BATON ROUGE – The McNeese State winning streak came to a screeching halt here Tuesday night in Alex Box Stadium.

Now the Cowboys have to get back to work.

Eighth-ranked LSU ended the nation’s longest win streak at 12 while winning their 18th straight at home with a 10-3 win over McNeese. 

The Cowboys’ turnaround is quick now. They open a 3-game Southland Conference series Thursday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Joe Miller Ballpark. 

“Our guys will be fine,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “We have to go back home, get a good practice in, and get ready to go. Our guys know what is important.”

The Cowboys (27-6) are looking to stay atop the SLC against the Islanders (13-24, 5-13). McNeese opens the weekend in a 3-way tie for first with Houston Christian and Southeastern.

“We know our league games are the important ones,” said Hill. “We want to win them all, but are focused on the conference.”

The Cowboys will head back into conference after their first loss since March 21.

On Tuesday night, the Tigers, smarting after being swept last weekend at Auburn, vented their frustrations at McNeese.

Using a 3-run first to take control, LSU proved too much to handle..

“I thought our guys fought hard and we had some chances,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “We needed one swing early, and that could have made things more interesting.”

Jared Jones and Ethan Frey did the most damage for the Tigers. Each had three hits, combined to score five runs, and drove in five. 

Frey, a product of Rosepine, was 3-for-4.

“They were able to get the big hits,” said Hill.

Jones set the tone early. His 2-run shot in the bottom of the first off McNeese starter Parker Morgan gave the Tigers the lead for good.

Jones took Morgan (1-1) out just to the right of center field.

Sulphur’s Jake Brown singled in another run moments later to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead after one.

The rally came after McNeese had a chance to take the lead itself. Singles by Matt Stancliff and Mack Brousseau put Cowboys on first and third with one out. 

“A hit early could have changed some things and made it look closer,” said Hill.

However, true freshman Tiger starter William Smith pitched out of trouble with a strikeout of Marcus Heusohn and a roller from Larry Edwards.

Jones made it 4-0 in the second with a two-out RBI single to center.

Heuson and Edwards combine to get McNeese back in the game in the fourth and chase Schmidt. Heushon doubled, and Edwards homered, his second, to cut the lead in half.

The Tigers then scored four runs on five hits in the fourth to gain breathing room at 8-4. McNeese scored a run in the fifth and loaded the bases with one out, but LSU reliever Mavrick Rizy struck out Davis Meche and Easton Dowell looking to end the rally.

“I thought they won the game and we didn’t lose it,” said Hill.