Before the Cowgirls ever saw a first pitch Saturday, they knew exactly what they had to do to make history. 

Thanks to Nicholls beating Southeastern twice in their three-game weekend series, McNeese had to win just once in Nacogdoches, Texas, over the next 24 hours to become champs once again.

The Cowgirls were not about to wait any longer than needed.

McNeese became the first team to win four straight Southland Conference regular season championships Saturday by winning the first game of a doubleheader against Stephen F. Austin 6-1.

The second game is expected to start shortly.

The victory improved McNeese’s record to 35-18, 22-4 overall, with two games against the Lady Lumberjacks still to play. SELA finished the year 21-6 in the league and will host one of the two playoff pods.

The Cowgirls will host the other starting Thursday at Joe Miller Ballpark. The two winners will meet a week later at the home of the higher-seeded team. 

SFA fell to 26-25, 14-11.

Freshman Maddie Taylor improved her record to 16-7 by going the distance. Taylor allowed just five hits, walked two and struck out three.

Jada Munoz drove in two insurance runs with a two-out double in the top of the seventh to clinch the game and chase SFA ace left-hander Alexis Telford from the mound. Telford’s record fell to 10-7 with the loss.

McNeese scored three times in the seventh after adding a run in the sixth to keep SFA from any comeback.

Munoz finished 2-for-3 and drove in three runs and scored two to lead the Cowgirl offense.