Late rally lifts Pokes over Wildcats

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Fueled by a three-run bottom of the eighth spurred by an RBI single from Braden Duhon, McNeese Baseball defeated Louisiana Christian 6-4 at Joe Miller Ballpark Tuesday night. The Cowboys improved their record to 19-20, 3-9 SLC while the Wildcats remained stagnant at 26-16, 16-11 Red River as an exhibition matchup for them.

“We got some hits we needed to with a big hit late,” said head coach Justin Hill. “It’s hard to win a baseball game so we’re enjoying this one.”

Down one run in the bottom of the eighth, Duhon, a senior, set in motion an RBI single that would ultimately drive in two runs, the latter being on an error. With the lead in their hands, the Cowboys plated an insurance run as Duhon came home for the sixth and final run of the ballgame.

After three scoreless innings of work, both teams plated a run in the fourth, both on home runs to opposite sides of the field. Senior Elliot Hebert sent a solo shot over the right field wall to tie up the game against the Wildcats.

Louisiana Christian battled for the 2-1 lead in the fifth inning with a run before the Pokes retaliated in the sixth. Two hits followed by a walk set the stage for Duhon to drive in Hebert for his second run scored of the day to tie it up. LCU plated two runs in the top of the seventh.

McNeese continued the fight with a run of its own in the seventh with a pair of outs on the board. Cooper Hext, a senior, hit a double before coming home on an RBI single to bring it back to a one-run game before the Pokes closed it out the next inning.

JT Moeller (senior) made his 18th appearance of the season, earning his third victory, not allowing an earned run on the mound. Sophomore Caleb Strmiska threw a season-high three strikeouts, one of three Pokes to tally three strikeouts.

McNeese remains at home this weekend when it plays host to Southeastern at Joe Miller Ballpark Friday to Sunday.

Pitching Appearances
Caleb Strmiska: 2.0 IP, 3 K’s, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 ER
Kainin Morrow: 2.0 IP, 1 K, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 ER
Daelan Caraway: 2.0 IP, 3 K, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 ER
Evan Maldonado: 0.2 IP, 0 K, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 ER
JT Moeller: 2.1 IP, 3 K’s, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, Win

McNeese Notes
Strmiska tied his season-high of three strikeouts.
Caraway also tied his season high of three strikeouts.
Morrow and Moeller made their 18th appearances, a team high.
Cooper Hext collected his 15th multi-hit game of 2024.
Hext extended his team-leading hitting streak to eight.
Elliot Hebert collected his 5th multi-hit game of 2024.