LAKE CHARLES – Bryson Hudgens, making just his second start since returning from Tommy John Surgery, threw three perfect innings before leaving the game after hitting his pitch count while Payton Harden became only the second player in Southland Conference history to collect 300 career hits as the two headlined McNeese 4-3 win over Lamar on Saturday night to capture the weekend baseball series.
 
McNeese improves to 30-15 overall and 11-9 in league play. The victory is the 296^th in head coach Justin Hill's career while reaching 30 wins for the third straight season and for the eighth time in nine full seasons at the helm (2020 was canceled due to COVID after 17 games played).
 
Hudgens didn't get credit for the win due to a scoreless tie after his three innings, striking out one while throwing 36 pitches.
 
"It was awesome out there tonight. I felt great," he said as he stepped foot on Joe Miller Ballpark's mound for the first time since May 2021. "I had a lot of family and friends here. It was a special night."
 
To add to the night, Payton Harden knocked his 300^th career base hit in his second at-bat of the night in the bottom of the fourth inning that plated the first run of the game for the Cowboys. He added another single in the seventh inning to finish with two on the night and with 301 in his career. Already the school's career hit's leader, he's now one of just two players in the history of the Southland with 300 career hits (Michael Rockett of UTSA holds the record with 337 that he set from 2006-09).
 
Trailing 3-2 in the sixth, Cooper Hext battled to draw a walk and Taylor Darden followed with a blast over the left field wall, his fourth on the year, to put the Cowboys on top for good at 4-3.
 
Burrell Jones replaced Hudgens to start the fourth inning and after giving up a three-run home run to the Southland's home run leader in Ryan Snell in the frame, Jones threw the next three innings of shutout ball, then giving way to Ty Abraham who earned his second save in as many games and fifth on the year.
 
McNeese put nine hits on the board as Tré Obregon III joined Harden to lead the team with two hits.
 
Lamar fell to 26-20 overall and 9-11 in the conference.
 
The Cowboys will go for their first conference sweep of the season on Sunday with first pitch at 1 p.m. Prior to the start of the game, McNeese will recognize its senior class in a ceremony which is set to begin at approximately 12:30.