But the story is not yet over.
The Cowboys become the first repeat tournament champion since the Bearkats won it in 2016 and 2017, and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals which will be announced on Monday.
McNeese (32-28) entered the contest cruising through the first three games by outscoring its opponents by a 33-4 margin while the pitching staff has allowed just four total runs. A first inning, two-run home run by Clayton Rasbeary would be all the offense the Cowboys would need while the pitching staff of Will Dion, Bryson Hudgens and Cameron Foster stymied the explosive Bearkat offense for nine innings.
"You can't go through something like this without it being a God thing," said head coach Justin Hill about all the obstacles the Cowboys have faced this season. "How many times have you seen a baseball game won on one swing… one swing. We did it twice. We did it against Southeastern here, we hit a three-run homer (on Thursday) and won 3-2. We hit a 2-run homer in the first inning off of (Bearkat starter Kyle) Backhus who was amazing. If he pitches like that, he's gonna be in the big leagues. They (Sam Houston) didn't deserve to lose that game, it's just our turn."
After Rasbeary's homer, the Cowboy offense was held in check for the rest of the night by Backhus. But McNeese's mound squad of Dion, Hudgens and Foster was simply incredible.
Dion threw the first three innings and allowed three hits and one run while striking out seven and got two huge strikeouts in the first inning after league player of the year Colton Cowser tripled with one out.
The Bearkats cut the margin to 2-1 with their only run in the third inning, but in the fifth, loaded the bases on reliever Hudgens with one out. Hill made the call to the bullpen to bring in Foster, who has been the closer lately.
"Bryson (Hudgens) was good in his first inning," said Hill. "They got a guy on base and then a couple of walks. We needed to strike somebody out and he's (Foster) is our best strikeout guy."
Foster forced a pop out behind home plate then he tagged a runner attempting to score on a passed ball as the Cowboys were able to keep the Bearkats from scoring.
McNeese looked like it was ready to open up the gates in the sixth when Kade Morris reached on a fielding error and Payton Harden and Rasbeary followed with singles to load the bases with no outs. But Backhaus dug down and struck out Nate Fisbeck then got Tré Obregon to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
Foster was cruising, however, and faced the league's best player in Cowser for the final out.
"I don't think it could've been drawn up any better," said Foster who got Cowser to fly out to Julian Gonzales in left field to end the game.
Rasbeary had two of the Cowboys three hits on the night and was named the tournament's most valuable player. Harden, who had the other hit, was named to the all-tournament team as was Dion.
Foster earned his fifth save of the season after throwing 4.2 scoreless innings and giving up two hits with a walk while striking out four. Hudgens (2-3) picked up the win after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings and just one hit allowed with a couple of walks and strikeouts.
Sam Houston's Backhaus (4-2) suffered the loss after throwing the complete game and giving up one unearned two, two total, on three hits, no walks and six strikeouts.
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CHAMPS Again! Pokes capture second straight tourney title - McNeese Athletics
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