Box Score

HUNTSVILLE – The McNeese Cowboys rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to sneak away with a 4-3 victory over the Sam Houston State Bearkats in the opening game of a three-game series on Friday night at Don Sanders Stadium.

The Bearkats (15-8, 7-3 SLC) held a 3-1 lead after eight innings on the strength of a 2-run homer from Hunter Hearn in the sixth inning and an RBI single by Colton Cowser in the eighth; however, McNeese (15-11, 3-4 SLC) got hits from each of its first three hitters of the ninth inning before Brett Whelton delivered a 2-run single to put the Cowboys ahead for good.

It spoiled another noteworthy effort from staff ace Hayden Wesneski who continued to be stellar this season, taking a no-decision after working into the ninth. The junior righty added nine more strikeouts to his season's ledger and had allowed just one unearned run until each of the two batters he faced in the ninth eventually came around to score.

The Bearkats had just seven hits in the game as Cowboy starter Rhett Deaton turned in arguably his best effort of the season, working 7.2 innings with four strikeouts. Bryan King moved to 3-1 on the year with the victory despite facing just two hitters in the game, while Aidan Anderson struck out two of the three hitters he faced in a perfect ninth for his fourth save of the year.

Colton Cowser had his first four-hit game of his career, picking up a double and an RBI; however, the rest of the Bearkat lineup was just 3-for-26.

The loss on the night went to Nick Mikolajchak after he allowed a run on two hits in the ninth, striking out a pair.

UP NEXT

The Bearkats will look to square the series vs McNeese on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in a game that will be aired on the Bearkat Sports Network's YouTube channel.