RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — Danny Barbero homered and drove in three runs as the McNeese State Cowboys defeated the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 8-3 on Wednesday at J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

The Cowboys, projected to lose by Interstat’s simulator, scored twice in the fourth and fifth innings before breaking the game open with a four-run ninth. Hayden Stringfellow went 4 for 5 with an RBI for McNeese State, which pounded out 14 hits.

Louisiana Tech’s Cole Lunsford hit two home runs, a two-run shot in the first and a solo blast in the seventh, accounting for all three Bulldogs runs. The loss was the first in five games for Louisiana Tech. McNeese State evened its record at 2-2.