McNeese State University’s baseball team secured a 12-2 victory over LSU-Alexandria on Wednesday night at home, marking its fourth straight midweek win. The game ended early due to the mercy rule.
With this result, McNeese improves to a 7-6 overall record and holds a 2-1 mark in Southland Conference play. The Cowboys are set to return to conference action with a three-game home series against Houston Christian University beginning Friday. The opening game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be available via live stream on ESPN+.
The Cowboys took an early lead when Marcus Heusohn singled up the middle, allowing Danny Barbero to score from second base. In the following inning, Matt Stancliff drew a walk with the bases loaded, bringing in another run.
LSU-Alexandria responded in the third inning as Tinnerello hit a home run to right center field, reducing McNeese’s lead. Bryce Fontenot added another run for McNeese with a sacrifice fly that scored Hayden Stringfellow.
In the fourth inning, LSU-Alexandria narrowed the gap again after Kratzer reached base on an error that allowed Dooley to score.
McNeese expanded its advantage in the sixth inning when Barbero hit his third home run of the season, driving in two runs. Later in that frame, Stringfellow scored on a balk by LSU-Alexandria’s pitcher and Heusohn came home on an error by the Generals’ defense.
A five-run seventh inning further extended McNeese’s lead. Key contributions included doubles from Barbero and Heusohn and walks drawn by Larranaga and Landon Kerkmaz with bases loaded.
Jack Cowan started for LSU-Alexandria but lasted only one inning, giving up one hit and one run while walking one batter before being relieved by seven other pitchers during the game. Cowan was charged with his first loss of the season (1-1).
Paul Coppinger started for McNeese and pitched three innings, allowing one run on one hit while striking out five batters to even his record at 1-1 for the year. Adrian Najar, Elliott Burrows, and Wyatt Wick combined for four innings of relief work, conceding two runs on four hits while walking three batters and striking out seven.
Pitchers of record:
Winning Pitcher: Paul Coppinger (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Jack Cowan (1-1)
Scoring summary:
B1 – Marcus Heusohn singled up the middle to score Danny Barbero
B2 – Matt Stancliff walked with bases loaded; Simon Larranaga scored
T3 – Tinnerello homered to deep right center
B3 – Bryce Fontenot hit a sacrifice fly; Hayden Stringfellow scored
T4 – Kratzer reached on error; Dooley scored
B6 – Danny Barbero homered; Connor Walker also scored
B6 – Hayden Stringfellow scored via balk
B6 – Simon Larranaga reached on throwing error; Heusohn scored
B7 – Danny Barbero doubled; Connor Walker and Matt Stancliff scored
B7 – Marcus Heusohn doubled; Barbero scored
B7 – Simon Larranaga walked with bases loaded; runner scored
B7 – Landon Kerkmaz walked with bases loaded; runner scored
Upcoming games for McNeese include three consecutive matchups against Houston Christian University starting March 6 at home before traveling to face UL-Lafayette and Lamar University later in March.
