LAKE CHARLES – McNeese baseball dropped an 8-7 extra-inning heart breaker to UTRGV in game one of the series Friday night in front of 2,572 fans—marking the second-largest crowd in program history at The Jeaux.
With the loss, the Cowboys fall to 22-20 overall (10-12 Southland Conference), while the Vaqueros improve to 19-23 overall (13-12 SLC). Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
UTRGV struck first in the opening inning on a solo home run by Thomas Williams to take a 1-0 lead.
McNeese answered in the bottom half as Danny Barbero tripled to left-center field to score Easton Dowell and tie the game. Hayden Stringfellow followed with an RBI single to bring home Barbero and give the Cowboys a 2-1 advantage.
The Vaqueros regained control in the fourth inning, plating three runs. Rocco Garza Gongora delivered a two-RBI single, and Williams added an RBI double to put UTRGV ahead 4-2.
McNeese responded in the bottom of the fourth when Connor Schneider executed a sacrifice bunt to score Isaiah Keller, trimming the deficit to 4-3.
UTRGV extended its lead in the fifth on a solo home run by Diego Villescas, making it 5-3, and added two more runs in the seventh on an RBI single by Austin Stracener and a sacrifice fly from Garza Gongora to push the lead to 7-3.
The Cowboys rallied in the eighth inning in dramatic fashion. With the bases loaded, Korey Cooper launched a grand slam to right field to tie the game at 7-7.
Both teams were held scoreless in the ninth and tenth innings before UTRGV broke through in the 11th. Williams delivered an RBI double down the left field line to score Rudy Gonzalez and give the Vaqueros the lead for good.
McNeese closer Eric Nachtsheim took the loss, falling to 5-2 after allowing one run on three hits over three innings while striking out five. With the performance, Nachtsheim increased his season strikeout total to 92.
UTRGV reliever Colton Vercoe earned the win, improving to 3-4 after tossing five innings while allowing four runs on five hits and striking out nine.
Up Next
Apr. 25 – vs UTRGV
Apr. 26 – vs UTRGV
Apr. 29 – at Houston
May 1 – at SFA
May 2 – at SFA
May 3 – at SFA
May 7 – vs Northwestern State
May 8 – vs Northwestern State
May 9 – vs Northwestern State
Denotes Conference Game
Indicates Home Game
