Fontenot delivers in Cowgirl win
Nyjah Fontenot is greeted by teammates after delivering winning hit Saturday. (McNeese Athletics photo)
The Cowgirls are making walk-off wins a habit.
Top-seeded McNeese was pushed to the brink for the second time in the Lake Charles bracket, winning only with one final swing.
Nyjah Fontenot's sharp single up the middle scored pinch-runner Rylee Eyster from second with two out in the bottom of the seventh Saturday to give McNeese a 4-3 victory over Incarnate Word.
The win was the Cowgirls' third straight walk-off win in postseason play at Joe Miller Ballpark, dating back to the championship game of 2022.
Fontenot's winner came after the Cardinal (28-20) had rallied from three runs down to tie the game at 3-3.
'That was a really good softball game,' said McNeese head coach James Landreneau. 'We bounced back from them tying it and regained the momentum. It's a big win.'
The victory sends the top-seeded Cowgirls (39-18) into the title game on Sunday at 1 p.m. They will face the Saturday night's matchup winner between No. 4 UIW and No. 5 Lamar. McNeese will have to win once on Sunday to host the best-of-3 championship series against No. 2 seed Southeastern starting Thursday.
An Arkansas transfer, Fontenot ensured McNeese stayed in the winner's bracket.
'I had an idea of what I wanted to do,' said Fontenot. 'I didn't want to overdo it, so I just put a good swing on it.'
The rally started with a one-out pinch-hit single from Gwinn Hall. Eyster ran for Hall, and one out later was on second, after Kassidy Chance singled to leave, setting up Fontenot.
'Nyjah was able to come up with that big hit for us,' said Landreneau. 'We just keep working and trying to make something happen.'
Senior Reese Reyna had another big tournament game. The shortstop went 3-for-3 and scored two runs. She has four straight hits in this tournament.
'Just playing one pitch at a time,' said Reyna. 'We trust everybody in our lineup. You just have to do it when you get your shot.'
Rylie Bouvier drove in a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly and double as McNeese took a 3-0 lead after four innings. But a two-run homer by Prisias Quintero, her first of the season, cut the McNeese lead to 3-2 in the sixth.
In the seventh, the Cardinals tied the game with a run without a hit, scoring on a groundout to second to tie the game.
McNeese freshman Maddie Taylor started, was replaced for two-thirds of an inning by Ryann Schexnayder, and returned to get the win and improve to 17-7. The Pitcher of the Year finished her 6⅓ innings of work, allowing just one run on five hits, striking out five and walking three.
The victory was McNeese's 44th straight over the last three years at home against Southland opponents and 16th in their last 17 games overall.
'I thought Maddie pitched a really good game,' said Landreneau. 'When I took her out, we told her to stay in the game, we might bring her back. That's not always easy, but she did it.'
