LAKE CHARLES – McNeese scored seven of its eight runs in its final two at-bats, including five runs in the eighth inning as the Cowboys defeated LSU-Alexandria 8-1 Tuesday afternoon at Joe Miller Ballpark.
 
The win improved McNeese's record to 27-13 overall as it won its eighth game in the last 10 outings. The game was an exhibition for LSUA whose record stands at 27-16. McNeese will return to Southland Conference action this weekend when it visits UIW for a three-game series beginning Friday.
 
On Tuesday, the Cowboys fielded a lineup unlike any seen this season as five regular starters sat out the contest.
 
In their place, McNeese pounded out 11 hits that included three doubles and a home run, that coming off the bat of left fielder Dean Bittner whose 8^th-inning, three-run blast increased the Cowboy lead to 7-1 at the time. It was Bittner's first home run as a Cowboy.
 
Sophomore center fielder Conner Westenburg recorded his first career base hit when he laid down a perfectly placed bunt along the third base line and later scored on a Braden Duhon safety squeeze sacrifice bunt to build the lead to 3-1.
 
Duhon finished with two hits in the game along with Josh Leslie who cracked his league-leading 19^th double on the year. Catcher Ben David came off the bench and had two hits including an RBI double.
 
Relief pitcher Brock Barthelemy picked up the win after throwing 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings, following up starter Derrick Cherry who threw four innings of one-run, two-hit ball with five strike outs. Cameron Lejeune tossed two scoreless innings and allowed two hits while Christian Vega (0.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H) and Payton Tinkler (1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H) closed out the game.