CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – McNeese came within a swing of completing a comeback but ultimately fell 7–6 to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in game two of the Southland Conference series on Saturday afternoon at Chapman Field.
Despite the loss, the Cowboys delivered a historic moment at the plate, hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs for the first time in program history to fuel a mid-game rally. The rubber match of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
McNeese moves to 21–18 overall and 10–10 in conference play, while the Islanders improve to 17–21 overall and 6–13 in league action.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi struck first, plating two runs in the second inning on an RBI single by Austin Russell and a sacrifice bunt from Walker Freeman to take a 2–0 lead.
The Cowboys answered in the third when
Danny Barbero lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, trimming the deficit to 2–1. The Islanders quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning, using a pair of sacrifice bunts to push across two runs and extend their lead to 4–1.
TAMU-CC added to its advantage in the fourth inning, scoring twice more on a ground out by Jackson Smith and a wild pitch to take a 6–1 lead.
McNeese surged back into contention in the fifth inning in historic fashion.
Connor Walker started the rally with a two-run home run to left field before
Matt Stancliff followed with a solo shot to right. Barbero then capped the stretch with a solo home run to left, marking the first time in program history the Cowboys hit three consecutive home runs and cutting the deficit to 6–5.
The Islanders added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Hunter Azemar scored on an error, extending the lead to 7–5.
McNeese continued to battle late, as Stancliff blasted his second home run of the game in the ninth inning to bring the Cowboys within one, but the rally fell short.
Brady Corcoran (1–2) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on five hits over 2.1 innings for the Cowboys.
Easten Smith earned the win for the Islanders, tossing five innings while allowing five runs on five hits. Luke Singelton recorded his second save of the season, working the final four innings and allowing just one run.
Up Next
Apr. 19 – at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi
Apr. 21 – vs Louisiana Tech
Denotes Conference Game
Indicates Home Game
