HOUSTON – HBU scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning, but McNeese answered with five in the second and scored four in the fourth and four in the ninth for a 14-9 victory over HBU to clinch the Southland Conference regular-season title Saturday afternoon at Husky Field.
 
Junior designated hitter Tyler LaRue went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs, while senior leftfielder Lane Botkin went 2-for-2 for the Huskies (18-34, 11-13 SLC).
 
Senior Andrew Reitmeyer (3-3) took the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on one hit with a strikeout and three walks in one inning of relief.
 
Payton Harden was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and scored three times, while Josh Leslie was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs for the Cowboys (30-21, 15-9). Brad Burckel was 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs and Reid Bourque was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and one run.
 
Tyler Stone (2-0) picked up the win, holding the Huskies scoreless on one hit with four strikeouts over the final 2.1 innings. Cameron Foster allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 5.2 innings of relief.
 
HBU will be the six seed and will face the three seed New Orleans in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament Thursday in Hammond, Louisiana.