It was far from a thing of beauty, but for an inexperienced team still trying to find its way any win is gladly accepted.

The Cowboys stopped a two-game skid with an odd 9-7 victory over Alcorn State Tuesday night at Joe Miller Ballpark.

With the win, McNeese State improved to 14-12 while the Braves fell to just 2-19. The teams will finish their series today at 2 p.m.

“Just waiting on us to have a killer instinct,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “I think it’s an inexperience thing.”

Alcorn pitchers walked eight and hit three, but the Cowboys managed just five hits, keeping the Braves in the game.

As for McNeese pitchers, there was good and bad. JT Moeller was the best, going four hitless innings in relief, The right-hander struck out a career-high seven without allowing a walk.

“JT Moeller saved our behind tonight,” said Hill.

Moeller didn’t get a decision but he gave McNeese a chance to come back after the Braves took a 4-1 lead off starter Ty Abraham in the second. Daelan Caraway (2-1) picked up the victory while Brian Shadrick earned his first save by getting the final two outs.

Alcorn reliever Nico Garcia took the loss, falling to 0-1.

McNeese got two hits each from Easton Dowell and Grant Mangrum.

The Cowboys broke a 6-6 tie with three runs in the eighth. Helped by the Braves’ only two errors of the game, McNeese scored on a wild pickoff attempt before Cooper Hext doubled in another for an 8-6 lead. 

Hext would come around to score on a two-base throwing error from Jesse Burton, who fired the ball past second and down the line in right. That allowed Hext to circle the bases.

The Braves managed just one run in the ninth before Shadrick closed the door.