The McNeese Cowgirls (0-1) fell to the #1 Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0) 13-3 on Thursday night at Cowgirl Diamond. The game represented the season opener for both teams and was part of the Twisted Vines Bayou Bash.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Lindsay Davis got the start in the circle for the Cowgirls. However, it was Texas Tech that started out hot on offense. After a leadoff walk, they would string together two straight hits including an RBI double from Mia Williams. After a sacrifice fly and RBI for Alanna Davis, it was 2-0 Red Raiders. That prompted James Landreneau to make an early pitching change, going to Ryann Schexnayder. Then, Hailey Toney launched a three-run shot to center to open it up to a 5-0 lead in the first.
Nijaree Canady, the top pitcher in the country, got the start for Texas Tech. She was able to cruise in the early innings, keeping the McNeese lineup down and not allowing any hits.
Texas Tech would extend their lead in the second. Lauren Allred, a former Ragin’ Cajun, helped that cause with a two-run single. The Red Raiders would also score twice in the third, capped by a solo home run from Taylor Pannell. That gave them a 10-0 lead.
McNeese would get their first hit in the third, a single by Delaney Dunham. Then, Kassidy Chance followed that up with an RBI double off the wall in center field. That put the Cowgirls on the board and made the score 10-1.
In the top half of the fifth, Mia Williams added a two-run shot to extend the Texas Tech lead. Alona Johnson added a homer herself to make it 13-1.
In the bottom half, McNeese would chip away at the lead. They scored two, including one on a Corine Poncho RBI single. That cut it to 13-3 but still invoked the run-rule as Texas tech earned the win.
BIG NUMBER: 5
The hot start for Texas Tech was all they needed to get rolling in this one. Five runs in the first inning put McNeese in a difficult hole to get out of, and they were unable to do so.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mia Williams
Williams had herself a night at the plate. She went 3-3 with a home run, two doubles, and four RBIs. She led a Red Raider offense that had no issues getting going on opening night.
UP NEXT: McNeese will continue play in the Twisted Vines Bayou Bash with a double-header on Friday, February 6th. They’ll face North Texas at 4 PM and UL Monroe at 6:30 PM, with both games at Cowgirl Diamond in Lake Charles.
