LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball defeated Northwestern State 2-0 Saturday in the rubber game to clinch the Southland Conference series 2-1.
 
McNeese improves to 28-12 overall and 11-1 in the SLC while Northwestern State falls to 19-17 overall and 6-6 in league play.
 
Like in Friday's second game of the doubleheader, McNeese took the early lead when Rylie Bouvier singled to left then stole second before a single through the left side by Marianna Torres brought Bouvier home for the early 1-0 lead.
 
Neither team would be able to get the timely hit they needed to score or add runs to the lead in the next 5 ½ innings until designated player Jada Muñoz came up with a two out clutch double that scored Crislyne Moreno from second for an insurance run that put the Cowgirls up 2-0.
 
The two runs would be all the Cowgirls would need as Ashley Vallejo threw her second gem of the series.  Vallejo retired the first 13 batters she faced before giving up back-to-back walks in the fifth inning.  The Cowgirl defense came up huge with a double play to keep the two Lady Demons stranded.
 
After Vallejo allowed her only hit of the game to the leadoff hitter in the sixth, she was replaced by freshman Lindsay Davis.  Davis got the Cowgirls out of the inning with a fly out to right field and a strike out.
 
Things got a little interesting in the seventh inning when the Lady Demons put the tying runs on base off singles by Makenzie Chaffin and Tristin Court.  With two outs, Davis struck out pinch hitter Lexie Roos to end the game.
 
Vallejo improved to 9-7 overall and 5-0 in league play while the save for Davis is her fourth of the season.  Vallejo stuck out three, walked three in 5 1/3 innings while Davis struck out two, allowed two hits in 1 2/3 innings.  
 
McNeese Notes
•- The shutout is the 15th this season
•- The shutout is the 8th in 12 SLC Games
•- Jada Muñoz came up with a clutch double in the sixth inning that scored the insurance run
• McNeese picked up eight hits in the game
•- Marianna Torres led McNeese with two hits including a double
•- McNeese stole four bases
•- Ashley Vallejo tossed her second straight one-hitter to pick up the win to improve to 9-7 overall and 5-0 in the SLC
•- Dating back to last season, Vallejo is 14-0 in conference games
•- Vallejo retired the first 13 batters she faced before giving up back-to-back walks
• Vallejo allowed her only hit of the game to the leadoff batter in the sixth
•- Freshman Lindsay Davis picked up her fourth save of the season and second save in conference games.  Davis ended the game with a strikeout with the tying runs on first and second.