AUSTIN, Texas—McNeese softball ended the Longhorn Invitational here Saturday with a 2-2 record after defeating Tennessee State 8-0 before falling 4-0 to #9/11 Texas Saturday. The Cowgirls split their games on Friday by picking win a 1-0 win over Princeton and a losing 7-1 to #24 UL-Lafayette.
McNeese (13-7) was held scoreless for the first two inning but scored at least one run in the next five innings. The Cowgirls jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Tennessee State in the third inning on a RBI double to right centerfield by
Rylie Bouvier that scored
Reese Reyna who reached base on an error. A single by
Kelsey Gaspard brought Bouvier home for a 2-0 lead.
The Cowgirls tacked on another run in the fourth to extend its lead to 3-0. A sacrifice fly by Reyna scored
Delaney Dunham who led the inning off with a single to left.
McNeese added two more runs in the fifth on a two RBI double by
Mariana Torres and a single run in the sixth on a ground out by Reyna for a 6-0 lead.
A two RBI double to left center by Reyna in the seventh gave the Cowgirls an 8-0 lead heading to the bottom of the inning.
McNeese ended the game with 13 hits, the second most of the season that included three doubles- one each by Reyna, Bouvier, and Torres. Reyna ended the game with a team high four RBI while Torres,
Kelsey Gaspard, and Dunham all had two hits apiece.
Whitney Tate improved to 5-1 on the year with the complete game win. Tate allowed only three hits and struck out a career high 10 batters while allowing only one walk.
Against Texas (15-2-1), the Longhorns took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a solo homerun by Baylea Brandon to break a scoreless game. A RBI single down the left field line added another run for a 2-0 lead. The Cowgirls defense came up big in the inning in which the Longhorns could have added at least two more runs. A relay from left field to home got Ashton Maloney out and Mila Scott was thrown out at home attempting to steal.
Texas added two more runs in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 4-0 on a two run home run by Katie Climusz.
McNeese was held to two hits in the game with
Chloe Gomez picking a double in the fourth inning and
Alayis Seneca with a single to lead off the third.
The Cowgirls will return to action next Wednesday when they will travel to UL-Lafayette for a 6 p.m. game.
NOTES
• McNeese collected 12 hits against Tennessee State, the second most this season
• Freshman
Delaney Dunham got her first collegiate start. Dunham picked up her first collegiate hit with a single to centerfield in the second inning.
•
Kelsey Gaspard picked up her second RBI of the season against Tennessee State
• Tate picked up the win against Tennessee State to improve to 5-1.
• Tate struck out a career high 10 against Tennessee State
•
Shaelyn Sanders saw action in the circle in relief against Texas, her first appearance since Feb. 18 against South Dakota due to an injury.
• McNeese was held to two hits in the loss against #9/11 Texas.
Chloe Gomez picked up a double and Seneca had the other hit with a single.
