Not all rallies have happy endings.

A day after staging a dramatic comeback the Cowboys tried to pull off an even bigger one Sunday.

However, this time the hole was too deep as Cal State Northridge held on for a 6-4 victory at Joe Miller Ballpark. That gave the Matadors the weekend series as well.

“They played cleaner than us this weekend and that’s why they won the series,” said McNeese State head coach Justin Hill. “We made too many mistakes that cost us.”

The Cowboys outhit CSUN 13-9 but had three runners lost on the bases and stranded 11 more, five in scoring position.

“Poor play by us,” said Hill. “The mistakes we are seeing we have seen before. Same mistakes multiple times.”

Down 6-1 entering the eighth, McNeese gave itself a chance as Peyton Johnson and Kade Hunter doubled during a 3-run rally. But Brad Burckel’s two-out fly to center left the bases loaded.

Northridge reliever Sebastian Grandaos worked the final 11/3 innings for the Matadors to earn his first save.

Cal State scored three runs in the sixth to take control of the game that started early. With a plane ride home waiting, first pitch was moved up to 11 a.m.

The loss was the fifth in seven outings for the Cowboys who fell to 9-7. Northridge improved to 9-6.

The Matadors chased McNeese starter Ty Abraham (1-2) in the sixth. Joey Kramer, Mason Le and Jakob Simons all drove in runs. Abraham finished allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits over five-plus innings.

The Pokes tried to get back in it in the seventh, but didn’t score despite three of the first four batters reaching base. A double play did most of the damage but the real killer was a diving stop by Kramer at first on a Burckel shot down the line with runners on the corners and two out.

Kramer saved two runs with his play and took the sails out of the Cowboys.

That made a winner out of starter Blaine Traxel, who improved to 3-1 by going seven innings and allowing three runs on 10 hits. Traxel struck out four and walked four. McNeese’s five pitchers walked 10 including five in the eighth to score CSUN’s final run.

Gabe Gonzalez started the scoring with a solo home run in the second off Abraham. It was his fourth of the season and easily cleared the wall in left. It was also the only homer hit by Northridge in the series.

The Cowboys tied it up in the bottom of the second when Payton Harden singled and scored from first on Hunter’s first double of the day, a shot to the wall in right. Hunter was in the lineup replacing the injured Tre’ Obregon who jammed his thumb Saturday.

“We have not found the right combination or order to get the most out of our offense,” said Hill.

NOTE: McNeese will play five games at home this week. Columbia comes to town Tuesday followed by Louisiana-Lafayette Wednesday. Then Eastern Illinois comes to the Jeaux for a weekend series.