LAKE CHARLES—Erika Piancastelli's walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning scored pinch hitter Taylor Edwards for the game winning run in McNeese's 3-2 win over top seed Nicholls Thursday to advance to its third straight Southland Conference Tournament championship game. The championship game is set for noon Friday and will be televised on ESPNU.
 
"It was a gutty performance today, it was a great game to be involved in," said McNeese head coach James Landreneau. "I thought Alex (Flores) settled into the game today, she had good command of both sides of the plate and she changed speeds on then pretty good. We had opportunities but you have to tip your hat to them. We couldn't get the timely hit and we were fortunate that Morgan Catron came through with the two run knock. Tayler Strother continues to do her job as a freshman."  
 
Nicholls took the early 1-0 lead with a run in the first in their first at bat of the game. Jewel Lara doubled to left with one out then scored on a single to left by Casey Frederick.
 
McNeese (39-19) stranded the tying run in first inning when Piancastelli was thrown out at home in a delayed steal attempt.
 
The Cowgirls struggled to push runners across the plate in the first couple of innings, leaving five runners stranded in the first three inning including four in scoring position.
 
Senior Morgan Catron continued her hot hitting in the tournament when the senior got hold of a 1-1 Megan Landry pitch and crushed it over the opponent bullpen behind left field to tie the game at two apiece. The home marked her third in three consecutive tournament games.
 
"That was a clutch hit, she just comes to the plate and stays composed and doesn't carry any previous at bat or moment over to her next at bat. She just simplifies the game and looks for a pitch she can hit.
 
McNeese missed a chance to take the lead in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and one out. Nicholls got the second out off a fielder's choice by McClain after Nicholls' shortstop threw home to get pinch runner Toni Perrin at the plate. After that out, the Cowgirls were in a perfect situation with two outs and Piancastelli at the plate. Nicholls reliever Aexis LaBure got Piancastelli to go down looking to end the threat.
 
Nicholls also missed an opportunity to score the go ahead run in the top of the seventh when Samantha Dares led the inning off with a single to left and went to second on a ground out the third on a pass ball. Flores then struck out pinch hitter Julia Bailey for the second out then got Jewel Lara to ground out to shortstop to end the top half of the seventh.
 
McNeese went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings, the first game of the tournament to go into extra frames.
 
Flores continued her stellar performance in the circle in the eighth by striking out Fredericks before giving up a walk to Strother, who represented the go ahead run. Flores got Amanda Gianelloni to go down looking for the second out before getting Kali Clement to fly out to right field for the third out.
 
"Alex showed what she is made of as the game got tighter and as the game got longer she kept getting better and better. When we got in jams, she was able to pitch herself out of them. I'm proud of the way she kept her composer and stayed in the moment."
 
Tayler Strother led the bottom of the eighth off with a single up the middle then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Aubree Turbeville. Strother went to third after Nicholls catcher couldn't handle the final pitch on a swinging strikeout by pinch hitter Taylor Edwards as she advanced to first to load the bases that put the Cowgirls at the top of their lineup.
 
McClain reached on a fielder's choice when Nicholls shortstop threw Strother out at home for the second out before Piancastelli's single went just over the second baseman's head to score Edwards for the game winning run.
 
"Erika is Erika- her name and what she has done for us. Everybody expects her to be a super hero all the time but if you put her up in that spot enough times and the odds will be in her favor. She waited for a good pitch and didn't try to do too much with it."
 
McNeese ended the game with eight hits with Strother leading the way with two.
 
Flores improved to 18-9 on the season with her second complete game of the tournament. She gave up two hits, struck out six and walked to.
 
Nicholls reliever Alexis LaBure took the loss to fall to 13-5 on the season.