NACOGDOCHES, Texas— McNeese softball opened its first NISC regional appearance with a 7-3 win over Middle Tennessee Thursday behind solid pitching from junior
Alexsandra Flores and an offense that was led by senior
Justyce McClain and junior
Alexandria Saldivar to advance to the second round. The Cowgirls will face the winner of the SFA/UT-Arlington game at 3 p.m. Friday in the double elimination tournament.
The Cowgirls jumped on the Raiders early by taking a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning before adding four more on three hits in the fourth to extend the lead to 6-0. A single run in the fifth made it 7-0 before MTSU avoided the shutout with a run in the sixth before scoring two more in the seventh.
The win gives McNeese a 3-0 all-time record against the Raiders as the Cowgirls improve to 31-30 on the season.
Fans can watch all tournament games on the Southland Conference Digital Network or follow live stats. Both links can be found on mcneesesports.com.
Flores had a perfect game going before she gave up a two out walk, the first of two in the game to Brooke McClure in the fifth inning. Flores yielded her first hit of the game in the top of the sixth with a leadoff double and the Cowgirls leading 7-0. She went on to allow six more hits but picked up the win to improve to 14-12 on the year.
Sophomore
Ashley Koncir relieved Flores in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and two out. Koncir got Claire Smith, the first batter she faced to line out the left to end the game to record her second save of the season.
The Cowgirls offense picked up seven hits behind Flores and was led with two each from McClain and Saldivar. Sophomore Demi Boudreau picked up the Cowgirls only extra base hit with a leadoff double in the fourth. Senior
Aubree Turbeville led the way with two of the five RBI for the Cowgirls.
SCORING
B1- McNeese scored two runs to take the early lead. McClain led things off with a single to left, stole second then moved to third on a single up the middle by
Cori McCrary. McClain scored the first run on a suicide squeeze then McCrary came home on a fielder's choice by
Aubree Turbeville. McN 2, MTSU 0
B4- The Cowgirls score four runs on three hits to extend their lead. The Cowgirls got RBI's from
Alexandria Saldivar,
Sara Geier, and
Justyce McClain. McN 6, MTSU 0
B5- McNeese took advantage of a throwing error that allowed pinch runner
Alayis Seneca to score. McN 7, MTSU
B6- MTSU scored their first run of the game on a single down the left field line by Summer Burgess. McN 7, MTSU 1
T7- MTSU scored two runs on a single to right center. McN 7, MTSU 3
NOTES
- McNeese recorded seven hits with five players picking up at least one hit.
- Justyce McClain and Alexandria Saldivar had two hits apiece.
- Demi Boudreau had the only extra base hit (double in the 4th)
- Aubree Turbeville had two of the five RBI
- McClain picked up two steals which gives her 92 career stolen bases, two away from moving into second place in McNeese career stolen bases.
- Alex Flores allowed her first baserunner of the game to break up her perfect game by issuing a two out walk in the fifth inning
- Flores gave up her first hit of the game on a leadoff double in the top of the sixth
- Ashley Koncir picked up her second save of the season
