No sweep for Cowboys in loss to Southeastern

McNeese State falls in series finale after winning first two games

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:18pm

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The McNeese State Cowboys were unable to complete a weekend sweep over Southeastern Louisiana, falling 13-8 in the series finale. After winning the first two games, the Cowboys took a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning, but a disastrous sixth inning saw the Lions score 8 runs on just 3 hits, including 3 home runs. McNeese pitchers struggled with control, walking 6 batters and hitting 3 more, while the defense committed 2 errors leading to 4 unearned runs for Southeastern.

Why it matters

The loss drops McNeese to 12-11 overall and 6-6 in Southland Conference play, two games back of the conference leaders. The Cowboys had a chance to gain ground with a weekend sweep, but instead missed out on that opportunity. The team will look to rebound with several home games coming up, including a non-conference matchup against Southern and a key Southland series against Abilene Christian.

The details

McNeese State took a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning on a two-run pinch-hit home run by Simon Larranaga. But in the sixth, Southeastern exploded for 8 runs on just 3 hits - all home runs. Peyton Wood hit a grand slam, Connor Cuff added a two-run shot, and Alex Perry also homered. The Lions also benefited from 6 walks and 3 hit batters issued by 6 different McNeese pitchers, with 5 of those runners coming around to score. Two Cowboys errors also led to 4 unearned runs for Southeastern.

  • The series finale was played on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
  • McNeese won the first two games of the 3-game series on Friday and Saturday.

The players

Justin Hill

The head coach of the McNeese State Cowboys baseball team.

Simon Larranaga

A McNeese State player who hit a two-run pinch-hit home run to give the Cowboys a 5-4 lead in the fifth inning.

Peyton Wood

A Southeastern Louisiana player who hit a grand slam in the 6th inning to spark the Lions' 8-run outburst.

Connor Cuff

A Southeastern Louisiana player who hit a two-run home run in the 6th inning.

Alex Perry

A Southeastern Louisiana player who hit a home run in both the 4th and 6th innings.

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What they’re saying

“It was a solid week with one bad inning.”

— Justin Hill, McNeese State head coach

“We have got to play clean, and we didn't do that.”

— Justin Hill, McNeese State head coach

“We found out some things today.”

— Justin Hill, McNeese State head coach

What’s next

The loss drops McNeese to 12-11 overall and 6-6 in Southland Conference play. The Cowboys will look to rebound with several home games coming up, including a non-conference matchup against Southern on Tuesday and a key Southland series against Abilene Christian this weekend.

The takeaway

This series loss is a missed opportunity for the Cowboys to gain ground in the Southland Conference standings, as they were unable to complete the weekend sweep after winning the first two games. McNeese will need to shore up its pitching and defense to get back on track in conference play.