HAMMOND, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team fell to No. 5 McNeese State University, 6-2, on Thursday afternoon in Hammond, Louisiana. UIW is now set for a rematch against No. 1 Lamar on Friday morning at 9 a.m. Both teams have suffered one loss, meaning the winner of this game will move on and the loser will be sent home.
 
With the score still knotted at zero in the second inning, left fielder Rey Mendoza made an impressive diving catch to secure the second out and hold the Cowboys scoreless.
 
In the bottom of the third, McNeese had runners on second and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly and double out to center field brought both across the plate as MCN took the 2-0 lead.
 
The Cardinals tied up the game in the fourth, starting with an RBI double down the right-field line from Daniel Calabrese. UIW followed suit with back-to-back ground outs sending Calabrese home to tie the score at 2-2.
 
McNeese's LeJuene smacked a two-RBI homer out to right center and the Cardinals were able to close out the inning by tagging out a Cowboy stuck trying to steal third as Grant Randall chased him down for the out. MCN reclaimed the 4-2 lead to end the sixth inning.
 
UIW found themselves in scoring position in the seventh with the bases loaded and two outs. The Cowboy pitching staff struck out the final Cardinal batter leaving three on base.
 
LeJuene's second homer of the day came in the bottom of the eight, once again bringing home two cowboys and extending the lead to four (6-2).
 
The Cardinals once again loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with a look to tie the game up we were unable to capitalize, losing the game and heading into the loser's bracket.
 
FOLLOW ALONG 
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