No walk-offs this time, ULM holds on to beat Cowboys

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, April 27, 2022

You can’t walk them all off.

Trying to rally from five runs down in last two innings, McNeese State came up short despite a late effort Tuesday night.

Looking for their third walk-off win in four games, the Cowboys brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth after having him on second in the eighth.

Both times they came up short in an 8-7 Louisiana-Monroe win in Joe Miller Ballpark. The loss was the second in eight games for the Cowboys, both coming at the hands of the Warhawks.

McNeese was down 8-3 entering the eighth but scored three times with the big blow Cooper Hext’s two-run homer, his first of the season. McNeese had the tying run on base when the inning ended.

In the ninth McNeese (23-18) loaded the bases with one out but managed one run as ULM closer Carson Orton got the last three outs to earn his sixth save, including striking out Friday night’s hero, Kade Morris to end it.

In a strange game even for a weekday, ULM (15-23-1) scored three times after making what should have been the third out in the fifth to take an 5-2 lead.

The inning appeared to be over when Travis Washburn struck out. However, he swing at a wild pitch and reached base. Carson Jones followed two batters later and drove in a pair of runs with a single.

Jones was a headache for the Cowboys all night. He drove in six on the game, three on a double in the third and the other on a sacrifice fly in the second.

McNeese pitchers didn’t help themselves much, as they walked eight Warhawks in all. Lefty Zane Zeppuhaf was the lone bright spot.

The lone left-hander on the McNeese staff threw 22/3 innings allowing three hits. Brett Payne (3-1) took the loss. The win went to Henry Shuffler (2-2).

McNeese scored first on Julian Gonzales’ double in the first. Gonzales’ shot drove in Braden Duhon but Kade Hunter was thrown out trying to score on a perfect relay throw.

The Cowboys added solo runs in the second and third. Jordan Yeatts raced home. Yeatts was on base all night, as he reached twice after being hit by a pitch.

ULM pitchers plunked six Cowboys in all.

McNeese will return to Southland Conference play Friday when it opens a three-game series at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

NOTES: Second baseman Brad Burckel sat out with a wrist injury. He said he would be fine for the weekend and is expected back.