SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A pair of errors proved costly for the McNeese baseball team late Sunday afternoon as the Cowboys were nipped by Incarnate Word, 8-7, in San Antonio to close out the three-game conference series.
Holding a one run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, McNeese (10-9, 3-3 SLC) fell victim to three hits and two consecutive errors that allowed the Cardinals (5-15, 1-5 SLC) to post four runs and take the lead over the Pokes, 8-5. UIW hit three times during its turn and used seven total baserunners.
However, the Pokes remained confident and did not panic as centerfielder Rick Ramirez breathed new life into the team as he cut the lead to two runs with a two-out RBI-single into centerfield.
It was in the final frame that the Pokes' rally fell short. With just one out, shortstop
Will Fox used a single to left field to drive in another run and make it an 8-7 score. With the tying run at third base and just one out, McNeese was unable to advance any runs as the next two batters were retired and gave UIW the finale victory.
Despite the loss, McNeese picked up its first league series win on the road for the first time in over a year with its last coming against Houston Baptist in 2015. The Cowboys have now won three of its last SLC series dating back to last season.
Sunday's victory was the first time that Incarnate Word had defeated the Pokes in the all-time series.
Trent Fontenot (1-1) was charged with the loss after having surrendered the winning run in the seventh inning. He worked two-thirds of an inning and gave up just one earned run off of three hits and one walk.
McNeese used five pitchers on the day with freshman
Zach Rider having provided the longest outing with 2.2 frames thrown and no runs given up. He scattered two hits and walked a batter while striking out another.
Senior
Connor Crane was a home run short of the cycle as he led the hitting effort for the Pokes. He hit three times and scored twice while driving in a runner to score. Four other Pokes turned in multiple-hit games while sophomore
Joe Provenzano led with two RBI's and two runs on two hits. McNeese was balanced with RBI's from six different players.
Crane and Provenzano drove in a run each in the first frame to take a 2-0 lead for the Cowboys. McNeese came back from a 3-2 deficit in the fifth inning with RBI plays from Provenzano,
Lewis Guilbeau and
Jake Cochran.
The Cowboys led in the hitting effort with a 14-9 advantage over UIW while the Cardinals committed three errors to McNeese's two. The Cowboys left 12 on base while Incarnate Word stranded eight.
McNeese returns home this week for a three-game SLC series with Abilene Christian. Due to the Easter holidays, the trio of contest will be played Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a Saturday finale at 3 p.m.
Incarnate Word 8, McNeese 7 (Mar 20, 2016 at San Antonio, TX)
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McNeese............. 200 030 011 - 7 14 2 (10-9, 3-3 SLC)
Incarnate Word...... 030 001 40X - 8 9 3 (5-15, 1-5 SLC)
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Pitchers: McNeese - Sanders, Austin; Rider, Zach(2); Kingsley, Bryce(5); Fontenot, Trent(7);
Kober, Collin(7) and Duhon, Dustin. Incarnate Word - Lesley, Tyler; Allen, Cody(3);
Dubbels, Ryan(5); Hardee, Trevor(5); Preiss, Austin(8); Moszkowicz, Lance(8) and Lopez, Robert;
Pitts, Weston.
Win-Hardee, Trevor(2-0) Save-Moszkowicz, Lance(2) Loss-Fontenot, Trent(1-1) T-3:20 A-212
Weather: 60 Degrees and clear
Preiss, A. faced 1 batter in the 8th.
