LAKE CHARLES – McNeese softball closed out its season opening weekend undefeated at 5-0 with two shutout wins, a 1-0 victory over North Texas (3-2) and a 7-0 win over Texas Southern (0-5) to close out its domination of the Evangeline Bank and Trust Invitational Sunday afternoon at Joe Miller Field.
"Obviously, anytime you go into a tournament and can win five games, you're going be happy," said head coach James Landreneau. "We feel fortunate and don't feel like we played our best softball."
The Cowgirls (5-0) were first to put a runner on bases in the bottom of the third inning with a bunt by Reese Reyna. Reyna then stole second base, but her run was cut short after Toni Perrin was struck out to end the inning.
The Cowgirls closed out the fifth inning by playing some mean defense including two hits straight to Cowgirl gloves and catching a UNT player stealing second to close out the top of the frame.
The action heated up in the sixth inning when the Mean Green advanced runners to second and third. The Cowgirls' defense galvanized as a quick throw from pitcher Ashely Vallejo to catcher Chloe Gomez at home provided the second out. The Mean Green hit a grounder to Reyna at second for the final out.
In the bottom of the sixth, Kendall Talley reached on an error and scored the only run of the game on a Jil Poullard RBI double to the left center gap for the 1-0 lead.
McNeese defense further intensified in the top of the seventh when Vallejo got UNT's leadoff to pop out to third before getting the second out on a fly out to left. Vallejo ended the game by getting designated player Saleen Donohoe to go down swinging.
"We knew North Texas was good since they won their league last year, but we were fortunate that Ashley Vallejo had an unbelievable day. She came in and commanded the zone and it just wasn't in one performance, she has done it multiple times."
Vallejo (2-0) ended the game with six struck outs and allowed only two hits for the second straight game.
In the final game of the tournament, McNeese took a 4-0 lead after three complete innings with a single run in the second and three more runs in the third.
An RBI double by Willingham brought Reyna home giving the Cowgirls 1-0 lead in the second.
The Cowgirl scoring continued into the third with an errante throw off Senica's RBI brought home Tiffany Stezco and Talley. A RBI double by Kaylee Lopez raised the score to 4-0.
Texas Southern threatened to score in the sixth but a 6-4-3 double play stopped the Tigers in their tracks.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, Gomez's pinch hit double scored Gracie Devall and Reyna. A double steal by Willingham and Gomez set the Cowgirls up for success. A wild pitch gave Willingham the opportunity to come home creating the 7-0 lead.
Reliever Shaelyn Saunders entered the circle in seventh and got the first three batters out in order to end the game.
"There were a lot of great plays, but still alot we need to clean up. It was good to see the team come together in some close plays. There were some great team wins this weekend."
Pitcher Whitney Tate picked up her first win of the season and the second win over Texas Southern this weekend.
Lopes and Reyna led McNeese at the plate, both going 2 for 3 while Gomez picked up two RBI.
Whitney Tate (1-0) picked up her first win of the season, going six complete innings with two strikeouts and allowed seven hits.
The Cowgirls will play their next five games in the state of Texas and against two nationally ranked opponents.
McNeese will travel to nationally ranked Texas on Wednesday for a single game beginning at 4 p.m. that will be televised on the Longhorn Network.
The Cowgirls will then travel to Houston to take part in the Houston Classic Feb. 18-19. Here the Cowgirls will face five-time National Champion Oklahoma twice during the tournament with the first meeting at noon Friday followed by a 6 p.m. game against Houston.
On Saturday, the Cowgirls will take on Texas State at 10 a.m. before closing tournament play against Oklahoma at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
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February 14, 2022 at 07:45AM
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SB: Cowgirls Complete Undefeated Opening Weekend With Wins Over North Texas And Texas Southern - McNeese State University Athletics - McNeese Athletics
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