Special to the American Press

HAMMOND – Braden Duhon’s RBI single with one out in the top of the 10^th inning proved to be the winning hit as McNeese defeated Southeastern 3-2 on Sunday afternoon and winning the Southland Conference series.

Cameron Lejeune (2-1) picked up the win after he threw the final three innings in scoreless fashion and allowed just two hits. He followed Ty Abraham who started the game and was outstanding on the mound for seven innings, the first six of shutout ball.

The win improved the Cowboys record to 24-12 overall and 6-6 in conference play. Southeastern fell to 18-18 overall and 4-8 in the league.

Offensively, McNeese held a 10-7 advantage in hits over the Lions.

Cooper Hext, Brad Burckel and Elliot Hebert all had two hits. Burckel reached all five times at the plate with a double, single, hit-by-pitch and two walks. His second walk came in the top of the 10^th inning that eventually led to him scoring the game-winning run off Duhon’s single to left field.

Lions reliever Jackson Rodriguez took the loss after he threw 1.1 innings and gave up a run and two hits while walking one.

McNeese broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning on an Hebert two-run single up the middle that scored Hext and Tré Obregon III. The Lions tied it with two runs in the seventh.

The Cowboys threatened in the eighth when Burckel drew a one-out walk followed by an Hebert single to put runners at first and second. The rally stalled with no runs having scored.

Southeastern put together its own rally in the bottom of the eighth with runners on first and third with one out, but the Cowboys silenced it by turning a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.