McNeese splits games on final day of OSU/Tulsa Invitational

STILLWATER, Okla. — McNeese softball split its games Saturday on the final day of the Oklahoma/Tulsa Invitational with a 7-5 win over Northern Iowa then concluded play with a 12-2 (5 inn.) loss to No. 21 Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls ended tournament play with a 1-3 record.

The competition doesn’t get much easier for the Cowgirls as they will head to Norman on Tuesday to take on no. 4 Oklahoma in a single game set for 6 p.m.

vs. Northern Iowa
1st Inning- The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the inning on a RBI through the left side

2nd Inning- McNeese scored three runs on four hits to take a 3-1 lead. McNeese opened the inning with back-to-back hits from Kaylee Lopez and Brenique Wright. Both players came home on a double by Sara Geier for a 2-1 lead. Geier gave the Cowgirls a 3-1 on a RBI single to right field by Justyce McClain.

3rd Inning- McNeese added a single run in the inning to extend its lead to 4-1. Cori McCrary singled, moved to second on a pass ball then scored on a single to right center by Alexandria Saldivar.

4th Inning- Two more runs by McNeese put the Cowgirls up 6-1 with one run scored on a RBI single by McCrary and the other was aided by a UNI error.

UNI got a run back in the bottom of the inning with the help of a McNeese error, giving McNeese a 6-2 lead.

7th Inning- After two scoreless innings, McNeese scored a run in the top of the seventh to take a 7-2 lead on a RBI by Lopez.

UNI made things interesting in the bottom of the inning by scoring three runs on two hits and two Cowgirl errors but with bases loaded and two outs freshman Saleen Flores got a fly out to center to end the game.

NOTES:
•- McNeese recorded 11 hits and was led at the plate by McCrary (3 for 4). McCrary also scored two runs
•- Lopez and McClain both ended the game with two hits apiece
•- Five different McNeese players had one RBI
•- Caroline Settle improved to 2-4 on the year with the win. Settle gave up one earned run on four hits in 3 1/3 innings and struck out three.

vs. No. 21 Oklahoma State
1st Inning- Oklahoma State took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the inning on a two run home run

2nd Oklahoma State extended its lead to 4-0 in the second with two more runs on a solo home run and a bases loaded walk
3rd Inning- A four run third inning off a RBI single and a double to right center gave Oklahoma State an 8-0 lead
4th Inning- Another four run inning by Oklahoma State blew the game open for a 12-0 lead. OSU scored their runs on a single, sacrifice fly, and a two RBI double
5th Inning- McNeese avoided the shutout with two runs on a two RBI single down the left field line by freshman pinch hitter Amy Reed.

NOTES:
•- McNeese was held to four hits
•- The hit by Reed is her first career hit and first career RBI’s
•- Alexsandra Flores (4-5) took the loss. Flores gave up four earned runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings.