LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese baseball team opens its 62^nd season of intercollegiate baseball this weekend as the Cowboys host Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a three-game series at the newly renovated Cowboy Diamond.
 
The 2015 season opener is set for Friday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. The teams will also play single games on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 o'clock to open the college baseball season.
 
College baseball fans of all kinds are presented with many opportunities to attend Friday night's season opener at the brand new complex that features many additions and upgrades. Cowboy Diamond will sport a brand new in-field turf as well as brick walls down the left and right field lines. Also, a brand new Miller Lite Boardwalk area has been constructed next to the baseball pavilion for fans to enjoy fellowship and a great game of baseball as well as brand new radio booths installed on each side of the pressbox.
 
The kids will also be excited to attend the contest where they will have many chances to win prizes during in-game promotions which includes the Chick-Fil-A Foul Ball contest where kids will be entered into a drawing for a free meal for retrieval of foul balls.
 
In conjunction with the 50^th's Anniversary celebration of Cowboy Diamond, former McNeese shortstop and current Atlanta Braves member Jace Peterson will throw out the first pitch before Friday night's opening contest against UAPB. Throughout the season, the Cowboys will have a special guest throw out the first pitch in celebration of the complex which as hosted a number of All-Americans, MLB draftees as well as three regular season conference championship teams and two SLC Tournament title teams.
 
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Justin Hill, the Cowboys enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in program history last year with a 30 win season and a superb outing in the Southland Conference Tournament. Picked to finish next to last, the Pokes proved their critics wrong by shattering numerous school and conference records on the way to winning two contests and coming out of the postseason league tournament as the third best team.
 
McNeese returns 17 letterwinners from last year's squad including six position starters as well as six hurlers.
 
The Cowboys' lineup will be loaded with veterans along with a mix of newcomers that are expected to make waves this season. Leading the way for the Cowboys are preseason All-Southland Conference honorees, seniors Andrew Guillotte, Connor Lloyd and Lucas Quary and junior Billy Sommers.
 
Returning to anchor a defense that set a school record for best fielding percentage in a single season in 2014 is junior catcher Cameron Toole, Lloyd who will play shortstop and sophomore Matt Gallier who will roam from third to first in the infield. Transitioning to the outfield is Guillotte who batted .316 with 17 RBI and 14 doubles last season. The senior outfielder also stole 20 bags last year and is expected to move up the all-time stolen base chart during the 2015 season. Quary will also get the start in left field while senior James Cantu is slated to start in right.
 
Newcomers expected to make an impact is junior college All-American Connor Crane who will see action in both the infield and outfield and junior transfer Kris Molter who will look to start at third base. Freshman Joe Provenzano's offensive and defensive skills will earn him a start in the infield as well.
 
The McNeese pitching staff returns 26 of its 30 victories from last season as well as student-athletes who recorded 11 saves.
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff posted a 22-28 overall record in 2014 along with a 16-7 mark in conference play to earn them the West Division title. The Golden Lions went 0-2 in the SWAC Tournament.
 
Junior right-hander Kaleb Fontenot will get the nod for McNeese on Friday. Fontenot recorded a 6-2 record, a save and a 2.14 ERA last season and made eight quality starts out of 10 starts total.
 
Junior Bryce Kingsley returns to the mound this weekend where he will start on Saturday. Kingsley started 16 games last season and recorded five wins and led the team in strikeouts (58).
 
Newcomer Trent Fontenot is expected to start on the bump Sunday following a great outing in fall drills. Fontenot comes to McNeese after a two-year stint at Hill Community College.
 
Following this weekend's contests, the Cowboys will be back in action with a two-game series against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 17 and 18.
 
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-0) at McNeese Cowboys (0-0)
 
Dates/Times
Friday, February 13 – 7 p.m.; Saturday, February 14 – 3 p.m.; Sunday, February 15 – 1 p.m.
 
Radio
Friday: Cajun Radio 1470 AM/CajunRadio.com
Saturday: None
Sunday: Cajun Radio 1470 AM /CajunRadio.com
 
Internet
www. McNeeseSports.com – live video, audio, stats on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
To join the Cowboy Insider, visit McNeeseSports.com?watch.