McNeese drops home opener to Texas State in 18-10 slugfest

LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese Cowboy baseball team fell 18-10 to Texas State on Friday night at Joe Miller Ballpark.

With the decision, the Cowboys move to 3-2 on the season, while the Bobcats improve to 3-2.

The Cowboys will be back on the field come Saturday afternoon, first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Before the Cowboys take the field, Texas State and Creighton will play at 1 p.m.

KEY INNINGS
1st | To start the game the Bobcats scored three runs on three hits. In the bottom of the frame, the Cowboys scored runs from a sacrifice fly by senior center fielder Shane Selman to score Nate Fisbeck, then junior Jake Dickerson hit a single through the ride side of the infield to score junior Clayton Rasbeary to cut into the lead and make it 3-2.

3rd | Bobcats scored four runs on three hits and three walks. In the bottom half, McNeese would respond with one run after Rasbeary hit a monster homerun to right center field to lead off the inning making it 7-3 after three innings.

4th | Bobcats score four runs to extend their lead to 11-3.

5th| In the fifth, the Bobcats scored three runs in the top half. In the bottom half, Selman lead off with a double to left field for his first of three hits on the night. He would then come around to score from third baseman Carson Maxwell’s double. Then Rasbeary and Maxwell both reached home plate from back-to-back RBI groundouts by Dickerson and senior catcher Dustin Duhon. The next two batters, Julian Gonzalez and Reid Bourque, both draw a walk and then come in to score off a Fisbeck two-RBI double in the gap. Bringing the score to 14-8 after five.

7th |Bobcats extend their lead to 16-8.

8th |In the bottom of the eighth, freshman Payton Harden led the inning off with an infield single for his third hit of the night. After Rasbeary reached on an error, Maxwell singled through the left side of the infield scoring Harden and advancing Rasbeary to third. Dickerson would then score Rasbeary on single up the middle for the Cowboys last run of the night, bringing the score to 16-10.

9th |Texas State would score two more runs in the top half to make the final 18-10.

MCNEESE NOTES
Offense:
• Selman, Harden, and Maxwell led McNeese with three hits each. Selman going 3-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI, one steal and one run scored. Harden went 3-for-6 with one double and one run scored. Maxwell finished 3-for-5 with one double, two RBI’s, and one run scored.
•Rasbeary had the Cowboys only home run on the night and Dickerson lead the team in RBI’s with three and went 2-for 4 from the plate.

Pitching:
• Junior right-hander pitcher Rhett Deaton (1-1) took the loss, surrendering seven runs over two and one-third innings in his second start.
• Juniors Daniel Hecker and Andrew Wood each got an inning in relief. Hecker giving up three runs and Wood two.
•Brett Payne had three strong innings with only two runs given up and fanning four batters.
• In total, Cowboys Daniel Hecker, Chris Campbell, Brett Payne, and Andrew Wood pitched in relief. Campbell made his Cowboys debut.

ON DECK
The Cowboys will take on Creighton in the second game of the day on day two of the Lake Area Classic.

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