Fifth-seeded McNeese sprayed the ball all over Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field on Friday night, beating regular-season Southland Conference champion and top-seeded Southeastern 15-9 in the winner’s bracket game of the SLC Tournament.

The Cowboys produced a four-spot in the third, a seven-spot in the fifth and another four-spot in the sixth to pull away from the Lions. McNeese was the only outfit in the Southland to win a series from SLU this year, and it showed during the two Louisiana sides’ fourth meeting of the campaign. 

After falling behind 4-0, SLU (the away team for the game) responded through Connor Cuff’s three-run blast in the top of the fourth to trim McNeese’s lead to one run, 4-3. 

However, the Cowboys exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth for an 11-3 cushion and ultimately cruised to victory. 

McNeese walked in a pair of SLU runs in the sixth with the bases juiced before plunking senior second baseman Ben Robichaux for a third Lion run of the inning, 11-6. 

However, the Cowboys weren’t finished with their scoring barrage just yet. McNeese’s junior centerfielder, DJ Pinkerton, silenced the home faithful with a two-run shot before McNeese plated two more runs in the bottom half of the frame for a commanding 15-6 lead through six. 

Cuff’s two-run double in the seventh and Robichaux’s solo shot in the eighth made it 15-9 as the Lions attempted to claw back in the latter stages of the contest. 

Overall, it was a rough outing for Southeastern’s pitching staff on the night. The loss was given to starting arm Nik Toups, who surrendered eight runs in four innings of work. 

The Lions have their backs against the wall and are now tasked with winning three straight games to advance out of the Hammond Bracket into next weekend’s Southland Conference Tournament championship series. 

“In these tournaments, you have to have faith during elimination games, and I think this team has that,” said Southeastern coach Bobby Barbier on his ballclub. 

SLU (32-20, 19-9 SLC) will be rematched with eighth-seeded HCU (24-28, 13-17 SLC) this afternoon at 1 p.m. in an elimination bout. The winner will play McNeese tonight at 6 p.m. 

With a victory, the Cowboys (30-23, 16-14 SLC) can advance into next weekend’s championship series. A McNeese loss would set up a winner-take-all scenario on Sunday, with that contest set for 1 p.m. if needed.