Ty Abraham is used to closing out games. 

The McNeese State right-hander has severed as the closer for most of the season.

So Sunday with the Pokes just two outs from victory, Abraham was ready to go. Instead, head coach Justin Hill turned the ball over to Christian Vega.

“I was ready to finish but I understand,” said Abraham. “I felt really good still.”

Abraham was the key to McNeese’s 6-2 victory over New Orleans at Joe Miller Ballpark. That gave the Pokes the Southland Conference series victory.

“He had done more than enough,” Hill said of Abraham. “I think it was the right thing to do.”

Vega struck out the final two UNO hitters as McNeese improved to 26-13, 8-7 in the Southland, good for fourth place. The Privateers fell to 22-18, 7-8.

After allowing the first two batters against him to score, Abraham settled down and scattered nine hits over 8.3 innings. 

He struck out five while throwing a career-high 112 pitches. The victory was Abraham’s first decision of the year to go with three saves.

“I was trying to do too much at the start,” said Abraham. “I really had to settle back and try not to do too much and let my defense make plays.”

As for the McNeese offense, Tre’ Obregon did the big damage. The designated hitter homered and drove in four runs to lead the Pokes. 

His three-run shot in the fourth gave McNeese the lead for good. It was the switch-hitter’s third of the season and first from the right side.

“I had to get one right handed,” said Obregon. “I knew it was a deep fly ball but I saw the flag blowing in and didn’t think it would go. It snuck over.”

Braden Duhon tripled in a run two batters later and scored himself on a wild pitch to end the five-run inning. 

Obregon’s sacrifice fly in the eight scored Josh Leslie and end the day’s scoring.