LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball closed out its Cowgirl Challenge with a 4-2 win over Lamar Sunday to improve to 6-4 on the season.
 
After two scoreless innings, McNeese scored two runs in the third inning off RBI by Emily Phillips and Rylie Bouvier.  Phillips' RBI sacrifice fly scored Crislyne Moreno who led the inning off with a single up the middle.  Bouvier singled in Corine Poncho who reached on a walk.
 
The Cowgirls missed a golden opportunity to jump on the Cardinals early in the first inning.  Singles by Samantha Mundine and Poncho both hit singles and Bouvier was hit by a pitch to load the bases but a ground out to the Lamar pitcher for the third out left the runners stranded.    
 
Lamar (3-5) scored its first run of the game in the fifth inning on a Jayne Sepulveda two out RBI single to right. 
 
Following a Cowgirl pitching change with two outs and the go-ahead runners on base, reliever Lindsay Davis, who replaced Ryann Schexnayder in her first collegiate start, got the Cardinals' clean-up hitter Cameron Niedenthal to fly out to center for the third out.
 
Poncho and Phillips hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to put the Cowgirls up 4-1.  The home run for Poncho is her team high sixth of the season while it's the second of the year for Phillips.
 
Lamar made things interesting in the seventh inning.  The Cardinals cut the lead in half in the seventh inning with a run and had the tying runners on once again with two outs.  Phillips fielded a slow dribbler in front of home plate and threw to Moreno at first base to end the game.
 
McNeese picked up seven hits in the game with Poncho leading the way with two hits including a solo home run.  Poncho also scored two of the four Cowgirl runs while Phillips led the Cowgirls with two RBI
 
Schexnayder improved to 2-0 on the season while Davis picked up her first save of the season and second career save.
 
McNeese will remain home for more games this week beginning with a 6 p.m. single game against Boise State Wednesday, Feb. 21.  The Cowgirls will host its Cowgirl Classic II this Friday and Saturday with Lamar, Niagara, and North Dakota taking part in the tournament.