BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — Cooper Golden pitched six and two-thirds hitless innings as the McNeese State Cowboys opened Southland Conference play with a 3-1 victory over the Lamar Cardinals on Friday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Golden struck out five and allowed one unearned run before exiting. Lamar’s Jarret Williams was nearly as dominant, allowing one hit over six scoreless frames. The game was scoreless until the seventh, when McNeese State’s Larry Edwards broke the tie with an RBI double. The Cowboys added two insurance runs in the ninth on a hit-by-pitch and a fielder’s choice.

Lamar’s lone run came on a sixth-inning sacrifice fly. McNeese State managed just three hits but capitalized on opportunities, while Lamar stranded six hits. The Cowboys evened their record at 8-8, while the Cardinals fell to 10-8.