LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese baseball team fell short of a Southland Conference series win Sunday afternoon as the Cowboys had to fight back from a six-run deficit to send the game into extra innings but were unable to top Northwestern State, who picked up a 8-7 win, in 10 frames at Joe Miller Ballpark.
 
With the loss, McNeese fell to 14-11 overall on the year and 7-5 in SLC play while Northwestern State improved to a 16-12 record this season and 7-5 mark in league action.
 
The Demons seemed to have the game in hand with a 6-0 lead through the first five innings of Sunday's series finale but the Cowboys were not about to go down without a fight.
 
Freshman Shane Selman led a four-run rally for McNeese as he began the sixth inning with his fourth home run of the season to cut the lead to five runs. Connor Crane and Matt Gallier followed by doubles that drove in a combined three runs to pull McNeese to within one run of the NSU.
 
The Demons scraped another run across in the seventh to extend its lead to two but McNeese benefitted from a two-run tater from Connor Crane that again cut into the Northwestern State lead, 7-6.
 
With two outs and runners in scoring position, Joe Provenzano sent a sacrifice fly into left field that sent home the tying run to score for the Cowboys. The two teams would enter extra innings for the second time in the series.
 
NSU eventually gained the upper hand in the top of the 10^th inning with an RBI-single to give the Demons an 8-7 lead and the win.
 
Collin Kober (1-1) was charged with the loss after becoming the pitcher of record with two innings tossed and one run given up on two hits. Ethan Stremmel had the longest outing with 3.2 innings of work and four strikeouts.
 
Four Cowboys recorded multiple-hits in the game and were led by Crane who hit twice and drove in three runs. Gallier also drove in a pair of runs in the game.
 
McNeese will be back in action Tuesday in a mid-week contest against Houston at Joe Miller Ballpark. First pitch is set for a 6 p.m. start.