McNeese splits softball DH with No. 20 Arkansas on Day 1 of Cowgirl Classic

LAKE CHARLES — McNeese softball split a pair of games Saturday against No. 20 Arkansas on day one of the Cowgirl Classic, falling 6-4 (14 innings) in the opening game before picking up a 7-4 win in the nightcap.

The tournament will continue Sunday with Arkansas and Baylor getting things started at 10 a.m. McNeese will face Arkansas at 12:30 p.m. and Baylor at 3 p.m.

McNeese (3-3) bounced back from a 14 inning first game marathon loss behind the arm and defense of sophomore Saleen Flores who picked up the win in game 2 to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Flores gave up four runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings before giving way to senior transfer Jenna Edwards who faced the final three batters of the game and struck out the final two with the bases loaded to end the game to earn her second save of the season.

Arkansas (1-2) hits six homeruns on the day including two in the nightcap to take an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. McNeese took a 4-1 lead in the fourth inning when Alayis Ortiz drew a bases loaded walk to tie the game at one all. Chloe Gomez then followed with another bases loaded walk to put the Cowgirls up 2-1. Jill Poullard’s two RBI single to left field scored two more runs for a 4-1 lead.

McNeese added two more runs in the fifth when Haylee Brinlee stole home and Toni Perrin scored on a Razorback error to extend the lead to 6-1.

A suicide squeeze by Brinlee in the sixth inning scored Alayis Seneca from third that put the Cowgirls up 6-1.

Arkansas made things interesting in the seventh when Hannah Gammill led the inning off with a solo homerun to centerfield. Flores got Keely Huffine to ground out to third then gave up four straight hits and two runs to cut the lead to 7-4.

Edwards relieved Flores with runners on first and second and one out. Edwards walked the first batter she faced to load the bases but got Linnie Malkin and pinch hitter Rylin Hedgecock to go down swinging to end the game.

Arkansas scored all of their runs in the opening game off homeruns including back-to-back solo homeruns by Kayla Green and Malkin in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 4-0.

McNeese broke up Autumn Storms no-hitter in the sixth when Gracie Devall led off with a single. The Cowgirls cut the lead in half in the inning on a two RBI single to right by Brinlee. Two batters later, Caylon Brabham’s two RBI double tied the game at four apiece.

Neither team would score in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

Both teams had runners in scoring positions in the ninth inning but couldn’t push a run across the plate. Cowgirl reliever Ashley Vallejo, who replaced starter Whitney Tate in the fourth inning got Arkansas’ first two batters to ground out then a fly out in the top of the 10.

McNeese had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the 10th when Cori McCrary was hit by a pitch then advanced to second on a single to left. McCrary moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Tiffany Steczo. With one out, Perrin went down looking and Tayler Strother popped up to short to end the threat.

Arkansas had a chance to take the lead in the 11th but left the go-ahead runner stranded on third as Vallejo got Burnside to pop up to McCrary at short and Gibson to ground out to second.

Malkin broke the 4-4 tie in the 14th inning on a two-run homerun, her second of the game.

McNeese couldn’t answer, leaving Seneca stranded on second base with one out as McCrary flew out to left and Brabham popped out to end the game.

Despite picking up the loss, Vallejo (0-2) tossed 10 shutout innings before allowing both runs in the 14th inning. She allowed only five hits, one earned run and struck out five. Arkansas’ Mary Haff improved to 1-1 on the year after 8 2/3 shutout innings with nine strikeouts and six hits.

Poullard, Seneca, and Brabham led McNeese with two hits apiece in the win with Brabham and Brinlee collecting two RBI apiece.

Cowgirls Classic Sunday Schedule
Sunday, Feb. 21
10 a.m. Arkansas vs. Baylor
12:30 p.m. McNeese vs. Arkansas
3 p.m. McNeese vs. Baylor