LAKE CHARLES -The offense came alive as McNeese softball swept Manhattan College 12-0 in a five-inning run-rule ballgame followed by a 3-1 victory over Memphis during the third day of The Evangeline Bank and Trust Invitational II.
Vs. Manhattan
Jil Poullard hit a solo home run in the first inning which set the tone for the rest of the game. The momentum rose in the third and fourth innings as the Cowgirls (8-6) scored 11 additional runs off nine hits against the Jaspers (0-4) causing the run rule to be put into play.
"I thought our players did a really good job responding with great energy, they were locked in, and they competed," said head coach James Landreneau. "We had a big inning early in the game and continued pushing and playing aggressively."
Key Moments:
First Inning
Third Inning
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Cowgirls scored three runs off RBIs by Josie Willingham, Alayis Senica, and Toni Perrin
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Willingham scored off a Jasper error
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A sac fly by Gracie Devall scored Perrin, tacking on the final run of the inning
Fourth Inning
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Poullard and Reese Reyna scored off an RBI double by Willingham
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Seneca brought Willingham home off an RBI single
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Tiffany Stezco's RBI single scored Seneca
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Stezco and Kendall Talley scored the final runs of the game off a wild pitch and a throwing error
Game Notes:
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Winning pitcher Shaelyn Sanders (2-0) recorded two strikeouts, giving up three hits in five innings
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The Cowgirls were led by Willingham's 3 RBIs followed by Seneca who collected two
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Six Cowgirls recorded at least one RBI in the game
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Poullard led the team with three runs scored, including her solo home run
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McNeese scored twelve runs off ten hits
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It's the first game McNeese scored at least ten runs
Vs. Memphis
Aside from one RBI in the third inning, McNeese's defense stopped the Tigers in their tracks. The Cowgirls' offense scored by stealing bases and capitalizing on errors, creating a 3-1 lead the Cowgirls refused to relinquish resulting in the win.
"We had to put some pressure on them (Memphis) to score some runs. I thought we did a good job of base running and finding ways to get traffic on the bases. Vallejo was excellent today commanding both sides of the plate."
Key Moments:
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An RBI double by Gracie Morto gave Memphis an early lead in the third inning of the ball game
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Talley stole third and scored on a throwing error to tie the game at one apiece in bottom of the third
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Poullard stole second and third before scoring off a throwing error to put the Cowgirls up 2-1 by the end of the third inning
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An RBI single by Reyna in the fifth inning scored Talley from third for the third Cowgirl run of the game.
Game Notes:
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Winning pitcher Ashley Vallejo (4-3) struck out seven and allowed one run on three hits
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McNeese stole three bases, two of which are attributed to Poullard and one to Talley
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The Cowgirls took advantage of three Memphis errors while committing only one
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Memphis head coach Dr. Natalie Poole graduated from McNeese in 1998, was a graduate assistant for the Cowgirls, and coached the Cowgirls from 2009-2012
Next Game:
The Cowgirls will play their final game of The Evangeline Bank and Trust Invitational II against UT-Arlington on Sunday, Feb 27 at 2:45 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Stream
Following the final McNeese game of each day, player autographs will be available behind the Cowgirl dugout.
The Evangeline Bank and Trust Invitational II
Sunday Feb 27
10 a.m. UNLV vs. Manhattan
12:15 p.m. UNLV vs. Memphis
2:45 p.m. McNeese vs. UT-Arlington
