LAKE CHARLES—24^th ranked Baylor softball used the third inning to score all the runs it needed in a 3-2 win over McNeese Thursday night for its first win of the season.
 
Baylor (1-2) scored all three runs on four hits including three singles and one double to push the runs across the plate.  
 
The Bears were held scoreless in the first inning when Cowgirl starter Shaelyn Sanders retired the first two batters but allowed the next three batters to reach base to load the bases.  Sanders got out of the bases loaded jam by getting Sydney Collazos to ground out the second base to end the threat.
 
McNeese (4-2) missed a good chance to score a few runs in the second inning when Samantha Mundine singled up the middle and Mariana Torres and Brooke Otto both walked to load the bases with one out.  The next two Cowgirls- Delaney Dunham and Reese Reyna both went down looking, stranding the bases runners.
 
The Cowgirls got on the board in the fourth inning on a two out RBI double to left by Otto that scored Emily Phillips.  Phillips led the bottom half of the inning off with a single up the middle.
 
McNeese struck again with its second run of the game and left Jada Muñoz, the tying run stranded on third base with one out in the fifth inning.
 
Reese Reyna took advantage of a Baylor wild pitch and scored to pull McNeese to withing one run (3-2).  Muñoz, who reached base on a walk, advanced to second on a sac bunt by Rylie Bouvier then moved to third on the wild pitch, was left stranded when Corine Poncho struck out for the second out and Phillips grounded out to the shortstop for the third out.
 
The Cowgirls never threatened again as Baylor reliever Aliyah Binford struck out five of the batters she faced to pick up her first save of the year and RyLee Crandall picked up her first win of the season after allowing only one run on four hits with three strikeouts.
 
Sanders fell to 1-2 on the year with the loss after allowing all three Baylor runs on five hits with two strikeouts.  Cowgirl reliever Ryann Schexnayder tossed the final four scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, one walk with a strikeout.
 
McNeese picked up four hits on the night with Bouvier, Phillips, Mundine, and Otto all collecting one hit apiece.  Otto had the only McNeese extra base hit with her RBI double.
 
Baylor picked up seven hits in the game with McKenzie Wilson and Shaylon Govan leading the Bears with two apiece.
 
McNeese will open its Cowgirl Challenge against the three-time reigning National Champions Oklahoma at 6 p.m. Friday in the first day nightcap.
 
The two teams will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.  Both games against Oklahoma are sold out.
 
McNeese will also face Central Arkansas at 4 p.m. Saturday and Lamar at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
 
COWGIRL CHALLENGE (Feb. 16-18)
FRIDAY, FEB. 16
1 p.m.              Lamar vs. Central Arkansas
3:30 p.m.         Central Arkansas vs. Oklahoma
6 p.m.              Oklahoma vs. McNeese (SOLD OUT)
 
SATURDAY, FEB. 17
11 a.m.             Lamar vs. Central Arkansas
1:30 p.m.         Lamar vs. Oklahoma
4 p.m.              Central Arkansas vs. McNeese
6:30 p.m.         Oklahoma vs. McNeese (SOLD OUT)        
 
SUNDAY, FEB. 18
11 a.m.             Central Arkansas vs. Oklahoma
1:30 p.m.         Lamar vs. McNeese
 
Home team in BOLD