HOUSTON – HBU walked 13 batters and hit four others, with 10 of those coming around to score, as McNeese claimed the Southland Conference series opener, 12-6, Friday afternoon at Husky Field.
 
Redshirt freshman designated hitter Sean Horgan went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run, while senior centerfielder Chase Talbot went 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Huskies (2-14, 0-5 SLC). Senior leftfielder Lane Botkin was 2-for-5 with an RBI and freshman shortstop Sebastian Trinidad went 2-for-4.
 
Junior righthander Tyler Zarella (0-3) took the loss allowing three runs on a hit and three walks in two-thirds of an inning. Freshman Cy Murphy went four innings, giving up two runs on five hits.
 
Clayton Rasbeary went 3-for-5 with a triple and four RBIs for the Cowboys (10-6, 4-0) and Jake Dickerson went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and scored a run. Reid Borque went 2-for-3 with three walks, an RBI and scored three times, while Ben David was 2-for-4 and scored twice. Kade Morris went 1-for-3 with an RBI and scored twice and Payton Harden drove in a run and scored twice.
 
Isaac Duplechain (3-1) picked up the win, shutting out the Huskies on four hits with three strikeouts in three innings of relief. Starter Christian Vega allowed five runs on six hits with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
 
McNeese scored three runs in the first on three bases loaded walks, then scored four in the third on a bases loaded hit by pitch, an RBI single by Rasbeary and two more bases loaded walks to take a 7-0 lead.
 
HBU answered with five runs on seven hits in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 7-5.
 
Neither team scored in the middle innings, then Dickerson delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the seventh and Rasbeary added a three-run triple in the eighth to extend the Cowboys' lead.
 
The series continues with an 11 a.m. doubleheader Saturday, followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.