LAKE CHARLES--  McNeese softball suffered its first series sweep of the season after dropping the final game of a three game series to Utah by a 5-1 score Wednesday evening at Cowgirl Diamond.

McNeese (20-9) opened the game by scoring a run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. A RBI sacrifice fly by Bryanna Castro scored Lauren Langner.  Langner reached base on a single to left then advanced to third on a single by Emily Vincent.

The Cowgirls held onto the lead before the Utes (20-9) scored all five runs in the fifth on three hits and three Cowgirl miscues. McNeese was able to get only two more hits the rest of the game off Utah's reliever Kayce Nieto.

McNeese collected six hits with Emily Vincent picking up two. Langner, Castro, Hailey Drew and Taylor Schmidt all picked up one hit apiece.

Rachel Smith took the loss to fall to 7-3 on the year. Smith gave up five hits and all five runs.

McNeese will return to Southland Conference play this weekend with a three game series against Houston Baptist. The series will begin with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Friday before concluding with a single game on Saturday.