Easton McDowell and Larry Edwards continue their hot hitting as the Cowboys keep on winning.

McDowell and Edwards combined for four hits and drove in five runs as McNeese made history by winning its 10th straight game Friday afternoon at Sullivan Field in San Antonio.

Conner Westenburg finished 3-for-6 and drove in three runs himself as the Cowboys beat up on last-place Incarnate Word 11-6 to open a 3-game Southland Conference series.

McNeese entered the game with the third-longest win streak in the nation and was on the verge of breaking the mark for the best start in program history. 

The Cowboys improved to 25-5, 12-4, to not only set the mark but also crawl to within a half-game of first-place Houston Christian in the league race. HCU was scheduled to host Northwestern State Friday night.

The Cowboys scored first against the Cardinals, thanks to Edwards. Edwards came through with a two-out, two-run single to left in the top of the third. On Wednesday, Edwards drove in three of the four McNeese runs when the Cowboys beat Houston in 10 innings to open the five-game road trip.

Kagan McGee cut the lead in half in the fifth when he led the inning off with a solo home run to left. It was McGee’s first career homer. 

McGee’s blast started a rally that put the Cardinals up 3-2 on Rob Liddington’s RBI single to center. Westenburg kept the Cowboys down by just a run by throwing out Thomas Lyssy at the plate. Lyssy was trying to score from second.

The Cowboys took the lead right back in the top of the sixth with two runs on two hits. Dowell drove in Marcus Heusohn first with a bouncer to short, and Brady Hollins gave McNeese the lead at 4-3 with an infield single that sent Edwards home.

The Cowboys added to their lead in the eighth with another pair of runs. Grant Mangrum bunted in the first score, and Westenburg made it 6-3 with a single up the middle. 

After UIW scored a run in the bottom of the eighth, the Cowboys put things away in the ninth by scoring five times. Dowell and Westenburg each drove in two runs with singles.

Dowell raised his league-leading average to .424.

Rey Mendoza tied the UIW school record when he hit a 2-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. It was Mendoza’s ninth of the season and 24th of his career. 

Cooper Golden improved to 2-2 with the win. The McNeese starter went five innings, allowing three runs on five hits before turning things over to the bullpen.

Gus McKay took the loss for UIW. 

The two teams will play the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. Left-hander Alexis Gravel will get the start for McNeese.

Gravel is 3-1 with a 2.86 earned run average. The Cardinals will counter with fellow lefty Josh Salinas (2-4, 5.94).