LAKE CHARLES – Despite another mid-week rainout, the McNeese baseball team is focused ready to get back on the diamond as it prepares for a Southland Conference rivalry showdown this weekend with Northwestern State in a three-game series in Lake Charles.
The series will begin Friday evening at 6 p.m. followed by game two at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The series will then conclude Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
The weekend series is filled with a multitude of festivities that begins Friday night with the Gold Out Game, where fans are encouraged to wear gold in support of the Pokes. On Saturday, McNeese athletics will honor Mr. Joe Miller for his continued support of the Cowboy baseball by renaming the complex in his name. Dog lovers young and old will be able to bring their pets to the ballpark on Sunday for Dog at the Park Day!
McNeese (13-9, 6-3 SLC) was scheduled to face Louisiana Tech Wednesday but was forced to postpone due to inclement weather. The Cowboys have been on a hot streak lately with four wins in their last five league games. McNeese has thrown three shutouts and averaged eight runs per game since beginning SLC play at the beginning of the month.
As a team, McNeese is hitting a .287 clip that ranks fourth best in the Southland Conference, with 124 runs scored, 32 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs and 28 stolen bases through 22 games. On the mound, the Pokes have a 4.13 ERA, with five saves, walking 75 and striking out 187 in 194.0 frames of work, posting a .969 fielding percentage.
Kaleb Fontenot (3-2, 1.73 ERA) will draw the start for McNeese on Friday night. Fontenot has tossed two complete game shutouts and will look to challenge the all-time consecutive scoreless innings streak. He enters the contest having tossed 18 straight scoreless frames.
Bryan King (2-0, 2.67 ERA) will climb the hill on Saturday while Sunday's starter has yet to be determined.
Northwestern State (14-11, 5-4 SLC) swept ULM in a two-game mid-week series following a SLC series win over Stephen F. Austin over the weekend. The Demons are hitting .261 as a team while their pitching staff owns a 3.48 ERA.
Bret Underwood leads Northwestern State in hitting with a .304 average along with 28 hits, 15 runs scored, seven doubles and 15 walks. Matthew Alford has 10 doubles and 20 RBI on the year while David Fry leads with three homers.
The Demons will start right-hander Adam Oller (3-0, 1.70 ERA) Friday and left-hander Chase Hymel (1-3, 3.77 ERA) on Saturday. Righty Evan Tidwell (3-2, 1.71 ERA) will finish out the series on the bump Sunday.
McNeese leads the all-time series with a 112-92-2 record against Northwestern State. The Demons clinched the series last season in Natchitoches after taking two games from the Pokes. The two squads last met in Lake Charles during the 2014.
Fans are able to keep up with the Cowboy baseball club as well as schedule changes and up-to-date information by liking McNeese Sports on Facebook and by following the team on Twitter @McNeeseBaseball.
All contests can be heard on KEZM - 1310 AM and on kezmonline.com Fans can also follow the live in-game action by logging on to McNeeseSports.com and clicking on the "Live Stats" link under the baseball schedule page.
