NATCHITOCHES – McNeese got out to a quick start with two, first-inning runs, but Northwestern State ended with a three-run, seventh inning to win 8-4 and capture the Southland Conference baseball series.
 
The loss dropped McNeese to 32-18 overall while completing league play with a 12-12 record. NSU improved to 27-22 and 12-9
 
McNeese currently sits in sixth place in the conference standings, two games behind Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and New Orleans for the fourth and fifth spot. The Cowboys are open in league play next week while the others will conclude their seasons meaning McNeese will need some help to avoid the single-elimination tournament opening game between the No. 6 and 7 teams.
 
Burrell Jones (4-3) took the loss on the mound in relief effort after he relieved starter Bryson Hudgens in the third inning. Jones gave up two runs on a hit in an inning of work after Hudgens threw two innings and allowed three runs, two of those earned, on two hits while striking out four.
 
Payton Harden and Brad Burckel each had two hits to lead McNeese's eight-hit attack. Burckel hit his eighth home run of the season in the sixth inning that cut the Cowboys' deficit to 5-4. The Demons opened a four-run lead with three runs in the seventh. Gabe Colaianni got things started with a one-out, solo home run, his sixth on the year. Broch Holmes and Gray Rowlett followed later with RBI singles before reliever Brock Barthelemy was replaced by Christian Vega who halted the Demons' one-out rally.
 
The Cowboys had the lead-off batters reach in both the eighth and ninth innings but were unable to push across and runs.
 
Demons starter Drayton Brown improved his record to 5-7 on the season following a six inning outing and giving up four runs, three earned, on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
 
McNeese will be back in action with four games later this week to close out regular season play.
 
The Cowboys will travel to play LSU on Tuesday night before returning home Wednesday through Friday when they host Miami (Ohio).