LUBBOCK, Texas—The McNeese softball team split a pair of games here Saturday at the Texas Tech Invitational, picking up an 11-6 win over UTSA earlier in the day before falling 4-1 to Texas Tech in the nightcap. McNeese will conclude tournament play with a 10 a.m. game against Stephen F. Austin followed by a 12:30 p.m. rematch against Texas Tech.

McNeese pounded out 13 hits against UTSA and was led by Justyce McClain who went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI and scored two runs. Marisa Taunton and Tori Yanitor both had two hits apiece. Taunton also had a triple.

McNeese opened up a 9-0 lead in the second inning off nine hits against UTSA. Erika Piancastelli, Emily Vincent, and McClain all knocked in two runs apiece on RBI singles and the Cowgirls also scored two of their runs off wild pitches.

UTSA made things interesting by scoring five runs in the fourth to cut the Cowgirls lead to 9-5 off four hits including two doubles and a triple.
The Cowgirls would go on to score single runs in the fifth and sixth. Taunton's RBI triple in the fifth scored McClain and freshman Taylor Edwards picked up her first collegiate RBI with a single to center that scored Megan Holmes for the 11^th Cowgirl run of the game. UTSA scored one more run in the sixth off a Cowgirl error.

Rachel Smith improved to 3-1 on the year with the win. Smith tossed 3 ½ innings, gave up six hits, five earned runs, walked three and struck out two. Jamie Allred threw the final three innings, giving up one unearned run on one hit with three walks two strike outs.

In the nightcap, the Cowgirl bats weren't as hot. McNeese picked up four hits including doubles by Morgan Catron and Yanitor. McClain broke up the no-hitter in the fifth inning by beating out the throw from second. The Cowgirls' half of the inning ended when McClain was called out for interference after running into the Texas Tech second baseman who was attempting to field a grounder hit by Taunton.

McNeese spoiled the shutout in the sixth inning with back to back hits from Piancastelli and Catron Catron. A double by Yanitor scored Piancastelli for the only Cowgirl run of the game.

The Red Raiders opened the game with a single run in the first off a double then a solo home run in the fourth gave them a 2-0 lead. Texas Tech tacked on two more in the fifth.

Vincent suffered her first loss of the season (4-1) with the complete game. Vincent gave up nine hits, four runs (two earned), struck out five and didn't allow a walk.