McNeese Cowboys Rally to Beat Sam Houston State in Season Opener

Newcomers lead comeback from 5-run deficit in wild 11-inning game

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The McNeese Cowboys rallied from a 5-run deficit in the sixth inning to defeat the Sam Houston State Bearkats 9-8 in 11 innings in their season opener on Friday night. Several newcomers, including Hayden Stringfellow, Korey Cooper, and Daniel Pinkerton, made key contributions to the comeback win.

Why it matters

This thrilling come-from-behind victory to open the season sets the stage for what could be an exciting year for the McNeese baseball program. The ability of the new players to step up and lead the charge back shows the team has depth and resilience, which will be important as they look to compete in the Southland Conference.

The details

Trailing 7-2 in the sixth inning, the Cowboys scored three runs to get within 7-5. They then tied the game at 8-8 in the ninth inning on a two-out double by Larry Edwards. In the 11th inning, Hayden Stringfellow's double drove in the winning run for McNeese. Several newcomers had big games, including Stringfellow going 3-for-5, Korey Cooper hitting a solo home run, and Daniel Pinkerton driving in three runs with a pair of doubles.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • The two teams will continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at 2 p.m.

The players

Hayden Stringfellow

A transfer from Bossier Parish Community College who delivered the game-winning hit for McNeese.

Korey Cooper

A newcomer who hit a solo home run in his first at-bat for McNeese.

Daniel Pinkerton

A transfer from Bossier Parish Community College who came off the bench and drove in three runs with a pair of doubles.

Justin Hill

The head coach of the McNeese Cowboys.

Cooper Golden

The starting pitcher for McNeese who was one of six Cowboys pitchers used in the game.

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What they’re saying

“I saw the pitch and took it that way. First at-bat, I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous. After that, I settled and made the best of it.”

— Hayden Stringfellow (americanpress.com)

“The focus for this night is the fight our guys had. We got some things to work on, but we kept fighting.”

— Justin Hill, McNeese Head Coach (americanpress.com)

“It is going to be a fun year. We battled back, and I think we can do some good things this season.”

— Hayden Stringfellow (americanpress.com)

What’s next

The two teams will continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at 2 p.m.

The takeaway

This thrilling come-from-behind victory to open the season showcases the depth and resilience of the McNeese baseball team, with several newcomers stepping up to lead the charge. It sets the stage for what could be an exciting year for the Cowboys as they look to compete in the Southland Conference.