LAKE CHARLES, La. (Interstat) — A late sacrifice fly proved decisive as the McNeese State Cowboys edged the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 4-3 in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday night at Sudduth Coliseum.

The game, a tightly contested affair that saw the lead change hands twice, was ultimately decided in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the score knotted at 3-3, McNeese State’s Isaiah Keller led off with a double and advanced to third on a single by Kade Pinkerton. Following an offensive timeout, designated hitter Grant Heusohn delivered a deep fly ball to right-center field, allowing Keller to tag and score the go-ahead run.

The Bulldogs out-hit the Cowboys 13 to 11 but stranded 12 baserunners and could not answer in the ninth against McNeese State reliever Eric Nachtsheim, who struck out two in a scoreless final frame to secure the win.

Louisiana Tech struck first, pushing a run across in the opening inning. A single by Kade Hawsey, a double from Michael Coates and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with one out. After a strikeout, Adarius Scott worked a walk to force in Hawsey for an early 1-0 lead.

McNeese State responded forcefully in the third, batting around to take the lead. After a hit-by-pitch, catcher Connor Walker delivered an RBI double to put the Cowboys on the board. A single and a stolen base set the stage for a sacrifice fly by Anthony Barbero to tie the game. Reid Stringfellow followed with an RBI single to give McNeese State a 3-1 advantage.

The Bulldogs clawed back in the sixth, capitalizing on a pivotal error. Scott walked and Ethan Patterson reached on a sacrifice bunt error by the pitcher, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Cole McCoy grounded out to bring in one run, and Brody Snider singled up the middle to tie the game at 3-3. Louisiana Tech loaded the bases later in the inning but could not break the tie.

The Cowboys’ bullpen combination of Elliott Burrows, Kellen Corcoran, Cade Blackwell and Nachtsheim held the Bulldogs scoreless over the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five to preserve the victory.

Key performances included McNeese State’s Connor Walker, who went 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Isaiah Keller, who was 3 for 4 with two doubles and the decisive run. For Louisiana Tech, relievers Connor Nation, Nate Crider and Drew Ferguson combined for 5 1/3 innings of hitless, scoreless relief, striking out six.

With the win, McNeese State improved its season record to 20-19. Louisiana Tech fell to 24-18. The victory avenged an 8-3 loss to the Bulldogs earlier in the season on Feb. 18.

The most important part of the game was the bottom of the eighth inning. After Keller’s leadoff double and Pinkerton’s single put runners on the corners with no outs, the Cowboys executed perfectly to reclaim the lead. Heusohn’s sacrifice fly, the team’s second of the game, provided the winning margin. The inning nearly grew larger, but a line-drive double play ended the threat and set the stage for the narrow victory.