Bourque, Morris go deep to finish off Lions

Published 5:00 am Monday, April 25, 2022

There was no need for any late-inning heroics, no walk-off fun either.

Sunday the Cowboys won a baseball game without ever needing a last at-bat.

McNeese State toppled Southeastern Louisiana 8-4 to sweep their Southland Conference series at Joe Miller Ballpark.

It was the Cowboys’ sixth straight conference win and seventh in their last eight overall.

“There are ebbs and flows to every season and we are in a good one right now,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “Just hope we can ride it for some time.”

The win kept McNeese tied with Nicholls for first place at 9-6, one game ahead of the field. The Pokes improved to 23-17 overall while SLU fell to 7-8, 17-23. MSU holds the tie-breaker since they took 2-of-3 from the Colonels earlier this year.

After winning the first two games against SLU on walk-off homers, first a grand slam by Kade Morris in the 11th and then Saturday night by Brad Burckel in the ninth, the Cowboys didn’t want to wait around yesterday.

When asked about the recent late wins and if his team wanted to do it again Sunday, shortstop Reid Bourque said, “that has been our go-to, but I’m glad we didn’t have to get to that point again. That was a huge series, especially against a very good opponent Southeastern.”

Bourque had a huge game, getting on base four times with three hits and a walk. He scored three times and even hit his third home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth, which gave the Cowboys a 5-2 lead.

“That was a good feeling,” said Bourque. “They got a run back in the top of that inning and we knew we had to get that run back. Off the bat I knew it felt good, but I didn’t know it was out.”

Morris also had another big day, driving in four with a pair of hits. His big blow was a two-run homer in the seventh as McNeese scored three times after the Lions cut the lead to 5-4. It was his team-high eighth homer of the season.

Morris also had a two-run single in the Pokes’ four-run fourth.

A total of six pitchers threw for the Cowboys, with Ty Abraham making his first start in two weeks after injuring his knee. He was limited to three innings.

“Ty gave us everything he had and set up our bullpen for the rest of the game,” said Hill.

Brett Payne followed with two innings of scoreless baseball, picking up the win to improve to 3-0.

Cameron Foster got the last two outs to earn his SLC-leading 10th save.

Southeastern starter Andrew Landry (2-4) took the loss.

“This was a different kind of game for us,” said Hill. “We did a lot of good things out there, and we were able to come off two emotional wins and play well.

“I think that is the sign of a good team, to stay consistent.”

Tyler Finke and Bryce Grazziffi homered for the Lions. For Finke, it was his sixth of the season, while Grazziffi hit his second. Both were solo shots.

NOTES: McNeese will be back in action Tuesday night with a home game against Louisiana-Monroe…Second baseman Brad Burckel left the game with an injury to his left wrist in the fifth inning after getting two hits. He said he was “fine” afterward.