LAKE CHARLES – Southeastern scored eight runs in the top of the sixth inning behind three home runs and the Lions rallied for a 13-8 win over McNeese in the third and final game of a Southland Conference baseball series here Sunday.
 
Despite the loss, McNeese won the series 2-1 and is 12-11 overall and 6-6 in league play. Southeastern is 13-11 and 5-4.
 
The Cowboys will continue their current 10-game home stand on Tuesday when they host Southern at 6.
 
McNeese trailed 3-0 after the top of the fourth but tied things up in the bottom of the innings with five straight hits. Hayden Stringfellow had an RBI double, Connor Schneider laid down a bases loaded RBI bunt and Connor Walker singled to left field to tie the game 3-3.
 
The Lions added a run in the top of the fifth to go up 4-3 but McNeese took the lead in the bottom of the frame after Marcus Heusohn doubled then Simon Larranaga popped a pinch-hit home run to put the Cowboys on top 5-4.
 
Southeastern answered in the top of the sixth with its eight-spot, all coming with two outs. After the Lions loaded the bases, Brody Capps drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game 5-5. Peyton Woods followed with a grand slam to make it a 9-5 game. Rhett Centanni walked then Connor Cuff and Alex Perry hit back-to-back homers to put the Lions up 12-5.
 
Walker had a two-run homer to help with a three-run seventh for McNeese before the Lions added a run in the top of the ninth.
 
Hayden Stringfellow and Walker led the Cowboys' 11-hit attack with two knocks each.
 
Cowboy reliever Jaden Bahl took the loss after allowing three runs and three walks in two-thirds of an inning. Starter Jarius Miller threw four innings and allowed one earned run and three total on two hits with six strikeouts.
 
Nik Toups picked up the win for the Lions in relief work.