LAKE CHARLES – In only his third weekend as a collegiate player, freshman Shane Selman etched his name in the McNeese baseball record books on Sunday as he became the first freshman to hit for the cycle and helped the Cowboys power past Bradley, 9-3, to earn the weekend victory at Cowboy Diamond.
 
Selman, a native of Lake Charles and a Barbe High School product, is believed to be the first palyer in McNeese baseball history to have ever hit for the cycle as a freshman.
 
"Shane is such a talented player and I think his accomplishment was one of those things that just happened," said head coach Justin Hill. "He was locked in the moment and trying to win the game. You never know what you are going to see when you come to a baseball game. I thought he had a really good day and is one of the reasons we came out with a win."
 
Selman led the team with his four hits, including a home run in the first inning, a single in the second, a double in the sixth and a triple in the eighth. Selman scored four runs and one RBI in the game.
 
Selman later admitted that it was his first time to ever see a cycle completed much less be the player to hit it.
 
"I have never done that before nor have seen it done, but I was just seeing the ball well today," said Selman.
 
The Cowboys strung together 14 hits on the day, six of which were extra base efforts, and had three total McNeese batters record multiple hit outings. First baseman Connor Crane went 3-for-5 in the game while second baseman Joe Provenzano was 2-for-5 on the day.
 
"I think we have been swinging the bat well," said Hill. "We got some good passes at it yesterday but we stayed aggressive and anytime you are aggressive then it will help out."
 
The tone was set early for the McNeese (6-5) offense as Selman started his career day with the launch of his second home run of the season for the Pokes in the bottom of the first. It was the start of an effort that allowed two more runs to score in the frame for the Cowboys as Crane and third baseman Matt Gallier sent home a run apiece.
 
McNeese continued the rally in the bottom of the next inning as Crane drove in another run while Lewis Guilbeau allowed the fifth run to score for the Pokes who held a nice cushion over Bradley (4-6).
 
However, the Braves found their bats and in the next two innings, scoring a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to bring the McNeese lead down to a 5-3 score. With runners on the corners and two outs, senior Bryce Kingsley was called in to relief and shut down the Bradley rally and left the two stranded.
 
Kingsley (1-0) picked up the win for his efforts on the mound as he tossed 1.1 innings and scattered one hit and struck out two batters. Starter Ethan Stremmel went 3.2 innings and gave up three runs despite seven hits allowed and fanned three batters.
 
The McNeese bullpen took care of the rest of the work as four pitchers combined for four frames and allowed no runs and gave up only one hit in the game.
 
Selman picked up a double in the bottom of the sixth inning to reach the next level of completing a cycle while the Pokes used that energy and plated two runs to take a 7-3 lead.
 
It was in the eighth inning where Selman etched is name in the record books as he stared down his opposing pitcher, eyed his opportunity and took it as he tripled deep to right center to complete the cycle. A double from Crane and a single from Guilbeau drove in two more runs and upped the McNeese lead to a 9-3 score.
 
"I was going to triple no matter what," said Selman. "I just saw my pitch, hit it and it found the gap."
 
McNeese will be back in action Wednesday when it makes the trip to Baton Rouge for a mid-week date with the nationally ranked LSU Tigers. The first pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on SEC Network + and WatchESPN.