LAKE CHARLES – Ricky Ramirez had a hand in the McNeese baseball team's impressive midweek victory over ULM Tuesday night as the junior outfielder connected for two hits and drove in four RBI's that helped lead the Pokes to an 11-2 win over the Warhawks.
 
The victory improved the Cowboys to an 8-7 overall record on the season while ULM dipped to a 6-9 mark on the year. It was McNeese's first win over the Warhawks since 2012.
 
"I was very pleased tonight and you can look at results and see that we were not striking out, took the walks and got the big hits," said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. "Our entire goal tonight was to play a whole nine innings and be locked in. We talked about it all week and after batting practice and our preparation was good. You could tell that it was our goal the whole time."
 
Ramirez, who entered the contest having not driven in a single run this season, became the first Cowboy to record four or more RBI 's in a game since Lucas Quary did so last season. Ramirez was one of three McNeese batters who recorded multiple hits in the game as Lewis Guilbeau and Will Fox each hit twice in the game.
 
"Ricky has had some good at-bats this season and was probably putting a little pressure on himself," said Hill. "He had not had an extra base hit or an RBI and had some opportunities but we still were winning ballgames. You can't help but feel that sometimes but it was a big moment when he got those RBI's. It was a good thing and you could just see him relax so when he gets going then we are good."
 
Senior Bryce Kingsley (3-0) picked up his first win as a starter this season after working five innings and allowed only two runs to score on four hits. With the victory, Kingsley sits eighth all-time in pitching wins with a career total of 19.
 
"Bryce Kingsley was very good tonight," said Hill. "He was efficient and competed with everything he had. He was around the zone and normally strikes out more guys but he was pitching with what he had, especially on two days rest."
 
The McNeese defense was solid behind the mound all night as it recorded four double plays, three behind Kingsley, and finished one shy of the game record set in 1995.
 
The story of the night occurred in the final four innings as freshman Zach Rider picked up his first career save as he shut down ULM who recorded no runs or hits. He struck out six batters and walked just one to help the Pokes secure the win.
 
"We were inning-to-inning with Zach and the goal was for him to finish the game but it was about him handling it," said Hill. "Watching him warm up, you could just tell his presence on the mound. I have seen guys throw a good stuff on the mound but he had a presence about it and you knew he was ready."
 
It was a close battle between both teams throughout the first five innings. McNeese gained a 3-1 lead in the second frame behind Ramirez's two-RBI double while the Warhawks cut the score to a one run lead in the top of the next inning.
 
The Cowboys broke out for three runs in the sixth inning thanks to another two-RBI hit from Ramirez while freshman Shane Selman plated a runner on a ground out to give McNeese a cushy 6-2 lead.
 
Matt Gallier's three-run bomb in the seventh inning was enough to put the game out of reach as the junior third baseman collected his second tater of the season. It was the Cowboys' 10th homer as a team.
 
Guilbeau stretched the Pokes' lead to an 11-2 score that would hold in the eighth inning as he smacked a two-RBI double deep into left center.  
 
Both teams will meet again Wednesday evening in game two of the mid-week series. First pitch is slated for a 6 o'clock start as fans are reminded to bring canned food items for the Louisiana Flood Relief Project and dropping them off at the ticket booth.
 
McNeese 11, ULM 2 (Mar 15, 2016 at Lake Charles, La.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ULM................. 101 000 000  -  2  4  2      (6-9)
McNeese............. 120 003 32X  - 11 10  0      (8-7)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: ULM - Leone, Josh; Reeves, Matthew(4); Bradford, Keller(5); Coddou, Payton(6);
Frost, Hayden(8); Hendrix, Cole(8) and Walters, Garrett. McNeese - Kingsley, Bryce;
Rider, Zach(6) and Toole, Cameron.
Win-Kingsley, Bryce(3-0)  Save-Rider, Zach(1)  Loss-Leone, Josh(0-2)  T-2:52  A-398
HR MCN - Gallier, Matt (2).
Weather: 78; Mostly Cloudy; Wind: 14SSW
Frost, H. faced 3 batters in the 8th.