CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Claiming its second consecutive Southland Conference series, McNeese Baseball (23-22, 7-10 SLC) defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (21-29, 9-11 SLC) 9-4 at Chapman Field Saturday afternoon.
 
Braden Duhon, a senior, paved the way for the Cowboys with a 3-for-5 outing, scoring one run while driving in a pair as well.
 
McNeese set the tone of the game in the first, getting off to an early 4-0 lead, taking the advantage it wouldn't relinquish. Senior Cooper Hext scored the first run on a combination of a double and error. Conner Westenburg, a junior, scored next on a redshirt sophomore Braley Hollins' single for the 2-0 lead. Duhon hit a two-RBI double to drive in Hollins and senior Elliot Hebert.
 
Hebert scored the fifth run of the game as well in the third inning on a single by redshirt senior Chase Keeton. The Cowboys plated another run in the fourth before the Islanders collected two runs in the bottom of the frame.
 
The Pokes scored on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to bring in senior Peyton LeJeune who was on second base. Both teams scored a pair of runs in the ninth to round out the game at 9-4.
 
The Cowboys and Islanders close out the series Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch that will be streamed on ESPN+. (Just the first pitch)
 
Pitching Appearances
Daelan Caraway: 3.1 IP, 0 K, 1 H, 4 BB, 0 ER
Alexis Gravel: 5.2 IP, 7 K's, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, Win
 
McNeese Notes
• Daelan Caraway made his first weekend start of the season.
• Grant Mangrum extended his hitting streak to eight games.
• 37^th game with 6+ hits on the season.
• 16^th game with 10+ hits.
 • First time since New Orleans with six doubles in a game.
• Multi-Hit Games: Cooper Hext (18^th), Conner Westenburg (16^th), Braden Duhon (14th), Grant Mangrum (10^th), Simon Larranaga (8^th), Peyton LeJeune (8^th), Braley Hollins (5^th)
• Alexis Gravel picked up his first victory of the season.