Pokes blank Wildcats 3-0

LAKE CHARLES – Cameron Lejeune came out of the bullpen to throw four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three to help lead McNeese to a 3-0 win Tuesday night over Louisiana Christian at Joe Miller Park despite a 40-minute lightning delay prior to the start of the ninth inning.

Lejeune (1-1) followed starter Christian Vega who threw three scoreless and hitless innings, striking out five and walking two. Brock Barthelemy earned his first save with two innings of action, striking out four and giving up only one hit. All three pitchers combined to strikeout 12 batters.

The Cowboys improved to 21-11 with the win and will play at Rice on Wednesday night. The Owls defeated Lamar 7-3 on Tuesday.

McNeese got on the board with two runs in the second inning after Tré Obregon III led things off with a double then Chase Keeton followed with a single moving Obregon to third. The Cowboys pulled off a double steal to score the first run, then later in the inning, Payton Harden hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 game.

The Cowboys added a run in the sixth to go up 3-0. Josh Leslie, Obregon and Keeton each had two hits in the game to lead the Cowboy 8-hit attack.

Wildcats’ starting pitcher Braxton Cooksey (2-3) took the loss after he gave up two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings pitched.