Southland Conference Hitter of the Year Peyton Woods’ two-run moonshot into the parking lot behind right field gave SLU a 13-11 lead over McNeese in the top of the 11th inning, and Luke Lirette earned the win on the mound as the Lions topped the Cowboys 13-12 at Alumni Field on Saturday night in a thrilling 11-inning contest.

“He showed everybody why he was our conference’s hitter of the year. He got a breaking ball up and just hammered it. He’s been so great for us all year,” said Head Coach Bobby Barbier. “Local guy who does everything for the team. He’s special.”

Southeastern built a commanding 11-4 lead midway through the seventh, but McNeese rallied with three and four runs to tie the game at 11-11 after eight, erasing a seven-run deficit in just two innings.

SLU pitcher Luke Lirette entered the game in the bottom of the ninth in an attempt to force extras. The Houma native surrendered a leadoff double followed by a McNeese sacrifice bunt to put the winning run on third base with just one out.

However, Lirette held the Cowboys at bay, recording a strikeout and a shallow fly to keep the Lions’ season alive.

Blaise Priester had a chance to play hero once again with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the tenth, but SLU’s catcher lined out to left center to end the Lions’ threat on a hard hit ball.

Lirette delivered a three-up three-down frame, and an eleventh inning was required to determine a winner.

Brody Capps reached base on a walk in between Lion outs, and up stepped the Albany native, Woods, who obliterated the 0-1 offering deep into the Hammond night as Southeastern punched back after surrendering seven unanswered runs for a 13-11 lead.

“First off, I wouldn’t be in it unless our guy [Brody Capps] got on because I was our fourth batter up. All glory to God. Just give me the right pitch, and I’ll put a good swing on it,” said Woods.

He added, “We’re not going to give up. We’ve been through a lot, and we’re going to keep fighting.”

McNeese’s Isaiah Keller mashed a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the eleventh, cutting the Cowboys’ deficit to one, 13-12. Coach Bobby Barbier had confidence in Lirette, who remained in the contest without any action in the bullpen.

Lirette retired the next two McNeese batters via a groundout and strikeout, and the Lions were one out away from forcing a winner-take-all matchup in the Hammond Bracket.

After surrendering a single, Lirette closed the door on the Cowboys by striking out the final hitter of the contest to the roar of the Lion faithful.

“We were trying to wait and hold him to start tomorrow, but we needed him tonight. He was fantastic,” said Barbier. “He’s an experienced guy who’s ready to pitch when called upon.”

The back-to-back regular season SLC champs emerged from a wild 25-run, 31-hit encounter with a gutsy win.

“This group’s  played really hard all year long. I knew we wouldn’t just go away quietly when they tied it,” said Barbier.

Southeastern (34-20, 19-9 SLC) and McNeese (30-24, 16-14 SLC) will square off one final time this afternoon at 1 p.m. in the Southland Conference Tournament – Hammond Bracket championship game at The Pat.

“It’s do or die. We’ve got to come out here and play our best,” said Woods.

Note: SLU beat HCU 8-4 earlier on Saturday in an elimination game before topping McNeese in the nightcap.