LAKE  CHARLES---  Samantha Mundine's bases loaded walk in the eighth inning lifted McNeese to a 5-4 win over East Texas A&M Thursday afternoon on Day 1 of the Southland Softball-Lake Charles Bracket.  The Cowgirls will play No. 4 seed Incarnate Word at 6 p.m. Friday night. UIW defeated Lamar 4-0 in the evening game on Thursday.  
 
McNeese (38-18) trailed 2-0 after the second inning following Darby Hickey's first homerun of the season, a two-run shot over the left field wall that gave East Texas A&M (10-41) the early lead.
 
On inning later, Jada Muñoz's three-run blast gave the Cowgirls a 3-2 lead.  The long ball is Muñoz's 15^th of the season.  A sacrifice fly in the fourth inning by Kassidy Chance put the Cowgirls up 2-0.  McNeese had a chance to add more runs in the inning but left the bases loaded.
 
But the Lions, who led the SLC in homeruns weren't done showing their power hitting.  Aaliyah Wilcox evened the game at four runs apiece with a two-run homerun in the sixth inning.
 
In the seventh inning, pinch runner Adriana Mireles stood on second base with one out and representing the game winning run.  Reese Reyna double to left and Mireles attempted to score from second but was thrown out at home. Head coach James Landreneau challenged an obstruction call at the plate but the call was upheld sending the game into extra innings.
 
Chance led the eighth inning off with a single then stole second.  Nyja Fontenot drew a walk and Muñoz reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Mundine patiently took four straight balls that brought home Chance home for the game winning run to end the game.
 
McNeese outhit the Lions 8-5 and was led by two hits apiece from Chance and Mundine. 
 
In the circle, Kadence Williams allowed four runs on five hits with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings before Ryan Schexnayder replace her in the sixth.  Schexnayder tossed 2 1/3 hitless innings and struck out three batters to pick up the win in relief and improved to 7-1 on the season.
 
OFFENSE
Kassidy Chance (2-4, 1 RBI, 2 runs)
Samantha Mundine (2-4, 1 RBI)
Jada Muñoz (1-4, 3 RBI, 1 run)
Nyjah Fontenot (1-2, 3 BB, 1 run)
 
PITCHING
Kadence Williams (5.2 IP, 5 hits, 4 ER, 3 K's, 0 BB)
*Ryann Schexnayder (7-1, 2.1 IP, 3 K's, 0 BB)
*Winning pitcher in relief
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
T2- ETAM took an early lead on a two-run homerun by Darby Hickey (ETAM 2, McN 0)
B3- Jada Muñoz's three-run homerun gave McNeese the lead (McN 3, ETAM 2)
B4- McNeese added a run in on a sacrifice fly by Kassidy Chance (McN 4, ETAM 2)
T6- The Lions tied the game with another two-run homerun, this one by Wilcox to tie the game (McN 4, ETAM 4)
B8- McNeese won the game on a walk off walk drawn by Samantha Mundine that scored Chance (McN 5, ETAM 4)
 
 
SLC SOFTBALL - LAKE CHARLES BRACKET PRESENTED BY TOYOTA
Thursday, May 1
Game 1: No. 1 McNeese 5 vs. No. 8 East Texas A&M 4 (8 inn.)
Game 2: No. 4 UIW 4 vs. No. 5 Lamar 0
 
Friday, May 2
Game 3: No. 8 East Texas A&M vs. No. 5 Lamar, 3 p.m.
Game 4: No. 1 McNeese vs. No. 4 UIW, 6 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 3
Game 5: Loser of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5, 6 p.m.
 
Sunday, May 4
Game 5: Loser of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 6 (if nec), 1 p.m.