LAKE CHARLES – McNeese's success against the SEC in Joe Miller Ballpark will look to stay alive on Wednesday when the 21^st-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs make their first-ever appearance in The Jeaux.
 
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. as gates will open at 4. A limited number of reserved seats are available for $20 and general admission is $15. A capacity crowd is expected.
 
McNeese (1-6) is coming off a 1-0 win over Texas State on Sunday in a game that saw freshman starter Adam Goree and junior Cayne Ueckert combined to throw the program's fifth no-hitter in school history and the first 9-inning no-hitter in the history of the program.
 
On Wednesday, the Cowboys will be looking to build on that momentum as they take on a Bulldog team that is 3-4 on the season but won three of four games this past weekend in a tournament at Corpus Christi.
 
"I think it's going to be really exciting to have them here," said head coach Justin Hill, "but everything that our team has been going through, it's almost become just another game for them. I think they just want to play. It'll be exciting. There will be a good buzz in the air and it'll feel like an opening night."
 
Since opening day, McNeese has positioned 12 players that have seen their first-ever action in a McNeese uniform, and despite what the record says, the chemistry and production is improving.
 
And even with the 12 newbies, the talent is so deep players are still waiting for their shot to show what they have.
 
"We still have some guys trying to figure out how to get into the lineup," said Hill. "Peyton Johnson played Saturday and did really well. I wanted him to know that he's going to be a big part of us. Welles Cooley has done a great job for us at second base. I think you'll continue to see those guys contribute."
 
The injury bug hit the Cowboys early with returning starter Mitchell Rogers missing the first four games before starting all three at Texas State, albeit being limited to the DH spot.
 
Right-handed pitcher Tyler Wesley is expected to get his first start of the season against the Bulldogs on Wednesday. Wesley has appeared in two previous games, throwing 2.2 innings in game three against Wichita State and one inning last Saturday versus Texas State.
 
Offensively, the Cowboys are led at the plate by left fielder Shane Selman who is hitting .375 with four home runs and nine RBIs, all team highs. Jacob Stracner follows with a .321 average with a homer and six runs batted in.
 
MSU is led in hitting by center fielder Jake Mangum's .429 batting average while first baseman Josh Hatcher leads the team with three home runs while hitting .393.
 
Wednesday's game will be the third SEC opponent to play at Joe Miller Ballpark in the Coach Hill era. McNeese defeated Missouri 3-2 in 2014 Hill's second game as the Cowboys' coach, and beat LSU 5-4 last season.
 
This will be the first-ever meeting between McNeese and Mississippi State in baseball.