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For the second time in the 2025 season, the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns and McNeese Cowboys met on the baseball diamond. McNeese grabbed two runs in the fourth after a 2-2 deadlock to sweep the season series with a 4-2 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
McNeese got rolling in the top of the first with a walk from Conner Westenburg before he stole second and then advanced to third on a throwing error from Louisiana starting pitcher Blake McGehee. Then, a single from Mack Brousseau scored the first run of the game to give the Cowboys the early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom half, Maddox Mandino got a leadoff single to get the base paths working. Advancing to second on a Sam Ardoin groundout, Mandino later scored on an RBI double from freshman Brooks Wright to tie the game at 1-1.
Larry Edwards Jr reached on another error from the Cajuns defense before he was caught stealing. However, Easton Dowell also reached on an error before scoring on a single from Seth Fontenot to regain the lead at 2-1.
In the bottom of the third, singles from Mandino and Wright plus a walk to Caleb Stelly loaded the bases with one out for Lee Amedee, who grounded out to the pitcher but scored Mandino to tie the game at 2.
McNeese took the lead right back in the fourth with a leadoff single from Edwards before he moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and single. He then came into score on a sacrifice ground out to make it a 3-2 lead for the Cowboys. Later in the inning, a base hit from Fontenot scored Dowell to make it 4-2.
Louisiana had a chance to get some runs in the bottom of the eighth as they had two runners on, but a groundout from Mandino ended the opportunity.
McNeese kept the Cajuns scoreless after the third inning as Louisiana was down to their final opportunity in the bottom of the ninth. Brooks Wright reached on a bunt with one out followed by a double from Caleb Stelly to put the tying run in scoring position. Lee Amedee fouled out to the catcher for the second out and Jose Torres grounded out to end the threat and the game with a 4-2 final.
BIG NUMBER: 28
Through the first 18 games of the 2025 season, Louisiana has committed 28 errors, which is second most nationally behind Alabama State and Utah Tech.
BIG NUMBER: 13
For the fourth consecutive game, Louisiana has stranded ten or more runners as the Cajuns left 13 tonight.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Seth Fontenot
McNeese’s nine-hole hitter had a big night for the Cowboys with a pair of base hits and two runs batted in.
UP NEXT: Louisiana opens Sun Belt play at home on Friday against Troy while McNeese will open Southland play at home against Lamar. First pitch for both matchups is set for 6:00 p.m.