LAKE CHARLES, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears rallied twice Friday night but could not manage a third comeback as the McNeese State Cowboys won the Southland Conference series opener 10-8 at Cowboy Diamond.
The Bears (12-15, 3-7) overcame an early 5-1 deficit, then came back from being down 7-4 to take an 8-7 lead in the sixth inning. But the Cowboys (14-13, 5-5) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and then turned the game over to its bullpen. Phil Parcell allowed just one hit and struck out three, pitching the seventh and eighth innings.
McNeese closer Jordan Legros then earned his league-leading eighth save, setting the Bears down in order in the ninth.
UCA took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when sophomore Ethan Harris reached on an error and scored on Bryan Willson’s two-out single up the middle. The Cowboys exploded for five runs in the bottom of the inning, led by a three-run home run by Lee Orr, his first of two on the night.
The Bears got three more runs in the third inning. First baseman Jonathan Houston had a two-run home run, and Willson went back-to-back with a another blast to pull UCA within 5-4. After McNeese stretched its lead to 7-4 with a pair of runs in the fourth, UCA took the lead again with a four-run sixth. Catcher Travis Snider was hit by a pitch and Jake Fuller doubled to put runners at second and third.
Greg Noble had a base hit to score Snider and Zack Dickson’s squeeze bunt scored Fuller. Noble eventually scored on a wild pitch and Kyle Prevett knocked in Dickson with a sacrifice fly for an 8-7 lead. But the Cowboys, who out-hit the Bears 14-6, immediately went back in front for good with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Orr had his second home run of the night and finished 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored and 5 RBI.
Willson led the Bears, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. John Kordsmeier (1-2) got the loss for UCA in relief of starter Evan Cox. MSU starter Zach Butler (4-1) got the victory, going six innings and allowing 8 runs, 5 earned.
Game 2 of the series is set for 3 p.m. Saturday.
