BEAUMONT, Texas – McNeese opened the Battle of the Border series with a 3–1 win over Lamar on Friday night, improving to 9–8 overall and 4–3 in conference play. Lamar fell to 10–8 overall and 4–3 in league play.
Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday with first pitch set for 5 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Friday's match up turned into a pitching duel, as both starting pitchers worked deep into the game. McNeese starter
Cooper Golden delivered another strong outing in conference play, tossing 6.2 innings while allowing just one run on four hits and striking out five. Lamar's starter was equally effective, holding the Cowboys to just one hit over six innings while walking one and striking out five.
Lamar struck first in the bottom of the sixth inning when Hector Rodriguez lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring AJ Taylor to give the Cardinals a 1–0 lead.
McNeese responded in the top of the seventh.
Larry Edwards Jr. delivered a double to left-center field that brought home
Marcus Heusohn to even the score at 1–1.
The Cowboys broke through in the top of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded,
Bryce Fontenot was hit by a pitch, allowing
Matt Stancliff to score and give McNeese the lead. Later in the inning,
Connor Schneider reached on a fielder's choice that scored
Danny Barbero from third, adding an insurance run and securing the 3–1 victory.
Barbero, Heusohn, and Edwards Jr. each recorded a hit for McNeese, with Edwards Jr.'s double accounting for the Cowboys' lone extra-base hit of the night.
McNeese used three pitchers out of the bullpen, with
Jaden Bahl,
Jake Blackwell, and
Brady Corcoran all seeing action in relief. Blackwell earned the win to improve to 2–0 on the season after pitching one inning and allowing one hit. Corcoran picked up his second save of the season, striking out two batters while recording the final two outs.
Pitchers of Record:
Winning Pitcher:
Jake Blackwell (2-0)
Save:
Brady Corcoran (2)
Losing Pitching: Ty Dagley (1-1)
How it happened:
B6 – Hector Rodriguez hit a sac fly to left field to score AJ Taylor, LU 1-0
T7 –
Larry Edwards Jr. doubled to left center to score
Marcus Heusohn, Tied 1-1
B9 –
Bryce Fontenot was hit by a pitch and scored
Matt Stancliff, McN 2-1
B9 –
Connor Schneider reached on a fielder's choice to score
Danny Barbero, McN 3-1
Up Next
Mar. 14 at Lamar *
Mar. 15 at Lamar *
Mar. 18 vs Prairie View A&M
Mar. 20 vs Southeastern *
Mar. 21 vs Southeastern *
Mar. 22 vs Southeastern *
Mar. 24 vs Southern
Mar. 25 vs Louisiana Christian
Mar. 27 vs Abilene Christian
Mar. 28 vs Abilene Christian
Mar. 29 vs Abilene Christian
Mar. 31 vs UL-Lafayette
*Denotes Conference Game
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