LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball completed the regular season with a Southland Conference series sweep over Southeastern on Senior Day following Saturday’s doubleheader win. The Cowgirls came from behind in both games, picking up a 5-3 game one win then completed the series with a 6-2 win in the nightcap.
The regular season champions and the No. 1 seed in next week’s Southland Conference Tournament, completed the regular season with an overall 38-18 record and a 22-2 conference record. Southeastern ends the regular season 42-13 overall and 17-7 in league play.
The Lady Lions took the early lead in both games, but the Cowgirls strung hits together to get back into both games and later took the leads.
In the opening game, Southeastern took a 2-0 lead on a Bailey Krolczyk RBI single and an RBI double by Lexi Johnson
McNeese cut the lead in half in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Corine Poncho that scored Samantha Mundine. Mundine led the inning off with a single to left.
After a two-hour weather delay, Southeastern added a single run in the fifth to extend their lead to 3-1 on a Krolczyk double that scored Chloe McGee who singled through the left side with two outs.
McNeese responded with a four run on three hits in the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead. RBI’s by Mundine and Mariana Torres accounted for two runs and the Cowgirls took advantage of a Southeastern error for another run.
Ryann Schexnayder picked up the win in relief to improve to 7-2 overall while Shaelyn Sanders picked up her third save this season.
In the nightcap, Southeastern once again took an early lead by scoring two runs in the fourth. An RBI triple to left by Lexi Johnson scored Krolczyk then Johnson scored on a Cowgirl error.
And again, McNeese responded by scoring four runs without a hit and took advantage of a Lady Lion error at the bottom of the inning to take a 4-2 lead.
Two more runs in the fifth inning put the Cowgirls up 6-2. Another Lady Lion error allowed Alexis Dibbley to score, and Poncho scored when Southeastern threw down to second base on a steal.
Schexnayder picked up his second win of the day to improve to 8-2 on the season.
McNeese will travel to Hammond next week for the Southland Conference Tournament. The Cowgirls will play the winner of game two between the No. 4/5 Seed at 11 am, Wednesday, March 8. The official tournament bracket will be released following Sunday’s games.
