HAMMOND – A two-run, two-strike, two-out double in the top of the ninth by
Braden Duhon capped a remarkable comeback by McNeese as the Cowboys scored all seven of their runs in the final four innings, rallying from a 5-0 deficit to defeat Southeastern 7-6 here Friday night in the first game of a three-game Southland Conference baseball series.
The win was the fourth straight for the Cowboys who have also won six of their last seven.
Trailing 5-0 entering the sixth inning,
Brad Burckel put the Cowboys on the board with a solo home run. In the seventh and down 5-1, McNeese (23-11, 5-5 SLC) added three runs to cut the gap to 5-4. The fourth run came with the bases loaded and McNeese pulling off a triple steal with
Payton Harden clean stealing home during the pitch for the rare feat.
McNeese tied the game in the eighth on a
Taylor Darden sacrifice fly to knot things up 5-5 but in the bottom of the inning, SLU (17-17, 3-7) took a 6-5 lead when Connor Manola hit a lead-off solo home run.
Cowboys' starting pitcher
Grant Rogers was then lifted for
Christian Vega who struck out two of the three outs to get out of the inning. Rogers, who remained 8-0 on the season with the no-decision, threw 7.1 innings and allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits, struck out six and walked one.
In the top of the ninth,
Cooper Hext lead things off by reaching on a throwing error and Tré Obregon III followed with a walk to put runners on first and second.
Conner Westenburg entered to run for Obregon which came up big a couple of batters later when he stole second to have runners on second and third with two out in the inning.
Duhon then dropped a double down the left field line on a 2-2 pitch that scored Hext and Westenburg that put the Cowboys on top 7-6.
Ty Abraham pitched the ninth inning and had runners on first and second with one out when Manola grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game as Abraham notched his third save of the season. Vega (3-2) was credited with the win after throwing two-thirds of an inning.
Burckel and Duhon led McNeese's 9-hit attack with three knocks each in the game.
The series will continue on Saturday beginning at 6.
