LAKE CHARLIES, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team fell 8-3 on the road to McNeese State University this afternoon in Southland Conference action. The Cardinals fall to 17-18 and 8-12 in the conference, while the Cowboys improve to 18-17 and 8-9 on the season.
After both teams went scoreless in the first two innings, McNeese pushed three runs across on a pair of singles, a hit by pitch, and a double to take a 3-0 lead.
The Cardinals in the top of the fourth started with a double to left field from
Tony DeJesus. He then came around to score off
Christian Enriquez's RBI single to left to cut the lead down to, 3-1. With no outs and a man on first,
Colin Cymbalista was hit by a pitch to put the tying run aboard. Both runners later moved up 90 feet when
Cole Tabor dropped down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. The Cowboys were able to end the UIW threat when they recorded back-to-back outs.
UIW came within one run in the top of the fifth when
Preston Newberry homered to center field to make it a 3-2 game.
McNeese in its half of the fifth broke the game open as it put up a five-spot on six hits to take an 8-2 lead.
Headed into the top of the eighth, Tabor walked to lead off and then moved to second on a wild pitch. He was able to move up another 90 feet when
Drake Anderson singled to put runners on the corners.
The Cowboys took advantage of a double play ball to record two fast outs, but Tabor was able to score to make it an 8-3 game before the inning ended.
The Cowboys in the ninth sat the Cardinals down in order to take the contest and even the series at one game each.
Starting pitcher
Gus McKay suffered the loss to fall to 2-2 on the season. He allowed seven runs on eight hits over four and a third innings of work, while striking out four.
Newberry paced all UIW hitters, going 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, a run scored, and an RBI.
DeJesus, Enriquez, Cymbalista, and Anderson all tallied hits, with DeJesus' hit being a double.
UIW and McNeese are back in action tomorrow for the rubber game of the series, with first pitch starting at 1 p.m.