BATON ROUGE—The historical season for the McNeese softball team came to an end late Saturday night, nearly four hours after its game against Arizona State started.
 
McNeese dropped the 14-inning game, one of the longest in program history, 3-2 to the Sun Devils in an elimination game in the Baton Rouge Region. The Cowgirls end their record-breaking season with a 43-14 record.
 
In one of the gutsiest games displayed by the Cowgirls, McNeese definitely left a lasting impression in Baton Rouge on not only their opponents but to all the fans and this game will be remembered for years to come.
 
After the game was tied one apiece after the third inning, McNeese took the lead on a two out RBI single by Shanice Hagler for a 2-1 lead. The lead didn't last long as ASU (32-25) tied the game again in the bottom of the inning off a solo homerun by Jennifer Soria.
 
Both teams had several chances to score prior to the 14th inning but neither one took advantage as several outstanding defensive plays were displayed on both sides, in particular McNeese's Shelbi Strickland who flew in the air from third base to make a diving catch halfway between third and home in the eighth and a few snags from Taylor Goree and Marisa Taunton made a couple diving catches as well.
 
But it all came down to the 14^th inning when McNeese picked up its first hit since the eighth from a single by Erika Piancastelli for her second hit of the game. She ended the game with four walks to give her 69 on the season. Unfortunately, Piancastelli was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice before Tori Yanitor grounded out to the pitcher, setting up the dramatic finish.
 
Soria, who kept ASU in the game with her homerun in the eighth, drew a bases loaded walk that scored Katee Aguirre for the game-winning run to advance the Sun Devils to the championship game against no. 10 LSU at 1 p.m. Sunday.
 
Allred, who replaced Emily Vincent in the sixth, took the loss despite pitching through a few jams. The loss is only her fifth of the season as she ends her senior season with a 17-5 record.  
 
After a three up three down first inning, McNeese picked up its first hit of the game off a single to left center by Hailey Drew. After a pop up to short by Vincent, Goree came up with an opposite field single to right to put Drew into scoring position but the Cowgirls couldn't capitalize as pitcher Rachel Smith went down looking for the third out.
 
The Cowgirls tied the game up in the top of the third after picking up one hit. Taunton led the inning off with a single up the middle before Piancastelli was walked for the 66^th time this season to put runners on first and second with one out. Catron loaded the bases after she was hit by a pitch, her 30^th of the season. A sacrifice fly by Tori Yanitor allowed Taunton to tag up and come home to tie the game at one all. The inning ended when Catron was caught attempting a delayed steal between first and second in an attempt to allow Piancastelli to score but Catron was tagged out before Piancastelli crossed home plate.
 
McNeese looked like they would get something going in the fifth when Taunton and Piancastelli both singled to short as Taunton beet the throw and Piancastelli slide safely head first to put runners on first and second. The Cowgirls failed to score the go ahead run when Catron struck out and Yanitor hit a ground ball off the end of the bat to the pitcher to strand both runners.
 
The Cowgirls missed another opportunity to score the go ahead run in the sixth when they left Piancastelli stranded on second after she reached base on a walk and Catron fought off several pitches before drawing a walk as well. Nothing came out of it as Yanitor struck out for the second time in the game.

The two teams combined to leave a total of 24 runners stranded McNeese left a total of 14 stranded including seven in scoring position.

Piancastelli and Vincent were named to the region all-tournament.

2016 NCAA Baton Rouge Regional All-Tournament Team
Carley Hoover – LSU (MVP)
Sahvanna  Jaquish - LSU
Kelsey Kessler – Arizona State
Bailey Landry – LSU
Erika Piancastelli – McNeese
Dale Ryndak – Arizona State
Sandra Simmons – LSU
Jenn Soria – Arizona State
Emily Vincent – McNeese
Whitney West – LIU Brooklyn