Softball – McNeese loses to UTA, No. 7 Arizona at Easton Crimson Classic

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Senior Cori McCrary provided McNeese with the majority of its offense in its 5-4 loss to Texas-Arlington in the first game Saturday of the Easton Crimson Classic. The Cowgirls ended Day 2 with a 2-0 loss to #7 Arizona.

McNeese will conclude tournament action in a 1:30 p.m. game against #8/12 Alabama in a game that will be streamed on SECN+.

McCrary went 3 for 3 on the day with two home runs, two RBI and scored two runs. She gave McNeese an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run over the right field wall.

UTA scored the next three runs, two in the second and one in the third to take a 3-1 lead. McCrary came up big for the Cowgirls in the fourth with a two-run home run to centerfield to tie the game at three apiece.

The Mavericks retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth on three hits but the Cowgirls pulled to within one run in the top of the seventh on a Caylon Brabham ground out to second base that scored pinch runner Jil Poullard and moved the tying run on third base with two outs. Haylee Brinlee drew a two out walk and Tayler Strother replaced Brinlee at first. Following the first pitch to Alexandria Saldivar, Strother was called out at first base for leaving early that ended the game.

SCORING vs. UT-ARLINGTON

T2- Cori McCrary’s solo home run over the right field wall gives Cowgirls the early lead. (McN-1, UTA-0)

B2- UTA scored two runs on two hits and two Cowgirl errors. (UTA-2, McN-1)

B3- UTA adds a run on two hits including a leadoff double (UTA-3, McN- 1)

T4- McCrary’s two-run home run to center ties the game (McN-3, UTA-3)

B4- UTA scores two runs on three hits on a single to right field and a bloop single over third base. (UTA-5, McN-3)

T7- Caylon Brabham grounded out to second to score pinch runner Jil Poullard. (UTA- 5, McN-4)

OFFENSIVE NOTES

•- Cori McCrary went 3 for 3 with two RBI and scored two runs

•- McCrary hit her second and third home runs of the season

•- Four other Cowgirls picked up one hit apiece (Lopez, Seneca, Devall, Cross)

•- Brabham picked up the other RBI

•- Wright, Brinlee, and Devall all had one walk apiece

PITCHING NOTES

•- Saleen Flores fell to 5-2 on the year with the loss. Flores gave up five runs on six hits, walked three and struck out two

•- Caroline Settle relieved Flores and threw 2 2/3 shutout innings and allowed three hits

In the loss against Arizona, the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a RBI single to centerfield by Jessie Harper.

Arizona’s Mariah Lopez retired the first nine Cowgirls before McCrary’s single through the left side in the fourth inning gave McNeese its first hit of the game. Brinlee drew a walk to put the tying run on base but McCrary was caught stealing third and Toni Perrin struck out to end the inning.

McCrary ended the day 4 for 6 with two home runs, two RBI, and scored two runs.

Alyssa Palomino double to right to start off the fifth inning then moved to third on a ground out. Palomino scored on a sacrifice fly to right when Cowgirl right fielder Lauren Brown made a diving catch in foul territory allowing Palomino to tag up and score.

Alayis Seneca picked up the other Cowgirl hit of the game in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff single to center. Seneca was stranded after a fly out by Saldivar, a swinging strikeout by Brown and a ground out to short by Devall.

The high powered Wildcats had chances to add to their total in the last two innings but Cowgirl pitcher Whitney Tate (2-1) did a good job of stranding the runners on the base paths as she got Palomino to fly out to left in the sixth to leave two runners stranded and struck out Malia Martinez with runners on second and third in the top of the seventh. Tate ended her night by giving up nine hits and allowed one earned run along with one walk and struck out five.

SCORING vs. #7 ARIZONA

T1- Arizona scores on a RBI single up the middle. (UA- 1, McN- 0)

T5- Arizona scores a run on a sac fly to right. (UA- 2, McN- 0)

OFFENSIVE NOTES

•- Cori McCrary and Alayis Seneca accounted for the two Cowgirl hits

PITCHING NOTES

•- Freshman Whitney Tate limited the damage throughout the game and got out of a few jams despite giving up nine hits. She only allowed one earned run and one walk in the complete game while striking out five, her second most strikeouts this season.