LAKE CHARLES- Costly errors and a six run seventh inning proved to be the difference in a McNeese softball 7-2 loss to Houston (6-5) Wednesday night.
 
"We had a chance to score more runs early in the game and we just couldn't get the timely hitting," said head coach James Landreneau.
 
McNeese (6-6) let a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning slowly slip away by giving up seven runs in the final two innings.
 
"I thought we pitched well early in the game but they took the lead off our mistakes. We have to take care of the softball. The bottom line at the end of the day is we have to come out and play clean softball every day and when we get opportunities to score runs, we need to do a better job of scoring," said Landreneau.
 
The Cowgirls didn't help their cause by committing three errors and three Cowgirl pitchers combined to give up a season high 14 hits.
 
McNeese will remain home for a three game non-conference series against Austin Peay this weekend with a single game set for 6 p.m. Friday and a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday.
 
 
Score by Innings
1^st Inning- McNeese took a 1-0 lead on a RBI single through the right side by Cori McCrary that scored Justyce McClain who led the game off with a single up the middle.
 
5^th inning- A bases loaded walk by pinch hitter Brenique Wright brought Sara Geier home for a 2-0 Cowgirl lead. Geier led the bottom half of the inning off with a single up the middle.
 
6^th Inning- Houston cut the McNeese lead in half with a run off a single through the left side that scored Arielle James. James reached base on a double, went to third on a wild pitch before scoring.
 
7^th Inning- Houston broke the game open by scoring six runs on five hits and one Cowgirl error
 
 
Notes:
•- Senior Justyce McClain moved into third place in McNeese career hits with three hits tonight. She also moved into fifth place in McNeese career stolen bases with two. McClain stole one base in the first inning then another one in the third inning.
 
•- Cowgirls leave nine baserunners stranded including bases loaded in the 5^th and runners in scoring position in the 1^st and 6^th with one out.
 
•- Amber Coons got the start in the circle for the Cowgirls and didn't allow a run in 4 2/3 innings
 
•- McNeese picked up six hits with a combined five coming from McClain and McCrary's bat. McClain ended the game going 3 for 4 and McCrary was 2 for 4
 
•- Alexsandra Flores took loss to fall to 4-2 on the year after giving up six runs (four earned) on five hits in one inning.