LAKE CHARLES — The McNeese Cowboys fell to top seed Nicholls 3-2 in 14 innings at the Southland Conference Tournament late Wednesday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Nicholls took the lead in the bottom of the first.
Parker Coddou led off with a single to right centerfield and then advanced to second on a single by Xane Washington. After Edgar Alvarez drew a walk to load the bases, the Colonels scored after Gerardo Villarreal grounded out into a double play.
McNeese tied the game in the top of the fourth.
After Cooper Hext got on with a one-out single, he would scored on a triple to right field by Braley Hollins. The Cowboys would then take the lead in the top of the fifth as a fly out by Brad Burckel scored Andrew Gonzales who had led off the frame with a double to left field.
Nicholls would tie the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Villareal led off with a single and then advanced to second two batters later on a single by Garrett Felix. After MaCrae Kendrick was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Villareal would score on a error by Hext.
McNeese coach Justin Hill pulled starter Ty Abraham and brought in Christian Vega. The Cowboys reliever got out of the jam by striking out the next batter and getting the second one to ground out.
In the 11th inning, McNeese had a great opportunity to take the lead.
The Cowboys led off the frame with a single to right field by Hext. Two batters later, Braden Duhon hit a single up the middle to put runners on the corners with one out.
After a pitching change, Nicholls managed to get Taylor Darden to strike out and then Gonzales to ground out to end the threat.
Nicholls led off the 11th with Felix drawing a walk and then two batters later, Wes Toups singled through the left side. After Vega recorded his second strikeout of the inning, Felix advanced to third base on a wild pitch and then Toups stole second base.
Vega though got out of the jam as he struck out Coddou swinging to end the inning.
Payton Harden led off the 12th inning with a single up the middle and then stole second base. McNeese was unable to bring him home as the next three hitters recorded outs.
Nicholls won the game in the bottom of the 14th with a two-out single through the right side off of McNeese reliever Derrick Cherry.
BIG NUMBER: 25
The Colonels and the Cowboys were able to put plenty of runners on the base paths in Wednesday night’s contest but struggled to bring them home. The two teams combined to leave 25 runners on base.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: CHRISTIAN VEGA & COOPER HEXT
The McNeese pitcher came into the game in the sixth with the bases loaded and only one out. Vega not only got of the jam but would go on to give up no runs on three hits while striking out 10 in six innings of work in relief. Hext meanwhile led the Cowboys at the plate as he went 3-for-6 with one run scored.
UP NEXT: McNeese (34-22) will play Incarnate Word in an elimination game on Thursday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.