Cowgirls complete SLC series sweep over Islanders with DH win on Senior Day

LAKE CHARLES — McNeese softball completed its regular home schedule with a doubleheader win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Saturday on Senior day with a 7-2 win in the first game and a 5-2 win in the nightcap to improve to 38-14 overall and 18-3 in the SLC.

In the first game, the Cowgirls took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on RBI’s by Marianna Torres and Alayis Seneca. Reese Reyna scored the other Cowgirl run from third when the Islanders threw down to second base in an attempt to get Torres stealing.

Crislyne Moreno’s sacrifice bunt in the third inning scored Chloe Gomez from third base put the Cowgirls up 4-0.

The Islanders (21-21, 9-12 SLC) cut the Cowgirl lead in have by scoring two runs in the fourth inning on RBI’s by Monee Montilla and Paolina Baez.

McNeese responded with three runs in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 7-2. An RBI single by Reyna put the Cowgirls up 5-2 then Moreno belted a two-run home run over the centerfield wall, her team leading fifth of the season for the 7-2 lead and the eventual win.

Ashley Vallejo improved to 15-8 with the win, tossing 6.0 inning and giving up two runs on four hits and struck out five. Ryann Schexnayder relieved Vallejo in the seventh and retired all three batter she faced including one strikeout.

McNeese collected seven hits in the game with Reyna going 2 for 2 with an RBI and scored two runs.

The nightcap was a pitchers dual until McNeese broke a scoreless games in the fourth inning on a two RBI home run by Emily Phillips, her third of the season for the 2-0 lead.

The Islanders tied the game with two runs in the fifth on a pass ball and a RBI double by Gabriella Torres.

Pinch hitter Corrine Poncho was the hero of the game when she belted a monstrous three-run home run over the left field wall that cleared the scoreboard for a 5-2 lead.

With runners on second and third with two outs, Whitney Tate got Torres to ground out to Rylie Bouvier at third for the final out of the game. With the complete game win, Tate improves to 14-4 on the season after allowing two runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

The Cowgirls picked up nine hits in the game and was led by Phillips, Alayis Seneca, and Brooke Otto who all had two hits apiece. Poncho led the team with three RBI.

McNeese will close out the regular season next weekend in a three-game SLC series at Houston Christian beginning with a 4 p.m. doubleheader Friday and will conclude with a single game at Noon on Saturday.

McNeese will host the Southland Conference Tournament May 9-12.