SAN ANTONIO, Texas – It was an eight-run rally in the sixth inning of Saturday afternoon's ballgame that doomed the McNeese baseball team as the UTSA Roadrunners rallied from four runs down to defeat the Cowboys, 13-8, and even the weekend series.
With the loss, McNeese fell to 3-3 on the season while UTSA improved to 4-2. The two teams will meet again on Sunday to decide the series with first pitch slated for a 1 o'clock start.
The Pokes got out to an early lead in the game with a 4-1 advantage over UTSA that was highlighted by freshman
Jacob Stracner's first career homer. In the fifth inning, senior
Cameron Toole plated two more runs with a single that extended the McNeese lead by five runs.
Despite a UTSA run in the bottom of the fifth frame, the Pokes had all of the momentum swinging its way until the Roadrunners took advantage of the Cowboys' young bullpen and unleashed for eight runs in the sixth inning, taking a 10-6 lead.
The Pokes would scrape across two runs in the final three innings but could not stop the Roadrunners from scoring as they plated three more to take a 13-8 advantage on the scoreboard.
McNeese had four multiple hitters in the game led by Stracners' two hits and three RBI's while Toole also drove in two runs.
Lewis Guilbeau and
Joe Provenzano each collected two hits.
"Our offense did a good job today," said McNeese head coach
Justin Hill. I was proud of how we kept fighting. We just have to pitch with more conviction especially when we go the bullpen."
Freshman
Aidan Anderson (0-1) was charged with the loss after coming in to relieve starter
Bryan King in the fifth inning. He gave up five runs on two hits and three walks despite striking out two batters. The Pokes tossed four more relievers throughout the game.
King recorded a decent outing on the day, working four innings and giving up just one earned run and scattered three hits. King, Anderson and
Hayden Guidry each struck out three opponents.
"I like what this bullpen can be, but it is up to our kids to trust their ability and get past the pressure of the moment," said Hill.
UTSA finished the day with a 12-10 advantage in the hits category while McNeese committed the only error of the game. The Cowboys left 13 runners on base while the Roadrunners stranded 11.
UTSA 13, McNeese 8 (Feb 27, 2016 at San Antonio, Texas)
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McNeese............. 020 220 011 - 8 10 1 (3-3)
UTSA................ 010 018 21X - 13 12 0 (4-2)
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Pitchers: McNeese - King, Bryan; Anderson, Aidan(5); Anderson, Grant(6); Briggs, Austin(6);
Guidry, Hayden(7); Mize, Mason(8) and Toole, Cameron; Duhon, Dustin. UTSA - Patel; Griggs(5);
Herbelin(7) and George.
Win-Griggs(1-1) Save-Herbelin(1) Loss-Anderson, Aidan(0-1) T-3:51 A-326
HR MCN - Stracner, Jacob (1).
HR UTSA - Straub (1).
Weather: 74, sunny, S 10 mph
Patel faced 2 batters in the 5th.
King, B. faced 2 batters in the 5th.
Anderson, G. faced 2 batters in the 6th.
Griggs faced 2 batters in the 7th.
