TROY, Ala.—McNeese softball remained undefeated at the Troy Classic with an 11-1 (6 inning) win over Eastern Illinois and a 3-2 (9 inning) win over Troy Saturday. The wins up the Cowgirls record to 6-2 on the season. McNeese will conclude tournament play with a 9:30 a.m. game against Tennessee Tech Sunday.
 
"We played very well again today," said head coach Joanna Hardin. "I felt like both games were team wins. A lot of kids are contributing and executing what we are asking them to do."
 
Eastern Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the second inning before McNeese scored four runs on three hits in the third to take a 4-1 lead. Three straight Cowgirls singles by Marissa Taunton, Taylor Schmidt and Tori Yanitor helped McNeese score its runs.
 
McNeese added two more runs in the fourth to extend its lead to 6-1. A sacrifice RBI fly to center scored Shelbi Strickland then a Schmidt single to the shortstop scored Hailey Drew for the two runs of the inning.
 
The Cowgirls broke the game open with five runs off six hits in the sixth inning. A couple of freshmen picked up their first collegiate hits as pinch hitters. Megan Holmes singled in Strickland and Megan Trahan single to right field while Taylor Edwards scored her first collegiate run. Schmidt's double to left center was part of the hitting barrage in the inning.
 
The Cowgirls scored their 11 runs on 11 hits. Schmidt ended the game with three hits, four RBI and scored two runs. Tori Yanitor was 2 for 4. Junior Rachel Smith picked up her first win of the season with the complete game. Smith gave up one run on five hits, struck out four and walked three.
 
McNeese ended the day with a 3-2, nine-inning win over host Troy. The Cowgirls picked up seven hits and stole five bases in the win. Taunton led the Cowgirls with two hits.
 
"Troy came our ready to compete tonight. That was one of the best games we have played all season. Rainey threw very well for them and we are fortunate to come through with the win. That was a fun softball game and it made us better. We easily could have hung our heads a few times throughout the game be we kept competing, kept our approach and stayed composed in tight situations. I'm so proud of how the girls handled themselves today.
 
The Cowgirls took a 1-0 lead in the second on a RBI single to left by Drew that scored Morgan Catron. Catron reached base after she was hit by a pitch. McNeese added another run in the fifth on a RBI single to center by Erika Piancastelli to score Taunton who reached base on a single up the middle.
 
Troy tied the game at two apiece in the bottom of the inning on a two-run home run by Becca Hartley.
 
Neither team was able to push a run across the plate in the sixth and seventh innings, sending the game into extra innings.
 
Using the international tiebreaker rule beginning in the eighth inning, McNeese wasn't able to score the go ahead run after leaving bases loaded. Troy also had a chance to score in their bottom half of the inning when they left two base runners stranded.
 
McNeese scored the eventual game-winning run in the ninth when Taylor Goree was placed on second. A grounder to second moved Goree to third then stole home for a 3-2 lead.
 
Troy's Carli Kayler was placed on second and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Erica Davis for the first out. McNeese reliever Emily Vincent struck out pinch hitters Jordan Gray and Kaylee Hussey to end the game.
 
Vincent picked up the win in relief of starter Jolie Trahan. Trahan gave up two runs on five hits and struck out three. Vincent remained undefeated at 2-0 on the season after picking up the win. She pitched the final four innings and struck out four and walked one. 
 
"We have another tough game tomorrow against Tennessee Tech. The can really swing it. We are going to have to come out ready for them," said Hardin.