LAKE CHARLES— Crislyne Moreno's RBI single to left in the bottom of the sixth inning scored Reese Reyna in what proved to be the game winning hit and run in a McNeese Softball 4-3 Southland Conference series opening win over Incarnate Word Friday night.
 
The series will conclude with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.
 
UIW (16-7, 4-3 SLC) didn't waste any time in taking a quick 2-0 lead within five pitches from Cowgirl starter Shaelyn Sanders.  The Cardinals got a leadoff single from Ryleigh Mata followed by a two-run homerun by Victoria Altamirano for the quick lead.
 
McNeese (17-13, 3-1 SLC) cut the lead in the half (2-1) in the bottom of the first when Corine Poncho and Samantha Mundine traded places with back-to-back doubles.
 
The Cowgirls tied the game at two apiece in the bottom of the second inning on a two out double by Bella Perez that went all the way to the right field corner wall scoring Rylie Bouvier from first.
 
After two scoreless innings, McNeese took a 3-2 lead on a two out triple by pinch hitter Jada Muñoz that scored Mundine.  Mundine reached on a double to right center.
 
UIW responded with a single run in the sixth to knot the game up at three all with a RBI pinch hit single by Avalon Sanchez.
 
In the sixth, Reyna led off with a double to center and went to third on a sac bunt by Mariana Torres.  After a walk by Perez, Moreno singled to left center bringing Reese home for the go ahead and eventual winning run.
 
McNeese picked up nine hits in the game including five doubles and two triples while UIW picked up eight hits with one double and one homerun.
 
Perez and Mundine both led the Cowgirls at the plate with two hits apiece.  Both Perez's hits were doubles while Mundine had a double and a triple in the contest.
 
Sanders improved to 9-6 on the season with the win.  Sanders gave up four runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in 6.0 innings.
 
Ryann Schexnayder picked up her first career save by retiring the final three UIW batters, leaving the tying run stranded on second.