LAKE CHARLES – McNeese baseball fell to Lamar 8-7 in its first extra-inning game of the season at Joe Miller Ballpark in an offensive battle Friday night. The Cowboys fall to 12-4 (4-3 SLC) on the season with the Cardinals moving to 15-5 (3-4 SLC).
 
Senior outfielder Conner Westenburg paved the way offensively for the Pokes, coming shy of hitting the cycle by a double with three hits at the plate, two runs, and two runs batted in. His home run in the top of the third was the first of two for the Cowboys.
 
McNeese outhit Lamar 14-13 on the night as they earned their eighth game earning double-digit hits of the season.
 
Lamar scored the initial three runs of the game, tallying two in the first inning and one in the second before the Pokes struck in the third. Westenburg hit a solo home run traveling 416 feet in the bottom of the third over the left field wall for his second hit in as many opportunities at the plate.
 
After the Cardinals plated an additional run in the fourth, the Cowboys brought it back within one run on a two-RBI 387-foot home run by senior catcher Grant Mangrum, making it 4-3.
 
Lamar took a 7-3 advantage in the fifth before McNeese tallied another run in the bottom of the frame. As junior Matt Stancliff waited on third base, sophomore Mack Brousseau hit a double down the left-line for an RBI, moving the game to 7-4.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Westenburg sent the ball down the right line to earn an RBI triple as senior Simon Larranaga came home from first base. Westenburg came home soon after on a balk to bring the game within one.
 
The Cowboys scored in the bottom of the eighth after a leadoff triple by Westenburg followed by an RBI sacrifice fly by redshirt sophomore Easton Dowell to send him home to tie the game, ultimately sending it into extra innings.
 
Lamar plated the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth on an RBI sacrifice fly to seal the game.
 
McNeese and Lamar continue the rivalry Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee at Joe Miller Ballpark.
 
Pitching Appearances
Alexis Gravel: 3.0 IP, 1 K, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 ER
Caleb Strmiska: 1.0 IP, 0 K, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 ER
Parker Morgan: 1.0 IP, 0 K, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER
Blayne Fritcher: 1.0 IP, 0 K, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER
Brady Corcoran: 0.2 IP, 1 K, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER
Parker Primeaux: 0.1 IP, 0 K, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 ER
Sergio Lopez: 3.0 IP, 2 K's, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 ER, Loss
 
McNeese Notes
• Mack Brousseau extended his hitting streak to seven games, tied for the longest streak for a Cowboy this season.
• Simon Larranaga joins Brousseau tied for a team-leading seven-game hitting streak.
• Eight McNeese starters earned at least one hit with five collecting multiple hits.
• Larry Edwards Jr. has reached base in 11 straight games.
• The Cowboys played their first extra-inning game of the season.
• McNeese has earned 10+ hits in eight games this season.
• McNeese has scored a run in 44 consecutive games.
• Westenburg collected a single, triple, and home run, falling just shy of the cycle.
Coach Hill ties his best start at the helm at 12-4.
• Grant Mangram earned his first multi-RBI game of the season.
• Multiple-Hit Games: Conner Westenburg, Matt Stancliff, Mack Brousseau, Simon Larranaga, Larry Edwards Jr.