LAKE CHARLES—After an hour and 15-minute weather delay, it took McNeese softball about that much time to pick up an 8-0 (5 inning) non-conference win over Houston Baptist here Tuesday night to start a seven game home stand.
 
McNeese (13-10) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning that saw McNeese take advantage of two Huskie errors. Morgan Catron's RBI up the middle put the Cowgirls on the board then she scored the second run on an error. Megan Holmes' RBI double to right field scored Justyce McClain for the third Cowgirl run.
 
The Cowgirls added a single run in the third inning coming from an RBI from McLain before scoring four more runs in the fifth to pick up its second shutout of the year.
 
After a one out triple down the right field line by Taylor Edwards, Holmes hit her second home run of the season to give McNeese a 6-0 lead. A double by Hailey Drew scored both Marisa Taunton and Shelbi Strickland that gave McNeese the run-rule victory.
  
Cowgirl pitcher Jolie Trahan picked up her second shutout of the season to improve to 3-2 on the year. Trahan went the distance, giving up only four hits.
 
Holmes and Drew led McNeese with two hits apiece and both players accounted for five of the seven Cowgirl RBI.
 
Houston Baptist fell to 7-6 on the season. Three of the HBU's four hits were doubles but Trahan pitched effective when she needed to, not allowing a run to cross the plate.
 
McNeese will continue its seven game home stand this weekend when the Cowgirls host Central Arkansas in its Southland Conference opening series.
 
The series will begin with a single game at 6 p.m. Friday night and will conclude with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.