BEAUMONT, Texas- Consistent scoring and timely hitting led McNeese softball to a 6-2 win over Lamar in the first game of the series Friday night.  

McNeese improves to 27-17 on the season while Lamar drops to 9-28.  

The Cowgirls opened the scoring in the top of the third inning. Jil Poullard's two out bunt single put traffic on base for Crislyne Moreno's two run homer that gave McNeese the early 2-0 lead.  

McNeese added a single run in the fifth inning when Alayis Seneca and Kendall Talley hit back to back doubles to put McNeese up 3-0. 

Lamar responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, scoring their first run on an RBI double . A Cowgirl error allowed the Cardinals to score an additional run, cutting the McNeese lead to 3-2.  

McNeese got a run back in the sixth off a two out pinch hit RBI double by Tiffany Steczo's that scored Toni Perrin to extend the lead to 4-2.

The Cowgirl scoring continued into the seventh inning when Poullard tripled to right center with one out then scored on Moreno's RBI double to increase the Cowgirl lead to 5-2. The final Cowgirl run of the game came off a ground out by Chloe Gomez, allowing Moreno to score.  

The Cardinals were able to get runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but reliever pitcher Shaelyn Sanders quickly diffused the threat to earn the save.  

Key Moments: 

Third Inning 

• Moreno's two run homer put the Cowgirls on the board (McN 2, Lamar 0) 

Fifth Inning 

• Talley's RBI double increased the Cowgirl lead to three runs (McN 3, Lamar 0) 

• The Cardinals scored with an RBI double (McN 3, Lamar 1) 

• Lamar scored its second run a Cowgirl error (McN 3, Lamar 2) 

Sixth Inning 

• Pinch hitter Tiffany Steczo's double added a Cowgirl insurance run (McN 4, Lamar 2) 

Seventh Inning 

• Moreno's RBI double scored Poullard (McN 5, Lamar 2)  

• Gomez's ground out scored Moreno (McN 6, Lamar 2) 

Game Notes: 

• Starting pitcher Whitney Tate (9-7) picked up the win, giving up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts in 4.0 innings  

• Second reliever Shaelyn Sanders picked up her second save of the year after facing two batters 

• Moreno led the Cowgirls at the plate with two hits including a homerun and a double, scored two runs, one walk, and three RBI  

• McNeese outhit Lamar 11-6 with six of the 11 hits being extra base hits 

Next Game: 

The Cowgirls will host the Cardinals in a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday, April 22 at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond. The first game will  broadcast on ESPN+ while the second game can be seen on Cowboy Insider.