LAKE CHARLES- The Cowboy offense pounded out 16 hits to complement Ty Abraham's 5.1 innings of one-run ball as McNeese (11-9) won 6-3 to even the series against Eastern Illinois (12-4), Saturday afternoon at Joe Miller Ballpark.

DH Kade Hunter got the scoring started in the bottom of the first after slapping an RBI single into left field that scored LF Julian Gonzales from second. Gonzales had reached on a single to left and stole second base. 

The Cowboys picked off two EIU runners in the top of the fourth. SP Ty Abraham picked off Chris Worcester at first, then C Schuyler Thibodaux threw behind a runner at first to get Dalton Doyle out on the base path. 

The Cowboys increased their lead to 2-0 in the fourth after an RBI double by SS Reid Bourque. The double scored Thibodaux who was on first with a single. 

Second basemen Brad Burckel crushed his fourth homer of the season to right field in the fifth inning off EIU starter Cameron Doherty to give the Pokes a three-run lead. The Cowboys tagged Doherty for 11 hits and five runs. 

The Panthers got on the board with a solo home run by Ryan Ignoffo in the sixth inning. The Cowboys, however, would respond with two more runs in the bottom of the inning on Reid Bourque's two-run dinger.

An error by McNeese would allow the Panthers to score two more runs in the seventh to trim the Cowboy lead to 5-3. CF Payton Harden led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single, he advanced to second on a passed ball, then scored on RF Braden Duhon's RBI single through the right side. 

Closer Cameron Foster earned his sixth save of the season. He needed just 22 pitches to get through the final two innings, he gave up one hit and struck out three. 

Six Cowboys had two or more hits: Julian Gonzales (2-5), Brad Burckel (2-4), Kade Hunter (3-5), Payton Harden (2-5), Braden Duhon (2-4), and Reid Bourque (3-4).

Notes:

• Reid Bourque made his 200th career start at shortstop, his 201st overall game played ranks eighth-most in program history. Andrew Guillotte (2012-15) and Joe Provenzano (2015-18)  are tied for the most games played in a McNeese uniform with 222. 
• In the last seven games, the Cowboys have had six games with 11+ hits. 
• Ty Abraham's win was his second of the season, he struck out four batters.
• Brad Burckel's homer was his team-leading fourth of the year.

Postgame: Ty Abraham and Kade Hunter

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Next Game:
The three-game series will continue tomorrow at 1 PM. (McN) Chance Stone and (EIU) Blake Malatestinic are the pitching probables.