Madison Jones to end the inning. Allred ended the game by getting the Bears to go down in order in the seventh to pick up her first save of the season. Rachel Smith was credited with the win to improve to 4-2 on the season.

McNeese picked up seven hits in the game with Yanitor going 2 for 3 at the dish. Piancastelli and Marisa Taunton both picked up doubles.

"These two games definitely helped us get better. We don't have one easy game on the schedule."

McNeese will travel to Lafayette on Sunday to face Hofstra at noon and no. 6 UL-Lafayette at 2:30 p.m. on the final day of the tournament. The matchup against the Cajuns will be televised on ESPN3.


McNeese 3, Missouri State 2 (Feb 20, 2015 at Lake Charles, La.) (Game 1)
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Missouri State...... 000 101 0 -  2  5  2      (6-5)
McNeese............. 210 000 X -  3  7  0      (8-3)
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Pitchers: Missouri State - Chelsea Jones; Erin Struemph(6) and Molly Fields; Braxton Coil.
McNeese - Smith, Rachel; Allred, Jamie(6) and Piancastelli, Erika.
Win-Smith, Rachel(4-2)  Save-Allred, Jamie(1)  Loss-Chelsea Jones(3-2)  T-2 hr.  A-0
HR MSU - Chelsea Thomas (5).
 
 
McNeese 3, Missouri State 1 (Feb 20, 2015 at Lake Charles, La.) (Game 2)
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Missouri State...... 000 100 0 -  1  4  1      (6-6)
McNeese............. 000 210 X -  3  7  2      (9-3)
Pitchers: Missouri State - Jessie Van Es; Erin Struemph(6) and Molly Fields. McNeese -
Lilly, Bianca; Allred, Jamie(5) and David, Brooke; Piancastelli, Erika.
Win-Lilly, Bianca(1-0)  Save-Allred, Jamie(2)  Loss-Jessie Van Es(1-2)  T-2 hrs.  A-221
HR MSU - Mary Stephens (1).
HR MCN - Vincent, Emily (1).