LAKE CHARLES-- Freshman
Malayna Daigle's first collegiate homerun, a grand slam, couldn't have come at a better time.
With McNeese and Missouri tied at one apiece in the sixth inning, Daigle blasted her homerun over the left center wall to give the Cowgirls and eventual 5-3 win lto cap Day 1 of the Cajun AC Louisiana Clash Friday night. The Cowgirls began tournament action with a 7-3 come from behind win over Houston in the second game of the tournament.
McNeese improves to 11-4 overall with the wins and will play both teams again on Saturday. The Cowgirls will play Houston at 11 a.m. and Missouri at 4 p.m.
In the win over Houston the Cowgirls picked up 13 hits and against Missouri they picked up six hits.
Houston took a 3-0 lead in the third inning on a two-run homerun and a solo homerun. McNeese go a run back when
Onna Pruitt scored on a wild pitch.
Rylee Cloud pulled McNeese to within one run (3-2) on her fifth homerun of the season. The Cowgirls then scored five runs in the sixth to take the lead for good.
Onna Pruitt tied the game at three apiece when she scored on a
Nyjah Fontenot single.
Adriana Mireles then stole home to give the Cowgirls a 4-3 lead. A triple by Cloud and singles by
Maddie Taylor and
Jada Muñoz scored three more run to give McNeese a 7-3 advantage.
Freshman
Brookelyn Taylor improved to 3-0 on the season with the win. Taylor tossed five shutout innings, allowed three hits, one walk and struck out two.
In the nightcap Taylor picked up her third save of the season in relief of
Kynlei Chapman who improved to 3-3 with the win.
Missouri (4-9) scored on the third first pitch of the game when Addy Waits hit a solo homerun over the right field wall.
McNeese was held scoreless for the next five innings before scoring five runs on three hits.
Muñoz laid down a squeeze bunt that allowed Cloud score and to tie the game one apiece. McNeese kept the bats going and eventually loaded the bases following an intentional walk to
Nyjah Fontenot, setting up the big hit from Daigle to put the Cowgirls up 5-1.
Missouri didn't go down without a fight as the Tigers loaded the bases with one out. Brookleyn Taylor replaced Chapman after Missouri loaded the bases. The freshman walked the first batter she faced to score a run (5-2) then Sidney Forrester hit a sacrifice fly to left for the second out before Abby Carr popped out to second base to end the game.
Chapman improved to 3-3 on the season allowing only one earned run.
Brookelyn Taylor picked up her third save of the year.
Muñoz led the Cowgirls on the day, going 4 for 6 with two RBI. Fontenot was 3 for 6 on the day.
