Staff Reports
The Contraband
After McNeese (28-9, 13-2 SLC) opened the series with a 2-0 win Friday night, Nicholls (25-14, 10-4 SLC) evened the series at one game apiece by winning the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, 3-1. McNeese secured the series win with a 2-0 win in the rubber game.
All-American catcher Erika Piancastelli, who set the McNeese single season home run record as a freshman last season, tied that record in the second game with her 18th home run this season.
“It’s always good to come out of a weekend with a series win, especially against a tough opponent,” said head coach Joanna Hardin. “Our kids are competing hard every out and every game. I’m really proud of how we bounced back today after a tough game one loss.”
The Cowgirls took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Tori Yanitor led the inning off with a double down the right field line. After moving to third on a grounder by Emily Vincent, Hailey Drew who returned to the lineup after missing the last seven games brought Yanitor home on a single.
The lead would stand until the Colonels tied the game in the fifth inning on a RBI double by pinch hitter Veronica Villafranco. McNeese couldn’t get anything going in the sixth as Nicholls starter Hannah Haydel, who took the loss in Friday night’s game, got Vincent to ground out for the first out, struck out pinch hitter Megan Trahan and got Taylor Goree to pop up to end the sixth.
Nicholls took advantage of a Cowgirl error in the seventh to score two runs for a 3-1 lead. With one out, Brooke Morris reached on a an error before Jamie Allred (10-2) got pinch hitter Gretchen Morgan to pop up to her for the second out. Kayla Prater’s two-out single sent Morris to third and Allred walked Haley Parkerson to load the bases. A single to right center by Danielle Phillips scored both Morris and Parkerson for the lead.
The Cowgirls’ hitting slump continued in the bottom of the seventh as Haydel retired the three batters she faced in the inning to pick up the win to even the series at one game apiece.
Allred gave up eight hits, three runs, one earned run, walked and struck out one. The loss is Allred’s first loss since her 5-4 loss at Baylor on February 12. The senior hurler had won per previous nine games.
McNeese bounced back in the second game of the doubleheader with its second shutout win of the series with another 2-0 win.
Just like in the previous two games, McNeese scored first with a run in the second on a RBI single by Shanice Hagler that scored Vincent who led the inning off with a walk.
Vincent (11-2) was helped in the circle by solid defense behind her especially in the fifth inning when Goree made a diving catch at shortstop with two outs that would have allowed Nicholls to scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
Piancastelli gave the Cowgirls a 2-0 lead off her season record tying 18th home run in the sixth inning. Piancastelli ended the day with a combined three hits and a walk.
Vincent ended another solid pitching performance by getting three of the four batters she faced in the seventh to pop up to end the game. Vincent threw a six hit shutout, struck out seven and didn’t allow a walk.
“Allred and Vincent both kept us in the games today. That’s our goal as a bullpen- to give our team a chance to win every game and they both threw that way today.” Hardin said.
The Cowgirls will travel to Northwestern State next weekend for a Southland Conference series beginning with a single game on Fridayand a doubleheader on Saturday.
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