McNeese picks up 4-3 win over SFA to start Cowgirl Classic II

LAKE CHARLES—Reese Reyna’s leadoff triple in the sixth inning ignited the McNeese Softball offense on its way to a 4-3 come from behind win over Stephen F. Austin here Friday night in the first game of the Cowgirl Classic II.

McNeese (9-3) trailed the Lumberjacks (6-8) 3-2 after five complete innings. Reyna got the Cowgirl offense going in the sixth inning with her second triple of the season bounced off the left centerfield wall. A single by Crislyne Moreno scored Reyna to tie the game at three all.

Following a Lumberjack pitching change, Alayis Seneca laid down a bunt to third and beat the throw putting runners on first and second. The Cowgirls loaded the bases when pinch hitter Kelsey Gaspard was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, Corine Poncho was also hit by a pitch bringing pinch runner Rylee Eyester home for a 4-3 Cowgirl lead. The Lumberjacks got out of the inning when Chloe Gomez stuck out, Seneca was thrown out at home and Rylie Bouvier grounded out to third.

Cowgirl reliever Lindsay Davis who picked up second win of the season (2-0) relieved starter Whitney Tate with one out in the top of the sixth. Davis walked the first batter she faced then struck out Emily Land for the first out. The Cowgirl defense helped Davis out when they caught pinch runner Alex Dubose in a run-down between second and third for the second out. Davis got Camryn Middlebrook to fly out to left to get out of the inning. Davis came out in the seventh and retired the side with a line out, ground out to short and ended the game freezing Emily Berryhill as she went down looking to end the game.

McNeese held a 2-0 lead after three innings until SFA tied the game with two runs in the fifth.

Davis ended the game with two strikeouts, one walk in 2.0 innings. Tate allowed six hits, struck out two batters and didn’t give up a walk in 5.0 innings.

McNeese pounded out 11 hits with Seneca going 3 for 3 at the plate with a double. Reyna , Gomez, and Erin Ardoin all had two hits apiece with Reyna and Gomez picking up one extra base apiece.

SFA was held to six hits and was led Gaby Garcia who went 2 for 3.

The Classic will continue through Sunday with Ole Miss and SFA getting started at Noon Saturday followed by McNeese and SFA at 2:30. McNeese and Ole Miss will conclude Saturday’s action with a 5 p.m. contest.

SCORING
B1: Kaylee Lopez grounded out to second that scored Chloe Gomez (McN 1, SFA 0)
B3: Rylie Bouvier single to center to score Erin Ardoin (McN 2, SFA 0)
T5: SFA scored two runs to tie the game. Sydnee Hebert’s sacrifice fly scored Mallory Webb and Emily Berryhill’s single scored Camryn Middlebrook (SFA 2, McN 2)
T6: McKenzie Bennett’s double scored Gaby Garcia for the lead (SFA 3, McN 2)
B6: Reyna led off with a triple and tied the game on a Crislyne Moreno RBI single to short that tied the game at three. Corine Poncho was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring pinch runner Rylie Eyester home for the go ahead run (McN 4, SFA 3)

Remaining Cowgirl Classic II Schedule

Saturday, Feb. 25
12 p.m.- Ole Miss vs. Stephen F. Austin
2:30 p.m.- McNeese vs. Stephen F. Austin
5 p.m.- McNeese vs. Ole Miss

Sunday, Feb. 26
10:30 a.m.- Stephen F. Austin vs. Ole Miss
12:30 p.m.- McNeese vs. Ole Miss