LAKE CHARLES—McNeese softball split its games on Day 2 of the Cowgirl Classic I here Saturday with an 8-0, 5 inning run-rule shutout win over Texas Southern before falling 2-1 to Central Arkansas in the nightcap.
 
McNeese (3-1) scored early and often against Texas Southern (0-4), taking a 2-0 lead after the third inning.  McNeese then scored four runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to pick up the win.
 
Freshman Lindsay Davis picked up her first collegiate win by going the distance.  Davis allowed five hits, struck out five, and allowed only two walks.
 
The Cowgirls picked up seven hits in the win and was led by Erin Ardoin at the plate who was 2 for 2 with one of the six Cowgirl RBI.  Jil Poullard led McNeese with two RBI and Chloe Gomez scored two runs.
 
In the loss to UCA (4-0), McNeese took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning.  That lead held up until the Bears scored two runs in the fourth inning for a 2-1 lead.  McNeese missed an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth when Crislyne Moreno singled to left but was thrown out at second base in an attempt to stretch her single into a double.  Emily Phillips followed Moreno with a double to left center but would be called out for leaving early for the second out before Reese Reyna flew out to center to end the inning.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, McNeese had another chance to tie the game when Mariana Torres' long fly ball looked like it was going over the fence but the left fielder dropped the ball in an attempt to make the out that allowed Torres to make it all the way to third base.  Torres, who represented the tying run was left stranded when Rylie Bouvier grounded out to third to end the game.
 
McNeese will conclude tournament play against UAB at 12:30 p.m. Sunday following the 10 a.m. game between Texas Southern and Idaho State.