LAKE CHARLES, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word gave two-time defending Southland Conference champion, McNeese, all it could handle in doubleheader action Saturday afternoon at Cowgirl Diamond. McNeese was victorious in both games, 5-4 and 6-5.

The Cardinals scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh in game one and had the tying run in scoring position, but could not get the equalizer. In game two, Hope Sobolewski's RBI single in the top of the seventh gave the Cardinals a 5-4 lead and were one out away from pulling off the upset, but McNeese's Morgan Catron hit a two-run home run for the walk-off win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: McNeese 5, UIW 4
For the first time all series, UIW (6-18 overall, 2-7 SLC) scored first, as Shelby Neatherlin and Breanna Hernandez hit back-to-back doubles in the top of the second to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. But McNeese (22-10, 5-4) stormed back, crossing home four times in the bottom half of the frame to take a 4-2 lead. McNeese scored another run in the bottom of the third for a 5-2 advantage.

The Cardinals wouldn't give up and put the Cowgirls on their heels in the top of the seventh. Angel Villanueva led off the inning with a single, then advanced in scoring position following a wild pitch. A Neatherlin single that put Cardinals on the corners with nobody out chased Cowgirl starter Caroline Settle for Amber Coons. But Coons didn't fare much better, as her wild pitch placed pinch runner Jordan Goins into second. Hernandez's second hit of the game plated Villanueva to make the score 5-3 and put the tying run on base. After pinch hitter Emily Castro's ground out brought Goins home to make it a one-run game, game one starter for McNeese, Alexsandra Flores, was brought in, who got a strikeout and a ground out to end the game.

Hernandez led the Cardinals with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, with two RBIs. Villanueva went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored. Hernandez (1-6) took the loss in the circle, as she allowed seven hits, five runs (four earned), and three walks in a complete-game effort. Her four strikeouts tied her career high, which she set earlier in the week against Kansas.

Brenique Wright led McNeese with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate and four RBIs. Settle got the win in the circle, as she allowed five hits, four earned runs, and two walks with three strikeouts in 6.0-plus innings. Flores earned her first save of the season.

Game 1: McNeese 6, UIW 5
UIW scored the first run of the game for the second time this afternoon, as Sobolewski hit a two-out RBI single that brought home Marcela Lopez. The Cowgirls quickly responded, however, as Erika Piancastelli hit a lead-off home run to tie the game at 1-1.

With McNeese leading 3-2 entering the top of the fifth, thanks to Catron's two-run shot for her first home run of the game, UIW scored single runs in the final three innings to keep the pedal to the metal. Hailey Goins scored in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 3-all. After Alexandria Saldivar's RBI single brought home Catron in the bottom of the fifth, the Cardinals answered in the top of the sixth on Castro's RBI single that brought home Villanueva to knot the score again, 4-4.

In the top of the seventh, Lopez led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on Monica Flores' sacrifice bunt. Sobolewski entered the batter's box and singled to center to bring home Lopez and put the Cardinals ahead, 5-4.

Taylor Edwards hit a pinch-hit double to lead off the McNeese portion of the seventh inning to put the tying run in scoring position. UIW starter Sarah Leal buckled down and got a huge strikeout of three-time Southland Conference Player of the Year, Piancastelli, then got the conference's third leading scorer, Justyce McClain, to fly out. With one out to go, Catron hit the first pitch Leal threw and it cleared the fence, giving the Cowgirls the walk-off win.

Sobolewski went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored to lead the Cardinals. Lopez went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Breana Nevarez went 2-for-3. Leal (5-7) took the loss in the circle, as she allowed eight hits, six runs, and two walks while striking out three.

Catron had a huge game for the Cowgirls, as she went 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs. Flores picked up the win in the relief outing in the circle, as she allowed five hits and two runs (one earned) with one strikeout in 2.0 innings.

UP NEXT

hosts HBU in a three-game series Thursday and Friday, Mar. 29-30, from Cardinals Field. Thursday's single game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start, while Friday's doubleheader is set for an 11 a.m. first pitch.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals head to Houston to play a non-conference doubleheader at Texas Southern on Tuesday, Apr. 3 beginning at 3 p.m. at Memorial Park.

For the most up-to-date information on Incarnate Word Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow Incarnate Word Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like Incarnate Word Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.