LAKE CHARLES, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team took a 1-0 series lead on Friday night after defeating McNeese State, 8-6, at Joe Miller Ballpark.
 
The Cardinals set the tone early with four quick runs through the first two innings of work. In the first, UIW scored off an RBI double from Rey Mendoza before he later reached home on a McNeese error. Tyler Cowan sent a homer to right field in the second, bringing home Daniel Calabrese for the 4-0 lead.
 
McNeese closed the gap in the third with three runs and tied the game in the fourth before nailing a two-RBI homer out to left field in the fifth to claim a 6-4 advantage.
 
UIW started the sixth with back-to-back singles from Calabrese and Cowan to set up Cameron Caley for an RBI single up the middle. Cowan scored off a fielder's choice, Mendoza singled to center field, and Dalton Beck plated two with a hit to right field and the 8-6 edge to take the first game of the series.
 
The Cardinals and Cowboys face off again tomorrow afternoon with the first pitch set at 2 p.m.
 
FOLLOW ALONG 
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