LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball didn't get the timely hitting it needed Tuesday night in its doubleheader loss to Utah, falling 1-0 in 10 innings and 2-1 in the nightcap.
 
The Cowgirls (20-8) collected 10 hits on the day but only one extra base hit and left seven base runners stranded including the tying and winning runs in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the ninth in the first game.
 
McNeese went down in order in four of the first five innings, getting a single from Taylor Schmidt in the second.  McNeese had runners in scoring position also in the sixth and the seventh innings but Utah ended the innings with a pop out to the catcher and a line drive to the pitcher.
 
The Utes (19-9) broke a scoreless game in the 10^th with a RBI single by Hannah Flippen that scored Bridget Castro. Castro led the inning off with a walk.
 
McNeese failed to tie the game in the bottom of the 10^th inning after Utah's pitcher Katie Donovan stuck out Bryanna Castro, got Dakota Matiko to pop out to second for the second out then ended the game with her fifth strikeout of the game by getting Shanice Hagler to go down swining.
 
Schmidt led the Cowgirls with a 2 for 4 plate appearance and Jamie Allred took the loss in relief of starter Emily Vincent.
 
Vincent pitched nine shutout innings with one walk and four strikeouts in game one. Allred who also took the loss in the nightcap, falling to 4-4 on the year.
 
McNeese took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two when Erika Piancastelli scored on a Utah error.
 
The Cowgirls would hold the lead until the fifth when the Utes scored two runs on three hits and one Cowgirl error to take a 2-1 lead. Flippin struck again as she provide the two RBI's in the nightcap as well.
 
McNeese left the go ahead run stranded on third base three times in the game and nearly tied the game in the sixth when Marisa Taunton was called out on a close play at the plate.
 
The series will conclude with a single game at 5 p.m. Wednesday.