HAMMOND, La. – McNeese scored seven runs in the first inning and Lamar University was unable to recover falling to the Cowboys, 14-4, in seven innings Saturday in the Southland Conference semifinals at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field. The loss eliminated Lamar one game shy of the championship game.
 
Despite the outcome, LU senior River Orsak crushed an SLC tournament record seventh home run Saturday. Not only did the third-inning blast set a tournament record but also tied the LU single-season record (18).
 
The Cardinals scored four runs on six hits scoring one in the first and three in third, while McNeese scored seven in the first, one in the third, two in the fourth and four in the seventh.
 
Four Cardinals recorded hits Saturday led by Skinner's multi-hit game. He ended the day 3-for-3 with a home run, double and two RBIs.
 
Trhea Morse got the start for Big Red but struggled in the first inning going 0.2 of an inning allowing five runs – three earned – on three hits. He was also victimized by an error in that inning. Morse was one of five Cardinals to pitch in the contest.
 
McNeese took advantage of its first at-bat by plating seven first-inning runs. McNeese did its damage on six hits and took advantage of an error. The Cowboys got home runs from Elliot Hebert and Peyton LeJeune to surge out in front.
 
Lamar answered with a run in their half of the first following a leadoff single from Kanin Dodge. The Cardinals' senior shortstop was doubled home two batters later by Skinner.  The score was 8-1 when Lamar responded with a three-spot in its have of the third. Following a one-out single from Brayden Evans, Orsak crushed his seventh home run of the tournament – 18^th of the season – to pull LU within five. Two pitches later Skinner followed with a home run of his own to get the Cardinals within four, 8-4.
 
McNeese responded with two runs in the next half inning to push it back to a six-run advantage. The score remained 10-4 until the top half of the seventh inning when the Cowboys struck for four runs on four hits including an Elliot Hebert home run.
 
The Cardinals made a strong rally after dropping their opening game of the tournament. Big Red rallied from an opening day loss to beat Northwestern State, UIW an McNeese to advance to today's game. The Cardinals scored double-figure runs in the three previous games leading into today.