LAKE CHARLES, La. — The bats came to life in Game 2 of the Southland Softball Championship Series though it was No. 5 Lamar getting the better of No. 2 McNeese Friday night at Joe Miller Field, taking the second game 7-6 and forcing a Game 3 set for Saturday evening. Despite the McNeese lineup totaling 10 hits for the game, the Cardinals forced the Cowgirls to strand 12 baserunners, proving a major difference in the contest. 

Lamar came out ready with a statement in the 1st inning, taking a 3-0 lead after some timely hits along with defensive miscues on the part of McNeese. Isabella Flores plated the first run of the game on an RBI double before another scored on a Cowgirls error, setting up Riley Whitley for an RBI single. Starting pitcher Brookelyn Taylor would not make it out of the 1st. 

Big Red added to its lead in the 2nd, plating another run after Roxy Thompson scored from second on a fielder's choice groundout. However, McNeese got a much needed response in the 3rd. Jada Munoz crushed a ball over the scoreboard in left field on a three-run home run that pulled the No. 2 seed within a single run. Munoz returned to the dish in the 4th where she would give her team a 5-4 lead following an RBI double that hit the wall in left center. 

But the Cardinals would not be contained for long. Lamar put two baserunners on for Cimara-lei Wessling who then launched a go-ahead three-run home run over the wall at center, making it a 7-6 ballgame. Down to its last three outs in the 7th, Kassidy Chance gave the Cowgirls hope with an RBI double that pulled them within a run, but McNeese would not get any closer. 

Game 3 between Lamar and McNeese is set for Saturday at 6 p.m. from Joe Miller Field and will be streamed on ESPN+.