The game was originally scheduled for Friday night; however, the heavy rains washed things back to Saturday and into Sunday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
American Press
a day ago
- American Press
Cowboys learn tourney schedule
Last November, the Cowboys used a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands to help build the camaraderie that led to a historic season. McNeese State hopes to do that again this year. The Cowboys will be the headline act at the four-team field for the 2025 Cayman Islands Classic, which runs November 23-25. 'We're thrilled to participate in such a prestigious event, set in one of the most beautiful locations in the world,' said McNeese head coach Bill Armstrong. 'Competing against three programs with strong traditions of postseason success will be a significant early test for our team. Each matchup will present unique challenges and provide a valuable gauge of our current standing. 'It's a great opportunity to learn, grow, and identify the areas we need to improve as we prepare for conference play.' McNeese is coming off a 28-7 campaign that saw the Cowboys win their second straight Southland Conference championship, marking the first time in program history. The Cowboys also won their first NCAA Tournament game ever, upsetting Clemson 69-67 in the opening round of the Midwest Regional in Providence, Rhode Island. McNeese would lose its second-round match against Big Ten powerhouse Purdue. Armstrong takes over the Cowboys following Will Wade's departure for North Carolina State last March. He was able to retain four key members from last year's team, including starters Javohn Garcia and sharpshooter DJ Richards. Garcia was the Southland Conference's Player of the Year last season. With eight or nine new players on the roster, Armstrong will use this trip to continue building the Cowboys' team unity. 'It is important that we use trips like this to come together as a team,' Armstrong said. 'It will be great for an educational experience and a chance for us to bond as a group. 'We will also get a chance to play some good teams at a time when we are still trying to figure things out. I would rather play a tournament setting because there is a prize, but getting these three games against like competition will be big for us.' McNeese will be joined by George Washington, Murray State and Middle Tennessee State in the round-robin event. 'We're excited to welcome these outstanding programs to this year's Cayman Islands Classic,' said Joe Wright, owner and chief executive officer of Caymax Sports Ltd. 'They're in for a first-class experience — both on the court and in the beautiful Cayman Islands. It's going to be a special week of competition, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories for teams and fans alike.' The Cowboys will open the tourney, which is in its seventh year, against George Washington on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m., Lake Charles time. Middle Tennessee State and Murray State will play the night's second game. The following night, the Cowboys will play Murray State in the late game, roughly 6:30 p.m., with Middle Tennessee and GW in the opener. McNeese will open the final night with a 4 p.m. game against Middle Tennessee in John Gray Gymnasium in George Town, Grand Cayman. Middle Tennessee State went 22–12 in 2024-25, advancing to the National Invitation Tournament under head coach Nick McDevitt. Chris Caputo returns for his third year as head coach at George Washington, which plays in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Ryan Miller enters his first year as head coach at the Missouri Valley Conference's Murray State, looking to improve on the team's 16–17 record from last year. The Cowboys are still looking to fill the final two games of their schedule in hopes of finding a pair of Power 4 opponents. Tournament Schedule (all times central) Sunday, Nov. 23 McNeese vs. George Washington, 4 p.m. Middle Tennessee vs. Murray State, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24 Middle Tennessee vs. George Washington, 4 p.m. McNeese vs. Murray State, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25 Murray State vs. George Washington, 4 p.m. McNeese vs. Middle Tennessee, 6:30 p.m.
American Press
a day ago
- American Press
Poncho back with Cowgirls
McNeese slugger Corine Poncho is back after sitting out the 2024 season to concentrate on her studies. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press Archives) McNeese head softball coach James Landreneau hit a home run on the recruiting circuit Tuesday, and he never had to leave campus. According to sources, Corine Poncho, the power-hitting first baseman who sat out last season, has rejoined the Cowgirl softball team. An official announcement is expected later Tuesday afternoon. During the season, Landreneau stated that Poncho was always considered in good standing with the program despite her surprising decision to miss the year and focus on her studies. Landreneau saw his young team become a surprise four-time Southland Conference regular-season champs. The Cowgirls are the first SLC team ever to win four straight titles. McNeese finished the year 41-20 and advanced to the title game of the SLC championship series, where the Cowgirls lost heartbreakingly to Southeastern at home. Poncho was often seen attending many of the home games. In 2024, Poncho led the Southland Conference with 15 home runs as a sophomore, finishing with a .313 batting average and 36 runs batted in. She also walked a league-best 34 times while scoring 48 runs. Poncho earned first-team all-SLC honors for her efforts, as she also stole 16 bases. She will have two years of eligibility remaining. As a freshman, Poncho hit .341 over 41 games with three homers, 15 RBIs, and nine walks. During her senior season at Notre Dame High School in Crowley, she set the national record for home runs in a season with 32, driving in 71 runs, and was named Miss Softball in Louisiana. Her return to the roster will bolster a lineup that includes Jada Munoz, who had a breakout season last year with 15 home runs in her first season as a full-time starter at third base. Also expected back is Alexis Dibbley, who missed the second half of last season with an injury. As a rookie in 2024, Dibbley hit .351 with six home runs and 13 doubles in 57 games. She was named the SLC and Louisiana Freshman of the Year. The trio should give McNeese a powerful middle of the order next season. Landreneau confirmed Tuesday the signing of transfer infielder Maddie Weeks from Southern Mississippi. Weeks hit .299 last year while starting 51 games for the Golden Eagles. 'Maddie is a nice addition for us,' said Landreneau. 'She is a high-energy kid who can play all over the field and brings a lot of experience with her.' The Cowgirls will bring back a strong core for next year, as they will likely be the favorites to repeat as SLC champions for the fifth time.
