BEAUMONT, Texas – Riding the hot hand of Cameron LeJeune paired with Peyton LeJeune's hot bat, McNeese Baseball (16-12, 2-2 SLC) rose above Lamar (23-6, 3-1 SLC) 4-2 at Vincent-Beck Stadium Friday night.
 
"They're a tough team and tough to punch out, but the ball just kept finding the glove whenever they hit so it worked out," said Cameron LeJeune, a redshirt junior.
 
LeJeune finished seven innings of work in his fifth start on the mound, striking out one batter and only permitting one run en route to his fourth win of the season. Senior JT Moeller backed him up with the final two outs of the game to claim his first save of 2024.
 
When Moeller was asked about his mentality, he commented, "Throw strikes and trust my defense behind me. I have great guys behind me."
 
Senior Parker Stroh made his first career triple a memorable one in the fifth inning by driving in two runs to give the Cowboys a 3-1 lead and swing the momentum in their favor. Seniors Elliot Hebert and Cooper Hext resided on second and first for the Cowboys to come home on the long hit. 
 
Following the two-run fifth, Poke Nation plated an insurance run in the sixth on an RBI single by Hext to drive in senior Peyton LeJeune.
 
The first run of the evening was scored by the Pokes in the second inning as Stroh scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Chase Keeton. The Cardinals tied up the game in the third to make it one a piece.
 
Lamar scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Senior Peyton LeJeune was one of two Pokes to hit 3-for-4 on the night, joined by Stroh. LeJeune kicked off the outing with a 3-for-3 appearance, just falling short of the perfect night.
 
The Battle of the Border continues Saturday evening at 5 p.m., available to stream on ESPN+.
 
Pitching Appearances
Cameron LeJeune: 7.0 IP, 1 K, 7 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, Win
Kainin Morrow: 1.1 IP, 0 K, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 ER
JT Moeller: 0.2 IP, 1 K, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, Save
 
McNeese Notes
Parker Stroh hit his first career triple to drive in two runs.
Cooper Hext recorded his 10^th multi-hit game of the season.
Also recording multi-hit games: Stroh (3^rd), P. LeJeune (5^th)
JT Moeller earned his first save of the season.
C. LeJeune was credited with his fourth victory on the year.
McNeese improves to 2-1 in two-run games.