McNeese Softball falls 6-5 in rubber game to #16 Baylor

Staff Reports

The Contraband

It was only the first weekend of the season but the McNeese softball team has a lot to look forward to the rest of the season despite dropping the rubber game a three game series at #16 Baylor with a 6-5 loss on Sunday in a hard fought game that could have gone either way.

“Overall we competed very well this weekend,” said head coach Joanna Hardin. “What’s great about opening weekend is that we get tested in different scenarios and situations. We faced quality pitching all weekend and very good offenses in UL-Monroe and Baylor. We can take away a lot of positives from the weekend but we also have a lot of work to do. We are on the right track, we just need to keep getting better every game,” said Hardin.

McNeese ended the game with six hits and was led by Taylor Schmidt’s 2 for 3 plate performance. Schmidt also picked up one RBI. Erika Piancastelli, Emily Vincent, Taylor Goree, and Hailey Drew all had one hit apiece.

Rachel Smith (0-1) dropped her opening game of the season in relief of starter Jamie Allred. Smith gave up two earned runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings and allowed two walks.

The Cowgirls missed several opportunities to score in Sunday’s contest as McNeese left 12 base runners stranded including the bases loaded in the fourth and sixth innings and came away with only one run combined.

“We missed multiple opportunities to put ourselves in front today. Offensively, we are doing an outstanding job of extending our at bats and innings.” Hardin said. “We left 12 runners on base today, which shows we are putting ourselves in a position to score. As we grow and keep working, we will come through in those situations.”

McNeese (2-2) began the game like it did in the 3-1 win over Baylor (2-1) Saturday by getting on the scoreboard first. A two out walk to Vincent was the start the Cowgirls needed to get thing going. Vincent put herself in scoring position by stealing second. Schmidt reached on a throwing error that allowed Vincent to score for a 1-0 Cowgirl lead.

Piancastelli gave the Cowgirls a 2-0 lead with a line drive solo home run over the left centerfield wall, her first long ball of the season. McNeese missed an opportunity to add to their lead when Goree grounded out to the pitcher for the second out and Schmidt was caught in a rundown for the third out.

Baylor’s bats came alive in the third inning as the Lady Bears scored four runs on five hits to take a 4-2 lead. Baylor tied the game at two apiece on a bases loaded double to right field by All-American Shelby Friudenberg. The Lady Bears took the 4-2 on the next pitch by Linsey Hays’ double up the middle.

McNeese missed a great opportunity to score in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded twice in the inning with one out. Justyce McCalain grounded out to the pitcher who in turn threw Drew out at home for the second out. The inning ended when Vincent grounding out to first base to end the Cowgirl threat.

The Cowgirls put together a two run fifth inning to tie the game at four apiece. Schmidt led the inning off with a single up the middle and moved into scoring position on a single through the left side by Taylor Goree. Both players moved up a base with a double steal. McNeese cut the Baylor lead to 4-3 on a RBI by Morgan Catron that scored Schmidt from third. On the play, Goree got caught in a run down between third and home but scored when the ball was dropped by Baylor’s catcher.

The Lady Bears quickly retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth off a two run home run by Hays for a 6-4 Baylor lead. With one out, Friudenberg singled down the left line before coming home on the Hays home run.

McNeese scored one run in the sixth to move within one run (6-5) on a bases loaded walk by Goree that scored Emily Vincent. McNeese missed another chance to score more runs with the bases loaded twice. Baylor reliever Kelsee Selman got freshman Taylor Edwards to hit a grounder back to her to end the Cowgirl threat.

The seventh inning for the Cowgirls saw Shelbi Strickland pop out to short and Drew struck out for the first two outs. Piancastelli was intentionally walked before McClain flew out to center to end the game.

“You have to tip your cap to Baylor, they have a potent line up and they capitalized on a few of our mistakes, which is what good teams do. I think we got better today and over the entire weekend,” said Hardin.

McNeese will travel to Troy, Alabama this weekend to take part in the Troy Classic beginning Friday.

Baylor 6, McNeese State 5 (Feb 14, 2016 at Waco, Texas)