American Press
a day ago
- American Press
NCAA settlement fallout: McNeese has NIL plan as it enters new economic era
The term student-athlete died on Friday. For years, the NCAA has attempted to distinguish its players from professionals, emphasizing that they are students first. That mirage now seems lost forever. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken gave final approval to the landmark settlement in the House vs. NCAA antitrust lawsuit, which had been ongoing for five years, ending nearly a year of negotiations and revisions. The $2.8 billion, 10-year settlement will pay past players for missed name, image and likeness opportunities and allow colleges to pay current players directly starting July 1. As schools of all levels throughout the country scramble to figure out what's next, McNeese State officials say they are ready for the future. 'It's a new and exciting time for college athletics,' McNeese Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer said. 'My staff and I have been working for over a year to prepare. We've considered how these changes will impact McNeese athletics and also how we can best position ourselves.' Schroyer said McNeese will buy into the program, while other Football Championship Subdivision and Southland Conference schools will consider opting out. Houston Christian is likely one of those. 'We've decided to opt in and bring our collective/NIL in-house and participate in revenue sharing,' he said. 'We'll keep the same scholarship numbers this first year for each sport. During this first year, we will evaluate both our financial situation and the national landscape.' With the NIL becoming entirely in-house, the Ranch Collective, which previously ran the program, will transition into a new role, said Keifer Ackley, assistant AD for NIL and Student-Athlete at McNeese. 'This will allow us to streamline the process,' Ackley said. 'This will make us more transparent.' The Ranch Collective is likely to transition into a more marketing-focused tool for the university, he said. For now, it appears all programs will remain, but this is a fluid situation on all levels, and McNeese's goal, Schroyer said, remains to move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision level if the opportunity arises. There is also no telling what will come next as lawsuits are expected to be filed over a variety of concerns. 'Sometimes these decisions aren't popular with everyone, and that's OK,' Schroyer said. 'I get it. The only constant in life is change; college athletics have undergone significant changes in the last few years, and this trend is likely to continue.' NCAA President Charlie Baker wrote an open letter after the settlement: 'Approving the agreement reached by the NCAA, the defendant conferences and student-athletes in the settlement opens a pathway to begin stabilizing college sports,' Baker wrote. 'This new framework that enables schools to provide direct financial benefits to student-athletes and establishes clear and specific rules to regulate third-party NIL agreements marks a huge step forward for college sports.' Earlier this spring, Baker spoke to McNeese athletes about the future of college sports and seemed shocked by the number of players who had transferred to the school. As part of the settlement, McNeese, along with the other FCS schools, will be required to pay $180,000 this year and between $25,000 and $300,000, which the NCAA will deduct from the funds it provides to the school. Helping to pay for that will be a 12-game football schedule the FCS is expected to add in future years. The final decision on the extra game will be made in the last week of June. The settlement is a victory for power conference schools, which easily have the resources to cover the money and compete in what is now an unlimited bidding war. 'The approval of the House settlement agreement represents a significant milestone for the meaningful support of our student-athletes and a pivotal step toward establishing long-term sustainability for college sports, two of the Southeastern Conference's top priorities,' SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said. 'As the journey to modernize collegiate sports continues, we remain focused on identifying and implementing innovative opportunities for our student-athletes across all sports while maintaining the core values that make collegiate athletics uniquely meaningful.' While it's not clear how it will all play out, McNeese says it expects to pivot with whatever comes next.
