LAKE CHARLES--  A pinch hit double by Morgan Catron in the fourth inning scored what proved to be the game winning run in McNeese's 3-2 win over Louisiana Tech Wednesday in a non-conference softball game.
 
McNeese (30-18) pounded out 11 hits in the win and was led with three hits apiece from both Emily Vincent and Brooke David. Hailey Drew also ended the game with two hits and one RBI. Lauren Langner was also credited with a RBI.
 
McNeese took the early lead when Vincent scored on a single up the middle by Langner in the bottom of the first. The one run lead held up until the fourth inning when La. Tech (26-15) took a 2-1 lead on two hits. The lead didn't last long as McNeese retook the lead in the bottom of the inning off four hits.
 
McNeese opened up the inning with three consecutive hits. Taylor Schmidt led the inning off with a double to left center followed by a single to right center by Drew that scored Schmidt to tie the game at two all. David then singled through the right side before both players advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Goree. On the play, David was tagged out at second after overrunning the base. Catron then hit her double to left center to score Drew for the go ahead run. Catron's hit was the second game in a row that she collected the game-winning hit. Her grand slam in the ninth inning of the SLC opener at Southeastern La. last Friday gave McNeese a 9-5 win.
 
McNeese was scheduled to give work in the circle to pitchers Rachel Smith and Jamie Allred. Smith got more work in the circle than expected. After the fifth inning, Allred replaced Smith and completed the sixth inning. Allred was hit in the forehead by a line drive by the first batter she faced in the seventh and was replaced by Smith who completed the game.
 
Things got a little interesting in the seventh after Karlee Jensen led the inning off with the single off Allred's forehead. Smith, who didn't have time to get warmed up after replacing Allred, walked the first batter she faced then gave up a single to Tori Charters to load the bases with no outs. Smith got Anna Cross to pop up to third for the first out and got La. Tech's cleanup hitter Pauline Tufi and top hitter on the season, Bianca Duran to go down swinging for the final two outs to end the game.
 
Smith improved to 10-5 on the year with the win after giving up two runs on six hits, seven strikeouts and walked three.
 
McNeese will conclude its home schedule this weekend with a three game Southland Conference series against Lamar. The series will begin with a 6 p.m. single game Friday before concluding with a 3 p.m. doubleheader Saturday. Seniors Bianca Lilly and Lauren Langner will be honored prior to Saturday's games.