McNeese blanks ULM to open softball series

MONROE — McNeese softball opened its three-game series at Louisiana-Monroe on Friday with a 6-0 shutout win. The series will conclude with a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.

After two scoreless innings, McNeese scored four runs on four hits in the third inning for an early 4-0 lead. Jada Muñoz led the inning off by reaching base on an error then stole second. Chloe Gomez reached on an infield single then stole second, moving Muñoz to third. Reese Reyna’s single to right scored Muñoz for the first run of the game and then a Warhawk error allowed Gomez to score for the 2-0 lead.

Corine Poncho brought Reyna home with a single to right field for the 3-0 lead and Poncho scored on an infield single by Alayis Seneca for a 4-0 lead.

The Cowgirls added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings on doubles by Rylie Bouvier and Mariana Torres to extend the lead to 6-0.

McNeese (14-8) picked up eight hits in the game with five different players picking up on RBI apiece. Bouvier and Seneca led McNeese at the plate, with both players going 2 for 4 with one RBI.

Whitney Tate improved to 6-1 on the season and picked up her third shutout of the season. Tate allowed five hits, struck out three with only one walk. After giving up a double in the first inning, Tate retired the next 10 batters she faced before giving up her only walk of the game to the Warhawks’ leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth inning. The walk is only the sixth of the season for Tate.

ULM falls to 15-9 on the year with the loss. The Warhawks was led by Lourdes Bacon and Kennedy Johnson, who were both 2 for 3 at the plate.

Victoria Abrams took to loss to fall to 2-3 on the season. Abrams gave up four runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.

NOTES
• – McNeese collected eight hits including doubles by Rylie Bouvier and Mariana Torres

•- Five different Cowgirls picked up one RBI apiece

•- Bouvier and Alayis Seneca led McNeese at the plate with two hits apiece

• After giving up a double in the first inning, Cowgirl starter Whitney Tate retired the next 10 batters before giving up her only walk of the game to the Warhawks’ leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth inning. The walk is only the sixth of the season for Tate.

• B1- McNeese got out of a jam when ULM had runners on the corners. With one out, first baseman Corine Poncho got the Cowgirls out of the inning with an unassisted line drive that turned into a double play.

• T3- McNeese scored four runs on four hits and took advantage of two Warhawk errors to take an early 4-0 lead.

• T4- A two out double by Rylie Bouvier scored Reese Reyna who was hit by a pitch

• T5- Another two out double scored another Cowgirl run. Mariana Torres doubled to left centerfield that scored pinch runner Rylie Eyster who pinch ran for Delaney Dunham who reached base on a walk.