LAKE CHARLES, La. –
Cimara-lei Wessling drilled a clutch three-run homer in the fifth as Lamar University staved off elimination with a 7-6 victory over McNeese in game two of the Southland Conference Championship series. LU has now won 34 games, which is tied for second-most in program history.
Freshman
Isabella Flores recorded half of LU's six hits, including an RBI double, while
Riley Whitley (RBI) added two hits.
Reagan Smith got the start and pitched four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Reliever
Ava Prejean earned her sixth victory of the season and allowed one run on three hits while striking out a pair.
The Cardinals plated three runs in the first as Flores doubled in
Gracee Hess before scoring on an error, while Whitley delivered an RBI single. The Cowgirls loaded the bases in their second, but a lineout to Hess at third led to an inning-ending double play.
Roxy Thompson led the Cardinals' half of the second with a walk and scored on an error to put LU up four.
McNeese overcame the early deficit with a three-run blast in the third and a two-run double in the fourth to go up by a run. After Flores led off the LU fifth with a single and
Cala Wilson drew a one-out walk, Wessling stepped to the plate and sent a 1-1 pitch over the centerfield wall to put the Cardinals back in front.
After coming in to pitch the fifth, Prejean let a pair of Cowgirls in scoring position in the sixth. McNeese cut the deficit in half with a one-out double, but Prejean retired the last two hitters to preserve the win and even the series.
Big Red looks to clinch its first-ever conference title Saturday in game three. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
