Cowgirls top No. 21 Ole Miss
Published 7:05 pm Thursday, February 12, 2026
After grabbing a big lead, the Cowgirls held on for a big win Thursday in Lafayette.
McNeese State scored 10 runs in the first two innings but still had to survive a power display by No. 21 Ole Miss in the first game of a doubleheader at the Ragin Cajuns Invitational at Yvette Girouard Field.
Kynley Chapman did just that, getting the last out earn the save as McNeese finished off the upset with a 12-11 victory over the SEC team. The second game was played after the paper’s deadline.
Taylor led the offense, going 3-for-4 as well. She also earned the win, her first decision of the year.
The victory moved the Cowgirls to 5-1 on the season. They will host their own tournament this weekend at Joe Miller Field.
McNeese will play Austin Peay and Illinois-Chicago Friday and Saturday during the Carl Vincent Insurance Invitational. First pitch Friday is set for 4 p.m. against APU, with the UIC game to follow.
The win over the Lady Rebels (3-3) is big for the Cowgirls and the Southland Conference. It comes just four days after Southeastern defeated No. 5 Oregon 4-2. The league is trying to get two teams in the NCAA Tournament this year.
“I want to win every game we play, but these are big ones,” McNeese head coach James Landreneau said going into the games.
McNeese came out swinging against the Rebels, scoring seven runs in the first. Six of those came with two outs.
Rebel starter Kyra Aycock got just one out before being knocked from the circle. It was Aycock’s first loss in three decisions.
Sophomore catcher Onna Pruitt had the biggest hit of the inning, a two-run single that finished the scoring. The Cowgirls pulled out the power in the second as back-to-back home runs by Rylee Cloud and Corine Poncho were followed up a batter later by Jada Munoz blasting one of her own down the line in left field.
All three home runs were solo shots. For Cloud and Munoz, it was their second of the season, while Poncho hit her first.
The Rebels used five home runs, two each by Persy Llamas and Madi George, to cut the lead to 10-8 after six innings, but the Cowgirls scored twice in the seventh for some breathing room.
It was needed as the Rebels scored three times in the bottom of the seventh before finally being finished.
Poncho, Nunoz, and Kassidy Chance all had two hits for McNeese. Every Cowgirl to bat had at least one RBI.
