McNeese softball split its Southland Conference doubleheader against Houston Christian University on April 15, improving to a 28-18 overall record and 12-9 in the conference. The Huskies dropped to 7-34 overall and 4-17 in the Southland Conference.
The first game of the doubleheader saw HCU win 6-4. McNeese started a comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh inning when Corine Poncho doubled down the third base line to score Rylee Cloud, cutting HCU’s lead to 6-3. After a wild pitch moved Poncho to third, Makaya Daigle doubled to left field, scoring Poncho and narrowing the deficit further. Despite bringing the tying run to the plate twice, McNeese was unable to tie up the game.
In game two, HCU again took an early lead by scoring two runs in the first inning on two hits and two Cowgirl errors. McNeese responded with an RBI double from Rylee Cloud that scored Maddie Weeks. The Cowgirls then added five runs on four hits, including a two-RBI home run by Corrine Poncho. Four more runs followed in the fourth inning for a commanding lead.
After an HCU pitching change in the seventh inning of game two, Poncho hit her second home run of the night—her sixth of the season—ending the game with a walk-off shot over left field. She finished her day going four for six at bat with two home runs, one double, five RBIs and three runs scored.
Kynlei Chapman took her sixth loss of this season as pitcher for McNeese in game one while Brookelyn Taylor improved her record to ten wins and six losses after securing victory in game two.
Looking ahead, McNeese will remain at home for another Southland Conference series against Stephen F. Austin this weekend with games scheduled for Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Senior players will be honored following Saturday’s doubleheader.
