Riding a five-game win streak, the Cowboys are set to step up a level in competition.
McNeese State welcomes No. 25 Louisiana Tech into Joe Miller Ballpark for a three-game weekend series starting at 6 p.m. today.
The Bulldogs are 5-4 after opening the season with five consecutive wins. They have lost the last two against Southland Conference competition but have beaten LSU.
The Cowboys are rolling, having outscored opponents 74-6 during their winning streak. At 7-2, McNeese is off to its best start under head coach Justin Hill.
“This is a big series for us, I’m not going to downplay it,” Hill said. “It is a good chance for us to see where we are at against a really good opponent.”
Last year the Cowboys went to Ruston to help Tech open its new stadium and were swept. Hill missed that series with COVID-19.
“They hosted a regional last year and bring a lot of people back,” Hill said. “They are the type of program and at a place where we would like to get to some day.”
The Bulldogs are led by Taylor Young (.375), who has eight extra-base hits.
As for the McNeese offense, outfielder Julian Gonzales is coming off hitting his first two homers of the season in a 7-3 win Tuesday at Southern University.
“I was just trying to go out there and have some good at-bats,” Gonzales said. “I wasn’t trying to do too much. Had a lot of good hitters before and after me so it was a matter of just falling in line.”
Gonzales is one of seven Cowboys hitting over .300. Kade Morris (.391) leads the way. McNeese is hitting .279 and scoring 9.9 runs a game.
McNeese is scheduled to start right-hander Chance Stone (1-0, 1.42 ERA). It will be his second start of the season and third appearance since having Tommy John surgery 11 months ago. He has eight strikeouts in 61/3 innings. He went four innings a week ago as he continues to build arm strength.
“Just keep putting in the work and getting back to my game,” Stone said. “The hope is that I will be back fully by the time conference play starts.”
Over the first nine games McNeese pitchers have recorded 103 strikeouts. The Cowboys are one of 10 teams in the nation to have more than 100 strikeouts.
Cowboys hurlers have posted an ERA of 1.73 while holding opponents to a .167 batting average. Over 73 innings they have walked 20 and allowed 14 earned runs.
Closer Cameron Foster has been near perfect. In his four appearances (71/3 innings) he has struck out 15 of the 25 hitters he’s faced and not allowed a hit while picking up three saves.
“We are still figuring things out ourselves,” Hill said.
Transfer righty Grant Rogers (2-0, 0.75) is scheduled to start Saturday for the Cowboys.
Pitching Matchups
6 p.m. Today
Louisiana Tech, Jonathan Fincher (2-0, 3.27 ERA) vs. McNeese, Chance Stone (1-0, 1.42).
2 p.m. Saturday
Louisiana Tech, Ryan Jennings (0-1, 6.55) vs. McNeese, Grant Rogers (2-0, 0.75).
1 p.m. Sunday
Louisiana Tech, Jarret Whorff (0-1, 3.86) vs. McNeese, Ty Abraham (1-1, 1.64).
Early measuring stick, Cowboys welcome nationally ranked Tech - American Press | American Press - American Press
Read More
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Early measuring stick, Cowboys welcome nationally ranked Tech - American Press | American Press - American Press"
Post a Comment