SAN ANTONIO, Texas—McNeese softball picked up a combined 21 hits in its 15-4 (5 inn.), 6-4 Southland Conference road doubleheader win here Friday against Incarnate Word. The series will conclude with a single game at noon Saturday. The game will be streamed and fans can also follow live stats. All links can be found on mcneesesports.com.
 
Incarnate Word (5-25, 1-7 SLC) scored in the opening frame of game 1 to take a 1-0 lead on three hits. The slim Cardinal lead didn't last long as McNeese scored five runs in the second inning on two hits and two UIW errors to take a 5-1 lead.
 
McNeese (21-11, 8-0 SLC) tied the game at one apiece when Baylee Corbello scored on a fielder's choice. JaMaiya Miller's ground out to second brought Tori Yanitor home for a 2-1 Cowgirl lead. A UIW error allowed Megan Holmes to cross the plate to for a 3-1 lead then a double up the middle by Justyce McClain scored Marissa Taunton from second. Erika Piancastelli's sacrifice RBI scored Hailey Drew for the Cowgirls fifth run of the inning.
 
UIW added a run in the third but McNeese got the run back in the fourth to take a 6-2 lead. The Cardinals scored two more runs in the fourth to cut the McNeese lead to 6-4.
 
With McNeese leading 7-4 with two outs in the fifth, the Cowgirls busted the game open by scoring eight more runs with the big hit coming from a three-run bomb by Morgan Catron that hit the scoreboard in left centerfield for a 15-4 lead. The Cowgirls batted around in the inning and scored all nine runs in the inning on eight hits and the third UIW error of the game. McNeese also benefited from a two RBI double by Drew and a two RBI single by McClain in the inning.
 
Corbello picked up the win to improve to 5-2 on the year. The senior gave up six hits, four runs, four walks and struck out three in the complete game victory.
 
McNeese collected 11 hits including three extra base hits. Drew, McClain, Miller and Alexandria Saldivar all picked up two hits apiece. Drew and McClain had one double apiece and Catron hit the home run for the extra base hits. McClain ended the game with four RBI while Catron had three.
 
The Cowgirls jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning in game two of the doubleheader with a bases loaded double by Corbello. UIW tied the game in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own. The Cardinals began their first at bat of the game with three straight hits to load the bases. A single to right field scored the first run for UIW then a fielder's choice scored another run to tie the game at two all.
 
The Cardinals took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the second inning with two runs on three hits and one Cowgirl error.
 
Piancastelli's two run home run tied the game at four in the third inning. Following a single up the middle by McClain, Piancastelli hit her sixth homer of the season over the left field wall.
 
After two scoreless innings, McNeese took a 6-4 lead by scoring two runs in the sixth that would eventually hold for the final score. Corbello led the inning off with a single up the middle and came home to score off a fielder's choice by Saldivar for a 5-4 McNeese lead. McNeese added an insurance run when McClain drew a bases loaded walk for the 6-4 lead.
 
Alexsandra Flores retired UIW in order in the bottom of the seventh to pick up the win in relief of starter Jolie Trahan. Flores improves to 6-2 on the year after five shutout innings with six strikeouts, one walk and allowed six hits. Trahan gave up four runs on seven hits in two innings.
 
McNeese picked up 10 hits in the game and were led with two apiece by McClain, Corbello and Shelbi Strickland. Corbello and Piancastelli both had two RBI apiece.