McNeese’s historic season came to an end Sunday with a 10-2, five-inning mercy rule loss to Northwestern in the final of the Evanston Regional.

Northwestern, the No. 9 national seed, advances to face, Arizona State, the winner of the Tempe Regional.

The Wildcats (43-12) led wire-to-wire, taking the lead with a single run in the top of the first inning on a Maeve Nelson hit to score Rachel Lewis. Northwestern scored four runs in the third inning on a two-run double by Jordyn Rudd and RBI hits by Nikki Cuchran and Sydney Supple.

McNeese (40-21) got on the board in the fourth inning on a single by Toni Perrin that scored pinch runner Alayis Seneca.

Northwestern scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach. Lewis delivered the big hit, a three-run home run.

McNeese scored once in the fifth on a single by Lopez to score Kendall Talley, but left the bases loaded.

Lopez went 3-for-3 to lead the Cowgirls. Perrin was 2-for-2.

Skyler Shellmeyer was 3-for-3 to lead Northwestern. Lewis scored three runs and drove in three more.

Danielle Wiliams pitched a complete game for Northwestern, allowing eight hits and striking out five.

Whitney Tate took the loss, allowing five runs over three innings.

McNeese was playing in a regional final for the first time ever, and won multiple games in a regional for the first time ever with a pair of wins over No. 2 seed Notre Dame. Both losses at the regional came to Northwestern.

The Cowgirls also won the Southland Conference regular season and tournament championships.

“Obviously it is not the result we wanted but you have to tip your cap to Northwestern, they pitched well,” head coach James Landreneau said. “They were able to get traffic on the bases and come up with timely hits throughout the game. Our team fought, but couldn’t get the timely hits. We knew they were a great team and that’d we’d have to play well and get a couple of breaks here and there. They’re playing really well right now.”

Northwestern scored 34 runs in three tournament games, all wins.

Landreneau said the loss won’t tarnish the special season his team put together.

“I’m proud of them,” he said. “They’re tough. They were young and went through a gauntlet, had adversity, but kept fighting ‘til the end. There is no quit in them.”