NEW ORLEANS, La. – After an offensively powered first game of the day, McNeese Baseball (18-20, 3-9 SLC) and New Orleans (23-16, 8-4 SLC) split the doubleheader with the Cowboys taking an 18-17 victory in the earlier portion and the Privateers winning the latter 6-3 matchup at Maestri Field Saturday.
 
McNeese collected 22 hits in the first game of the day, marking a new season high for the Pokes. The 18 runs scored falls just one run short of the team's season high.
 
Braley Hollins had a career performance in the initial game of the day, hitting 4-for-5 with six RBIs and three runs scored. The hit and RBI totals mark career highs for the redshirt sophomore.
 
The Cowboys return home Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m., playing host to Louisiana Christian at Joe Miller Ballpark.
 
Game 1:
McNeese rode its hot bats in the top frame of the game to score six runs on six hits to set the tone of the match. Facing a six-run deficit before its first batter came to the plate, UNO scored three in the bottom of the first.
 
The Cowboys continued to ride the wave of momentum with a three-run top of the second inning to bring the game to 9-3 in favor of the Pokes. The Privateers scored seven in the bottom of the second to take its first lead of the game 10-9 heading into the third.
 
After the Privateers extended their lead to 11-9 in the bottom of the fourth, the Cowboys responded with a four-run inning in the top of the fifth for a 13-11 lead, tallying 16 hits at this point in the game.
 
In the top of the seventh, sophomore Braley Hollins hit his second home run of the game and of the season to extend the Pokes' lead to four runs. McNeese added a pair of runs in the eighth as well on a two RBI single by senior Elliot Hebert to make it 17-11. The Privateers tied up the game in the bottom of the eighth at 17 a piece.
 
Junior Grant Mangrum sent in the go-ahead and ultimately final run in the top of the ninth as senior Braden Duhon crossed home plate before heading into the bottom frame.
 
Pitching Appearances (Game 1)
Zach Voss: 1.1 IP, 2 K's, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 ER
Kainin Morrow: 1.1 IP, 0 K, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 ER
Ty Abraham: 5.0 IP, 5 K's, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 ER
Brock Barthelemy: 0.0 IP, 0 K, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 ER
Daelan Caraway: 0.0 IP, 0 K, 0 H, 2 BB, 0 ER
Brian Shadrick: 1.1 IP, 0 K, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, Win
 
Game 2:
After a scoreless inning to start things off, New Orleans owned a huge bottom of the second, plating five runs for the lead.
 
McNeese responded in the fourth inning with a run of its own before the Privateers matched them in the bottom frame. Started off on an RBI single by Hebert, the Pokes scored two in the fifth inning as senior Peyton LeJeune crossed home. Senior Cooper Hext plated the latter run on a fielder's choice for Hollins.
 
Both teams were held scoreless for the final four innings played.
 
Junior Max Swenson recorded a career-high five strikeouts during his time on the mound, pitching the longest of any Cowboy on the day at 5.2 innings.
 
Pitching Appearances (Game 2)
Alexis Gravel: 2.0 IP, 1 K, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 ER
Max Swenson: 5.2 IP, 5 K's, 4 H, 4 BB, 1 ER
Evan Maldonado: 0.1 IP, 0 K, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER
 
McNeese Notes 
Six runs in an inning is tied for the most this year. (Last: 6 vs. NMSU, 8^th inning)
Kainin Morrow made his 17^th appearance of 2024, tied for the team high.
Multiple-hit performances: Cooper Hext (13^th & 14^th), Braden Duhon (11^th), Grant Mangrum (7^th), Parker Stroh (4^th), Elliot Hebert (3^rd), Braley Hollins (2^nd)
Cooper Hext extended his hitting streak to seven games.
Elliot Hebert has collected a hit in four consecutive games.
Second time this season with 20+ hits. (Last: 20 vs. PVAMU)
First game since 2017 the team collected six doubles in a game.
Braley Hollins is the first Cowboy to hit two or more home runs in a game in a little over a month.