HAMMOND, La. – McNeese baseball saw its late comeback effort fall just short Saturday night as Southeastern escaped with a 13–12 extra-inning victory in the Southland Conference Hammond Bracket.
With the loss, the Cowboys move to 30–24 overall, while Southeastern improves to 32–20 overall. The two teams will meet again Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in a winner-take-all match up for a spot in the championship series.
Southeastern came out swinging in the opening inning, plating five runs to take early control. Ben Robichaux opened the scoring with a solo home run to right center before Justin Williams delivered a bases-clearing double to extend the lead to 4–0. Alex Perry later reached on a fielding error that allowed Williams to score and push the advantage to 5–0.
McNeese answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning with three runs of its own. Danny Barbero drove in Easton Dowell with an infield single before DJ Pinkerton added an RBI fielder's choice to score Matt Stancliff. Marcus Heusohn capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to left field, trimming the deficit to 5–3.
The Lions added another run in the second inning when Peyton Woods doubled to right center to score Connor Cuff for a 6–3 advantage.
After two scoreless innings, Southeastern stretched the lead in the fifth on a two-run home run by Brody Capps before Alex Perry added a solo shot in the sixth to make it 9–3.
McNeese began chipping away in the bottom of the sixth when Heusohn launched his third home run of the season over the right field wall.
Southeastern responded again in the seventh as Woods delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to extend the Lions' lead to 11–4.
The Cowboys mounted a furious rally over the next two innings, scoring seven runs to pull even. Barbero started the surge with an RBI double before Isaiah Keller blasted his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field that cut the deficit to 11–7 heading into the eighth.
McNeese continued the comeback in the eighth inning as Stancliff ripped a two-run double down the right field line to bring the Cowboys within two. Hayden Stringfellow later reached on a fielder's choice that plated Dowell, while a throwing error by Southeastern's second baseman allowed Stancliff to score and tie the game at 11–11.
In extra innings, Woods would deliver the decisive blow, launching a two-run home run to deep right field to give Southeastern a 13–11 lead.
Keller answered with his second home run of the game in the bottom half of the inning, cutting the deficit to one, but the Cowboys were unable to complete the comeback.
Luke Lirette earned the win for Southeastern after tossing the final three innings and allowing one run on three hits while striking out four.
Parker Morgan was charged with the loss for McNeese after allowing two runs in the final inning.
