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LAKE CHARLES – "Leave No Doubt" was the motto for the McNeese Cowgirls coming into the 2016 Southland Conference Tournament meaning it didn't want to leave its postseason hopes in the hands of the NCAA selection committee, something that didn't go the Cowgirls way two years ago in a 40-win season.
 
It was no doubt the Cowgirls came ready to play these last three days as they swept through their competition by a combined score of 21-8, including Friday's 5-2 win over Lamar to capture their fourth league tournament championship in school history and first since 2010.
 
"I'm just really excited for the kids," said second year head coach Joanna Hardin. "Everybody from the players to the coaches and everyone has put in a lot of hard work. It's fun. It was a great softball game and a great tournament."
 
The Cowgirls (42-12) will find out at 9 p.m. on Sunday night where their destination will be when the tournament bracket is announced on ESPNU.
 
A day after beating Lamar 8-4 in a winner's bracket semifinal matchup, the top-seeded McNeese Cowgirls used a three-run third inning powered by a two-RBI single from Southland Conference Tournament MVP Erika Piancastelli to go on top 3-1 and never looked back.
 
Lamar (35-22) got that run early in the bottom of the first as a result of two McNeese errors with two outs that led to the only lead for the Lady Cardinals. In fact, Lamar didn't get its first hit of the game off McNeese starter and winning pitcher Emily Vincent until one out in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Errors proved to be the thorn in the side for both teams – three by McNeese and four from Lamar.
 
"That's something we're going to address as we get ready for next weekend," said Hardin.
 
Piancastelli finished the day 4-for-4 from the plate with three RBI. She got her third in the top of the sixth when she singled in Morgan Catron with two outs to give her team a 5-1 lead.
 
An inning before, Marisa Taunton scored on a throwing error by Lamar catcher Brynn Baca who was trying to pick her off of third base.
 
In all, just two of the Cowgirls' five runs were earned.
 
Lamar got its first hit of the game off the bat of Baca in the sixth with a single up the middle. Ashley McDowell followed with a single to left field to put runners at first and second with just one out. Sable Hankins followed with a walk to load the bases but Vincent got the next two batters to ground out while sacrificing a run to end the only real threat Lamar had for the game.
 
The Lady Cardinals went down in order in the seventh with Taylor Goree making the final out of the game as celebration ensued.
 
Vincent, who earned all-tournament honors, improved her record to 16-3 on the season after she threw the complete game. She gave up one earned run on two hits, walked two and struck out three.
 
The Cowgirls finished the day with eight hits led by Piancastelli's four but Taunton added two to go along with two runs scored.
 
Lamar starting pitcher Laura Napoli (9-8) took the loss after giving up four runs, two earned, on six hits with a walk and no strikeouts.
 
Catron and Toni Yanitor joined Piancastelli and Vincent on the all-tournament team.