LAKE CHARLES – McNeese baseball rebounded from Friday's extra-inning loss with a 5-3 win over UTRGV on Saturday, evening the series behind a strong pitching performance that featured eight strikeouts.
With the win, the Cowboys improve to 23-20 overall (11-12 Southland Conference), while the Vaqueros fall to 19-24 overall (13-13 SLC). The rubber match is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
McNeese struck first in the third inning when Kaden Schuck scored from third to give the Cowboys a 1-0 lead. Hayden Stringfellow added an RBI single later in the inning, driving in Matt Stancliff to extend the advantage to 2-0.
UTRGV answered in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Diego Villescas, cutting the deficit to 2-1, before tying the game in the fifth on another RBI single from Julius Ramirez.
The Cowboys regained control in the sixth inning with back-to-back RBI doubles from DJ Pinkerton and Marcus Heusohn, pushing the lead to 4-2.
UTRGV cut into the lead in the seventh on a solo home run by Armani Raygoza, making it 4-3.
McNeese responded immediately in the bottom half as Stancliff launched his seventh home run of the season over the right-center wall to extend the lead to 5-3.
The Cowboys' pitching staff held firm down the stretch to secure the win.
Starter Carlos Garcia delivered a career outing, tossing 4.1 innings while allowing two runs on five hits and striking out a career-high five.
Connor Achee earned the win in relief, improving to 2-4 after allowing one run over 2.2 innings.
Jaden Bahl closed the game with two scoreless innings to record his first Division I save, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
UTRGV starter Harrison Thayer took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits over 6.2 innings.
Up Next
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
