Lake Charles – Hayden Stringfellow made his McNeese and Division I debut a memorable one when his walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted McNeese to a 9-8 win over Sam Houston in the 2026 season opener. 
 
The Cowboys (1-0) overcame a 7-2 deficit through 5 1/2 innings but chipped away at the lead and sent the game into extras when Larry Edwards Jr. hit a two-out double in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game 8-8.
 
Eric Nachstscheim, the sixth and final pitcher to touch the mound for the Cowboys, earned the win after he threw hitless ball in the ninth and 10th innings, striking out four batters.
 
McNeese dominated at the plate, collecting 17 hits, eight that went for extra bases including two home runs - Danny Barbero and Korey Cooper.
 
Five players finished with multiple hits with Stringfellow going 3 for 5 and Marcus Heushon 3 for 6 to lead the team. 
 
The series will continue on Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch. 
 
Pitchers of Record:
Winning Pitcher: Eric Nachstsheim (1-0)
Losing Pitching: Cooper Harris (0-1)
 
How It Happened:
B1 – Danny Barbero homered to right field, McNeese 1-0
T2 – Smith doubled to left center to drive in the tying run from first, Tie 1-1
T2 – Marthilj grounded out to first which drove in Smith from third to give the Kats the lead, Sam Houston 2-1
T2 – Franden singled up the middle to drive in two more runs for the Kats, Sam Houston 4-1
B2 – Korey Cooper led off the second with a solo shot to right field, Sam Houston 4-2
T6 – Franden tripled down the right field line to score Marthilj from second while scoring on a throwing error, Sam Houston 6-2
T6 – Fink singled through the right side to bring in Alvord from second, Sam Houston 7-2
B6 – With bases loaded, Easton Dowell grounded out to short stop while driving in a run from third base, Sam Houston 7-3
B6 – Daniel Pinkerton came in to pinch hit and doubled down the left field line to bring Schneider and Edwards Jr. home, Sam Houston 7-5
T7 – Martinez singled through the left side before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch, not before coming in to score on a throwing error, Sam Houston 8-5
B7 – Matt Stancliff led the inning off with a double down to left field, before advancing to third on an error and scoring, Sam Houston 8-6
B8 – Daniel Pinkerton doubled to left center to bring in Dowell from second base, Sam Houston 8-7
B9 – Larry Edwards Jr. doubled to left field and drive in the game tying run, Tie 8-8
B11 – Hayden Stringfellow singled down the right field line to bring in Bryce Fontenot for the win, McNeese 9-8
 
Up Next
Feb. 14 vs Sam Houston 2PM
Feb. 15 vs Sam Houston 1PM
Feb. 18 at LA Tech 6PM
Feb. 20 vs Kansas 6PM
Feb. 21 vs Kansas 1PM
Feb. 22 vs Kansas 11AM
Feb. 24 at LSU 6:30 PM
 
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