Box Score HAMMOND – Nate Fisbeck sent an 0-2 pitch to the opposite side of the field for a three-run home run to lift McNeese to a 3-2 lead then the Cowboy pitching staff, led by starter Jonathan Ellison, took control the rest of the way as the Cowboys advanced in the winner's bracket with a 3-2 win over No. 3 seed Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday night.
 
With the win, the Cowboys (30-28) advance to play the winner of the SLU/UNO elimination game at 7 p.m. with a chance to get to Saturday's championship game.
 
Ellison (5-3) struck out the side to start the game and allowed just a second-inning, two-run home run by SLU's Bryce Grizzaffi before throwing his final three innings of scoreless ball while giving up just one hit. He handed the ball over to Bryson Hudgens, Brad Kincaid and Cameron Foster who combined to give up just one hit in four innings with a walk and four strike outs.
 
"That was such a fun game," said Ellison who threw just 88 pitches in five innings which could make him available later in the tournament if needed. "I can't say enough about those guys that came in after me. Brad (Kincaid), what a great outing by him. Bryson and then Cameron finishing it up."
 
Kincaid saw action for just the third time since missing six weeks in March and all of April and is pitching with a stress fracture in his elbow.
 
"Both teams played really well," said head coach Justin Hill. "Both defenses made plays, they threw out a couple of our guys, we made some big plays and struck out batters in key situations. I don't think either of us expected a 3-2 game.
 
"What a great job by Ellison pitching in the biggest game of his career. They got the two run bomb and I was curious to see how he would respond. He was fantastic."
 
Foster picked up his fifth save of the season while striking out two of the four batters he faced.
 
After the Lions (31-23) took a 2-0 lead, McNeese came back in the third inning when Kade Morris started a rally with a one-out single to left field. A strike out for the second out of the inning was followed by a Clayton Rasbeary walked to put runners on first and second. Fisbeck followed with his ninth homer of the season while collecting his 60^th RBI and extending his conference lead.
 
The Cowboys threatened in the fifth inning after Morris singled and Rasbeary drilled a double to right field, but the runners would be left stranded in scoring position after a hard hit laser by Fisbeck went right back to the pitcher who got the third out at first base.
 
In the sixth, the Lions got a lead-off double by Preston Faulkner but after a couple of outs and a hit batter, Reid Bourque's great back-hand grab on a grounder to shortstop allowed him to get the force out at second base and end the frame.
 
The Cowboy defense came up big again in the seventh inning. The Lions had runners on first and second with one out and new pitcher Brad Kincaid on the mound. A hard shot to Morris at third base was fielded and Morris turned the double play to end the rally.
 
After McNeese went down in order in the seventh, SLU threatened again by getting the tying run on third base. But with two outs Hill made the call to the bullpen to bring in closer Cameron Foster who struck out the Rhett Rosevear and stranding another runner in scoring position.
 
Rasbeary and Morris each collected two hits to lead the Cowboys while Rosevear led the Lions with two of his team's four hits.
 
SLU starting pitcher Brennan Stuprich (6-3) took the loss after throwing seven innings and giving up three runs on five hits with three walks and five strike outs.