McNeese State’s stars shined on the Southland Conference’s biggest stage, and as a result they’ll get to play on an even bigger one.

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Tournament MVP Erika Piancastelli was 4-for-4 with three RBIs and senior pitcher Emily Vincent limited Lamar to two hits as the Cowgirls captured their first NCAA tournament berth since 2010 with a 5-2 win over the Cardinals in Friday afternoon’s SLC tournament championship game.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Our kids deserve the credit,” said first-year McNeese coach Joanna Hardin. “Every kid that plays Division I softball works hard, and it’s very rewarding to see their work paid back. They’ve earned it. This is the best team in the conference, and I think it came out the right way.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“We have the talent, we have the players and this year we had the grit to really take one home,” Piancastelli said. “I’m really proud of my team right now.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Fittingly, the final out was recorded by senior shortstop Taylor Goree, who gloved a harmless Corina Thornton pop fly before getting mobbed by her teammates.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“As soon as I saw it, I was like ‘Holy crap, we just won the tournament’ and wanted to sprint right to her,” Vincent said. “We won it — finally — on this field. That’s my best friend and she’s always had my back. That was an amazing feeling.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Goree and Vincent had borne witness to the opposite end of the emotional spectrum in their previous three seasons with McNeese (42-12) getting knocked out of the tournament each time despite winning two regular-season championships.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Lamar (35-22), which advanced to the title game with a 5-3 win over Stephen F. Austin on Friday morning, served as the home team in the championship and took the lead on a peculiar play in the bottom of the first inning.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">McNeese second baseman Hailey Drew was charged with an error on a grounder that went through her legs, though she appeared to be impeded by Lamar baserunner Sable Hawkins. Kelly Meeuwsen scored from third on the play.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“Whenever it was that happened, happened. I looked at Drew and said, ‘That one run doesn’t matter,’” Vincent said. “And it didn’t. I knew it wouldn’t. They’re a good team but I knew we’d win. If we were up 10 or down 10, we’d leave no doubt that we’d win this game.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">It was evidently no big deal to Vincent (16-3), who took a no-hitter into the sixth before Lamar catcher Brynn Baca broke it up with a one-out single to center.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">As has often been the case, Piancastelli got McNeese on the board.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Though there was nowhere to put her with the bases loaded in the third, she worked a full count against Lamar pitcher Laura Napoli (9-8) before hitting a two-run opposite-field single.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">“What’s cool about Erika is the bigger the moment, the calmer she gets,” Hardin said. “She’s so cool and so calm. She’s (SLC) Player of the Year and MVP for a reason. She’s so relaxed and able to channel her focus in the big moment.”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Piancastelli drove home an insurance run in the sixth as the Cardinals boldly decided to go after her with two outs and a runner at third base. That single, her 47th RBI this season, scored Justyce McClain to give McNeese a 5-1 lead.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Lamar loaded the bases against Vincent in the bottom of the sixth, but only managed to score on Jenna Holland’s RBI ground out to short. Vincent worked a perfect seventh to clinch the win.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">McNeese will make its fourth NCAA tournament appearance, joining the 1994, 2005 and 2010 teams in extending the season. The Cowgirls will learn their regional destination Sunday night.</span>

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<p class="p1">Follow Alex Hickey on Twitter at t<a href="https://twitter.com/AlexAmPress">witter.com/AlexAmPress</a>

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</span><p>McNeese softball players celebrate after their victory Friday against the Lamar Cardinals. The team earned an automatic berth in the national tournament with the win. (Rick Hickman/American Press)</p>MBO