NEW ORLEANS - McNeese State scored seven runs in the ninth inning to steal a 14-13 win at New Orleans on Wednesday at Maestri Field.
Jace Peterson went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs, and pinch hitter Justin Beitzel hit a three-run home run, as the Cowboys (22-18) swept a home-and-home series against UNO (11-30).
UNO held a 13-7 lead entering the final inning, but the Cowboys got to UNO reliever Kevin DeGrouttola for five runs in the ninth. Beitzel hit a three-run home run to left-center field before Jordan Venable (2-for-5) hit a two-run shot to left.
Tyler Sanders relieved DeGrouttola with nobody out, and the Cowboys managed to load the bases before Peterson drew a game-tying walk. A fielder's choice RBI groundout by Steven Irvine scored Matt Fontenot for the deciding run.
Right-hander Matt Click got the final three outs to clinch his second save.
Jerad Comarda went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs, while Mike Petello added three hits and two RBIs for the Privateers. UNO, which had 14 hits in Tuesday's win at nationally-ranked LSU, tallied 16 hits against MSU.
UNO's first four hitters in the lineup (Ryan Eden, Petello, Nick Schwaner and Comarda) combined for 11 hits, nine runs and eight RBIs.
The Privateers scored four runs and chased MSU starter Taylor Ducoff in the first inning. But the visitors rallied with six runs in the second, helped by two errors.
UNO, though, loaded the bases in the second, and Comarda cleared them with a two-run double. Schwaner also scored on an error by MSU left fielder Andy Riche'.
The Privateers seemingly put it away with a four-run fifth to make it 11-6. Kyle Maldonado led off the frame with a solo home run, and Comarda later added a two-run blast.
UNO added two more in the sixth to take a 13-6 advantage before MSU scored a run in the seventh to cut it to 13-7.
The Privateers will continue Sun Belt Conference play this weekend with a three-game road trip at UALR. The series begins at 6 p.m. on Friday.
