SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – McNeese State's Kaleb Fontenot threw a complete game shutout to defeat the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team, 4-0 in game one of a three-game Southland Conference series Friday at Sullivan Field.
The Cowboys (9-8, 2-2 SLC) scored an early run in the top of the first when Connor Crane took a two-out walk, stole second and later scored on a Todd Hinkley double to left field. The game remained 1-0 with great pitching from both Fontenot and the Cardinals'
Bernie Martinez (Laredo/United HS) until the sixth inning. Joe Provenzano drove in a run and Matt Gallier later contributed with another RBI single to make it 3-0.
With the way Fontenot was pitching, three runs would prove more than enough. The Cardinals (4-14, 0-4 SLC) got the leadoff runners on base a few times, but would be quickly erased via double plays. The Cowboys turned three of them in the game.
Both
Tanner Wall (San Antonio/Johnson HS) and
Bryce Shepherd (Coldspring/Coldspring-Oakhurst HS) finished the game 2-for-4, and no Cardinals hit an extra base hit.
Fontenot won his second win of the season with the complete game, allowing seven hits, walking three and striking out seven. UIW's Martinez picked up the loss after allowing three earned runs, walking two and striking out two in 5.1 innings.
Trevor Hardee (Alvord/Alvord HS) and
Austin Preiss (La Vernia/La Vernia HS) both pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the loss.
The Cardinals struggled to string hits together and left 11 runners on base. They will look to even the series tomorrow with game two scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. start.
John Shull (San Antonio/Churchill HS) is set to start on the mound for the Cardinals and he will face lefthander Bryan King.
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