McNeese Stays Alive with 9th-Inning Win over Southeastern
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Bryn Thompson hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to lead McNeese State to a 5-4 victory over Southeastern Louisiana and stay alive in the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament Friday at Whataburger Field.
McNeese (31-26) entered the inning trailing 4-3, but catcher Jordan Venable led off the inning with a triple in the right-field corner. Needing only a single to tie the game, Thompson hit his eighth home run of the year to give the Cowboys the lead. Matt Click came on in relief to save his ninth game this season.
The win now sets up a game between McNeese and Lamar today at 4 p.m., CDT, for the right to advance to the championship game. Lamar will reach the title game with a single win while the Cowboys will need to beat the Cardinals twice to face the winner of the other bracket for the championship.
The Cowboys have had success in the ninth against Southeastern having won their last three games in the ninth or 10th inning with reliever Chris Fanklin on the hill. He tossed 1.2 innings against McNeese Friday, allowing both runs on four hits. He struck out three in falling to 8-7 after relieving Josh Janway, who pitched a solid 7.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits.
Dustin Lloyd got the win for McNeese to improve to 3-1 this season. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walked three and fanned six before Phil Parcell came on with two out in the seventh.
Thompson was 3-for-4 with his two RBI providing the decisive runs. Andy Riche', Jace Peterson and Matt Fontenot each had two hits. The four accounted for nine of the Cowboys' 11 hits. Southeastern Louisiana had eight hits. Designated hitter Joe Sparacino was the lone Lion with multiple hits in a 2-for-4 day with two RBI thanks to a two-run double in the first inning.
Southeastern (40-19) will find out Monday whether its season has come to an end or will continue in the NCAA tournament. The 64-team field will be announced Monday on ESPN at 11:30 a.m., CDT.
McNeese State coach Terry Burrows
"Chris Franklin is a good pitcher and competitor. We just square the ball up and whether its luck or not we'll take it. You've got to tip your hat to Southeastern. That's a good team.
"At this point of the tournament, you're asking a lot out of the pitching right now and you have piece it together at this point. I might even have to throw assistant coach Bubbs Merrill tonight, but we'll sort that out during lunch."
McNeese State infielder Bryn Thompson
"Jordan Venable being able to work the other way on pitch was great in that situation a homerun or triple is great on his part. Venable getting us started like that was great; fortunately it's been what he's done all season for us long."
"Sometimes you just have a guy's number and he is one of the best in the conference. It just happens. We've had his number in this tournament this weekend and knowing how good he is."
Southeastern Louisiana coach Jay Artigues
"Our kids played hard today but credit McNeese for getting the big hit today. Chris Franklin is our guy and when we run him out there we'll take our chances. Again, credit McNeese for coming up with getting hits."
"I'm proud of these guys for going 40-19 this season and I think they deserve the opportunity to continue. We sweep both (Louisiana) Lafayette and Mississippi State and with the rest of our schedule, we should get the chance to continue this season."