LAKE CHARLES, LA. – Despite three runs in the seventh inning, the East Texas A&M University fell 6-3 to the conference-leading McNeese Cowgirls on Saturday afternoon at the Cowgirl Diamond to end the series.
 
The loss drops the Lions to 9-38 on the season and 5-19 in Southland Conference play with three games to play, while McNeese is now 34-17 overall, 20-4 in SLC action, and 9-0 all-time against the Lions.
 
Heading into the final conference series next weekend, the Lions hold a one-game lead over A&M-Corpus Christi for the final spot into the eight-team conference tournament and hold the tiebreaker as well.
 
On Saturday, Reese Reyna singled through the left side to lead off the bottom of the second. Brylie Fontenot also singled and advanced to second on the throw as Reyna advanced to third. After a walk drawn by Sarah Allen to load the bases with no outs, Reyna scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Baylie Dunham.
 
Nyjah Fontenot drove in Brylie Fontenot with a sacrifice fly to center as well. In the bottom of the fourth, Allen drew another walk, this one with an out in the inning. Dunham and Kassidy Chance drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and Nyjah Fontenot tripled, plating all three runners, and scored on the play as well on an error by the Lions.
 
All three runs in the game for the Lions came in the seventh. Emmie Miehe (Cameron Park, Calif.) singled to right and Darby Hickey (Plano Senior) came in as a pinch hitter and doubled to right center.
 
After a pitching change, Stephanie Tapia (Yuma, Ariz.) singled to left, plating Miehe. Neveah Terrell (Pennsauken, N.J.) came in as a pinch runner for Tapia. The Cowgirls picked up two outs on a double play and then Aaliyah Wilcox (Covington, Ga.) hit her second home run of the season, this one to left, bringing home Terrell as well.
 
The Lions left seven runners on base in the game through the first six innings, while the Cowgirls left eight. Wilcox went 2 for 4 in the game, Maddie Cason (Honey Grove) went 2 for 2, and Miehe went 2 for 3 for the Lions.
 
Nyjah Fontenot had two of the six hits for the Cowgirls. Ryann Schexnayder collected the win in the circle for McNeese, allowing one earned run in six innings.
 
For the Lions, Kate Houser (Lorena) got the loss, being charged with five earned runs in 3.1 innings.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions end SLC play at HCU next weekend. Friday's doubleheader begins at 4 p.m. and Saturday's finale is set for noon.