LAKE CHARLES- The McNeese Cowboys took another step closer to securing their spot in the Southland Conference Tournament with a come-from-behind 8-4 win in game two of a doubleheader against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Sunday night after dropping the first game 2-0.
With the win, McNeese (29-23, 14-13) notched its third straight league series win with Sunday's split and Friday's win to take the series 2-1 against the Islanders.
In game one,
Aidan Anderson (4-6) got the start for the Cowboys in what would be a pitcher's duel. Anderson finished the game with 7.1 innings pitched, two runs on five hits, and was credited with the loss.
The Cowboys struggled in game one, being shut out for only the third time this year and only earned four hits in the ball game.
The Islanders (30-24, 14-16) were carried to their 2-0 victory behind a strong outing on the mound by Dustin Lacaze. Lacaze struck out nine Cowboy batters and only allowed two hits in seven innings of work.
In game two, the Cowboys' right-handed pitcher
Peyton McLemore (4-3) got the start on the mound. McLemore would finish with 3.1 innings pitched, gave up three runs on six hits, and got the no-decision.
The Islanders jumped out to a 3-0 lead after scoring two in the third and one in the top of the fourth inning.
The Cowboys responded though with two runs on the bottom of the fourth and one in fifth on an RBI single by
Dustin Duhon, RBI walk from
Payton Harden, and RBI sacrifice fly by
Carson Maxwell to tie the game after the fifth inning.
Fast forward to the eighth, the Islanders reclaimed the lead after drawing four walks to plate a run and take a 4-3 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, McNeese responded in a big way. After back-to-back singles by
Carson Maxwell and
Julian Gonzales and a crucial drawn walk by Duhon, the Cowboys had the bases loaded with only one out for
Reid Bourque. Bourque then delivered a clutch sacrifice fly to deep center field to plate the tying run, and advance Gonzales to third.
With two outs and a man on the corners,
Payton Harden hit an infield single with a 1-2 count to drive in the go-ahead run.
Nate Fisbeck and
Clayton Rasbeary then put the nail in the coffin with a two RBI-double by Fisbeck and an RBI single by Rasbeary to put McNeese up 8-4 after the eighth.
In the top of the ninth,
Cayne Ueckert took the mound to close out the game and did just that by striking out the side to secure the win.
McNeese will be back on the field Thursday afternoon against the Houston Baptist Huskies for the start of their final regular season series. The series will conclude on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Game 1
KEY INNINGS
5th | The Islanders scored the game's first run on an RBI groundout to take a 1-0 lead.
8th | In the top of the inning, the Islanders scored one more run on a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 2-0.
MCNEESE NOTES
Offense:
In game one, the Cowboys offensively had four hits, one by
Clayton Rasbeary and
Julian Gonzales, and two from
Reid Bourque.
Pitching:
Senior right-handed pitcher
Aidan Anderson got the start for the Cowboys in game one of the double-header. Anderson pitched a total of 7.1 IP, give up two runs on five hits, struck out three batter, and was credited his sixth lose on the season.
Bryan King entered the game with one out in the eighth and pitched 1.2 innings, gave up no runs, one hit, and struck out one.
Game 2
KEY INNINGS
3rd | The islanders struck first, scoring two runs off a triple and a sacrifice fly to take the 2-0 lead.
4th | Corpus Christi tacked on one more run in the top of the inning on a sacrifice fly out to center field. In the bottom of the inning, the Cowboys scored their first run of the game on a
Dustin Duhon single into left to plate
Shane Selman from second and advance
Carson Maxwell from first to third. Then back-to-back walks loads the bases and scores another run for the Cowboys to make it 3-2 after the fourth.
5th | In the bottom of the inning, the Cowboys tied the game up at three. Selman reached base on double to left field and then advanced to third on a
Jake Dickerson single to right and then scored on a sacrifice fly by
Carson Maxwell, making it 3-3 after the fifth.
8th | In the top of the inning, the Islanders scored on run on a walk to take a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Cowboys responded with runs of their own. After back-to-back singles by Maxwell and Gonzales and a walk by Duhon the bases were loaded for
Reid Bourque. Bourque plated the Cowboys first run of the inning with a sac fly to center field to tie the game. Now with two outs the McNeese bats came alive, scoring four more runs from an infield single by Harden, a double by Fisbeck, and a single by Rasbeary to finish the inning with the Cowboys leading 8-4.
9th |
Cayne Ueckert entered the game and struck out the side to finish the game.
MCNEESE NOTES
Offense:
In game two, the Cowboys had big games from several Cowboys including
Nate Fisbeck,
Payton Harden,
Carson Maxwell, and
Clayton Rasbeary.
Payton Harden: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
Nate Fisbeck: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 R, 1 2B
Clayton Rasbeary: 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 2B
Carson Maxwell: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 SF
Pitching:
Senior right-handed pitcher
Peyton McLemore got the start for the Cowboys in game two of the double-header. McLemore would pitch a total of 3.1 IP, give up three runs on six hits, and get the no decision.
Will Dion came in to relieve McLemore in the fourth inning after McLemore loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch. Dion finished with 3.2 innings, two hits, one run, and two strikeouts.
Brad Kincaid (3-1) relieved Dion to begin the eighth inning. Kincaid threw 1.0 inning and surrender no runs and was credited with the win, his third on the year.
Cayne Ueckert entered in the top of the ninth to close out the game for the Cowboys and he did just that by striking out the side to secure the victory.
ON DECK
The Cowboys will be back on the field Thursday night when they play their final regular season series against the Houston Baptist Huskies in Houston.
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