EDINBURG, Texas – McNeese dropped its second straight game to UTRGV as the Vaqueros used a late-inning rally for the second straight game to pull out the win, this time 5-3 in Sunday's series finale.
 
The loss dropped the Cowboys to 30-10 overall and 17-7 in Southland Conference play. UTRGV moved a half-game ahead of McNeese in the league standings at 19-8, 28-15 overall. Southeastern took over sole possession of first place after downing HCU on Sunday, moving to 18-6 in the conference.
 
McNeese lead 3-2 in the seventh after Simon Larranaga broke a 2-2 tie with a towering home run over the center field wall. The lead was short-lived as UTRGV scored three runs off four hits in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-3 lead.
 
In Saturday's game, the Vaqueros scored six runs in the fifth inning to rally from a 5-3 deficit to get a 9-5 win.
 
NEXT UP
McNeese will play the next four games at home, beginning Tuesday at 6 against Houston. Following that, the Cowboys will host Stephen F. Austin for the final three home regular season games. Game times are 6 on Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and at 1 o'clock on Sunday.
 
NOTEBOOK
• McNeese dropped just its second conference series of the season and lost for the second straight time, also for the second time on the year.
• The Cowboys held a 9-7 advantage in the hits department.
• Cowboys' starting pitcher Sergio Lopez allowed two hits in his five innings of work with both hits coming in the first inning… he only allowed two runners on base after the first inning, one by a walk and another a hit-by-pitch.
• Conner Westenburg and Grant Mangrum each collected two hits.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher – Harrison Thayer, UTRGV (3-2)
Losing Pitcher – Jake Blackwell, McN (3-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
T1 – Mack Brousseau reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second when Marcus Heusohn followed with a two-out, infield single. Larry Edwards Jr. singled up the middle to score Brousseau. McNeese 1-0.
 
B1 – UTRGV hit two solo home runs by Armani Raygoza and Easton Moomau to go ahead. UTRGV 2-1.
 
T2 – Easton Dowell led-off the inning with a solo home run to tie the game at 2-2.
 
T7 – Simon Larranaga led-off the inning with a solo home run to give the Cowboys the lead, 3-2.
 
B7 – The Vaqueros scored three runs off four hits and three McNeese pitchers. Damien Whitfield had a 2-RBI, one-out single to make it a 4-3 UTRGV lead. Then Isaac Lopez laid down a bunt single for an RBI. UTRGV 5-3.
 
 
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
T1 – After Edwards Jr. singled in Brousseau with two outs, Heusohn would be left stranded on third base after Davis Meche grounded out to second base.
 
T2 – McNeese loaded the bases with one out following three straight singles by Grant Mangrum, Conner Westenburg and Matt Stancliff. UTRGV would get out of the inning after Brousseau hit into a 6-4-3 double play.