COLLEGE STATION, Texas— McNeese softball's seven game winning streak came to an end early Saturday afternoon with a 10-1, six inning loss to Texas A&M at the College Station Regional. The Cowgirls will return to the field later this evening to face the winner of the Baylor or Prairie View game.
 
"We didn't get the timely hitting we needed to today when we got base runners on and you can't do that against a quality opponent like Texas A&M," said head coach James Landreneau.
 
Texas A&M (42-16) opened the game with two runs in the top of the first off a leadoff walk, a double down the right field line and a single up the middle before the Cowgirls registered an out. Cowgirl starter Caroline Settle got the next two batters to fly out before hitting Kaitlyn Aldernik and walking Riley Sartain to load the bases. Settle got out of the jam by getting Kristen Cuyos to fly out for the third out.
 
McNeese (41-20) answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the Aggie lead to 2-1 when Justyce McClain led off with a single followed by a walk to Erika Piancastelli. McClain went to third on a Morgan Catron fielder's choice before scoring on a RBI single down the right field line by Alexandria Saldivar.
 
The Cowgirls missed a chance to tie the game when Catron was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice by Aubree Turbeville but still had a chance to tie the game again with Saldivar on third but Brenique Wright couldn't come through with the clutch hit as she grounded out to second for the third out.
 
The Aggies added two more runs in the second inning on a Sarah Hudek two run home run to straightaway centerfield to extend the lead to 4-1.
 
For the second straight inning, McNeese had a chance to either tie the game or go ahead but left the bases loaded with one out and Piancastelli at the plate. The Aggies got out of the inning when Piancastelli hit into a double play at third to squander the Cowgirl threat.
 
The Aggies added a single run in the third on a solo home run by Riley Sartain to take a 5-1 lead. The home run by Sartain is her 11^th of the season.
 
A three run fourth for the Aggies extended their lead to 8-1 with the runs coming off a Cowgirl error and a two RBI single to left field by Sartain.
 
The Aggies added to their lead in the top of the fifth with a two run home run by Kristen Cyos to take a 10-1 lead.
 
McNeese ended the game with five hits, two coming from McClain who is 6-for-6 for the tournament.
Catron, Saldivar and Carleigh Chaumont also picked up on hit apiece with Catron getting the only extra base hit in the game for the Cowgirls with her double in the fifth inning.
 
Settle took the loss to fall to 10-7 on the season. She gave up five runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings before being replace by Ashley Koncir who also gave up five runs on six hits in 3.0 innings.
 
Texas A&M picked up 13 hits including two home runs and two doubles. Hudek was 3-for-4 with three RBI coming from a home run and both A&M doubles.
 
Lexi Smith picked up the win in relief of starter Trinity Harrington to improve to 10-2 on the year. Smith held the Cowgirls scoreless in four innings, giving up two hits. Harrington gave up one run on three hits in two innings.