Conner Westenburg swinging
Dena Matzenbacher
10
Winner McNeese MCN 16-5, 7-4 SLC
9
SLU SLU 18-4, 7-1 SLC
Winner
McNeese MCN
16-5, 7-4 SLC
10
Final
9
SLU SLU
18-4, 7-1 SLC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
McNeese MCN 1 0 2 2 0 2 1 2 0 10 11 0
SLU SLU 1 0 0 0 5 0 1 2 0 9 15 3

W: Lopez, Sergio (4-1) L: Vosburg, Aiden (1-1) S: Coppinger, Paul (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Taylor Riemersma, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

McNeese rides hot bats, hands SLU first conference loss

HAMMOND – McNeese's rode its hot at-bats to a 10-9 victory over Southeastern Baseball Saturday afternoon to force the Sunday rubber match at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. The Pokes collect their 16th win of the season, sitting at 16-5, 7-4 SLC, while handing the Lions their fourth loss of the season, moving to 18-4, 7-1 in SLC play.
 
Despite being outhit at the diamond, the Cowboys earned 11 hits to the Lions' 15 en route to the victory, taking advantage of the latter's three errors. It marked the 12th game of the season the offense has recorded 10 or more hits.
 
Southeastern entered the series 6-0 in conference play and second in the standings before taking the Friday win to sit atop the Southland. McNeese's victory gave the last unscathed team in SLC action their first conference loss.
 
Conner Westenburg, a senior, made his way home quickly to kickstart the offense, earning a leadoff double for the Cowboys in the first before stealing third, then taking a risky chance to steal home. After a review, he was called safe for the 1-0 lead. The Lions tied up the ballgame in the bottom frame on an RBI single to left center.
 
At a standstill through the second, the Pokes took a 3-1 advantage on a two-run home run by senior Marcus Heusohn, also bringing home junior Matt Stancliff who sat on first just ahead of him.
 
Sophomore Seth Fontenot hit the second home run ball of the day an inning later with one out recorded to send himself and redshirt sophomore Easton Dowell across home plate to take a four-run lead heading into the fifth.
 
Southeastern took a 6-5 lead with a five-run bottom of the fifth. The Lions plated the first run on an RBI groundout before a single and RBI double for the second run. Another double three batters later scored two followed by an inning-ending out at home that was preceded by a runner crossing the plate.
 
The blue and gold struck back in the sixth with two runs of their own to take a one-run 7-6 advantage at Alumni Field. Westenburg tripled to send home S. Fontenot to tie up the game at six a piece. An RBI single by Stancliff to center field gave the Pokes the lead.
 
Dowell singled up the middle with runners on second and third to tack on an insurance run with Heusohn recording his second run of the day. Southeastern plated a run of their own on an RBI single in the bottom half of the seventh, making it 8-7 at the ballpark.
 
Unwilling to relinquish their second game of the weekend, the Cowboys tacked on two additional runs in the eighth for a 10-7 lead.  Freshman Bryce Fontenot scored on a double sent out to right center by Stancliff, his second run batted in of the day. Westenburg scored shortly after on a throwing error. Southeastern plated two runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-RBI single to left center.
 
McNeese and Southeastern close out the series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
 
Pitching Appearances
Alexis Gravel: 4.1 IP, 5 K's, 4 H, 2 BB, 2 ER
Jake Blackwell: 0.2 IP, 0 K's, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 ER
Sergio Lopez: 2.0 IP, 3 K's, 5 H, 3 BB, 3 ER, Win
Brady Corcoran: 1.2 IP, 1 K, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 ER
Paul Coppinger: 0.1 IP, 0 K's, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, Save
 
McNeese Notes
• Marcus Heusohn extended his hitting streak to eight games on a two-run home run.
• Mack Brousseau has reached base in 12 straight games with Conner Westenburg just behind him at 11 games.
• McNeese defeated handed the Lions their first conference loss as they were the last team undefeated in SLC action.
• The Pokes have earned 10 or more hits in 12 games this season.
• The Pokes have scored at least two runs in 19 games this season.
• Have scored 10+ runs in four games.
• McNeese has scored in 20 of its 21 games this season. 
• Multiple-Hit Games: Conner Westenburg, Marcus Heusohn, Easton Dowell, Seth Fontenot
• Seven starters recorded a hit for the Cowboys.
• McNeese is off to its best start since 1991 when the team started out 24-5.
• Paul Coppinger earned his first save with the Cowboys.
• Sergio Lopez recorded his fourth victory of the campaign with the Pokes.
• Seth Fontenot has recorded multiple hits in every game he's started for the Cowboys.
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