LAKE CHARLES - It's finally geaux time. The defending back-to-back Southland Conference Tournament champion McNeese Cowboys will open the 2022 season with a three-game weekend series against the Stony Brook Seawolves. 

The Rundown
Opponent: Stony Brook Seawolves (0-0)
Date: February 18-20          
Site: Lake Charles, La. | Joe Miller Ballpark              
Time: Friday - 6 PM, Saturday - 2 PM, Sunday - 11:30 AM
Live Stats 

Probable Pitching Matchups (Last Season Stats):
Friday: Bryson Hudgens (2-3, 3.19) vs. Nick DeGennaro (8-3, 3.14)
Saturday: Ty Abraham (4-3, 4.69) vs. Josh O'Neill (0-0, 9.49)
Sunday: Grant Rogers (Transfer) vs Shane Helmstadt (0-0, 3.68)

Series History:
The Cowboys and Seawolves met once prior on 2/17/17. McNeese won 18-2 in Lake Charles.

Setting The Scene:
The 2022 McNeese Cowboys are made up of 26 returners, 11 transfers, and four freshmen. Coming off NCAA Regional appearances the last two years, the Pokes were selected second in the Southland Preseason Poll for the second straight year.

The team enters the 2022 season with three preseason all-conference selections – redshirt junior outfielder Payton Harden, redshirt senior designated-hitter Tre Obregon, and redshirt senior outfielder Julian Gonzales. Harden was also recognized as a top-150 outfielder in the nation by D1Baseball. Returning starters also include redshirt senior shortstop Reid Bourque, redshirt senior third baseman/infielder Kade Morris, and redshirt junior first basemen/infielder Peyton Johnson made over 30 starts a season ago. A mixture of transfers and other returners are expected to start at catcher, second base, and right field. 

The staff that led the league in strikeouts (485) and ranked third in opponent batting average (.252) returns pitchers who accounted for 31 starts last season. The rotation is led by redshirt junior Bryson Hudgens, redshirt sophomore Ty Abraham, and redshirt sophomore juco-transfer Grant Rogers. Redshirt senior Cameron Foster and redshirt sophomore Isaac Duplechain are at the forefront of the bullpen, they made a team-leading 22 and 23 appearances last season, respectively. The bullpen will be aided by additions of transfers and returners who make this a very deep group. 

Scouting The Seawolves:
Stony Brook finished atop of the America East standings the last two seasons ('19, '21). The Seawolves went 31-18 last season and 25-10 in conference play and were selected to finish first in the American East preseason poll once again. They are led on the mound by All-American starting pitcher Nick DeGennaro. The projected Friday night starter earned the honor after recording eight wins and 92 strikeouts a season ago. At the plate, SBU is led by First-team All-America East third basemen Evan Giordano. He led Stony Brook with seven homers and 39 RBIs while hitting .314 (53-for-169) in 47 starts last season. 

Notes:

• Redshirt senior shortstop Reid Bourque will make his 181st career start (182nd appearance overall) tomorrow night. He has started every game he's appeared in but one since his freshman year. He will move into the top ten in career games played when he reaches 195 which would tie him with McNeese Hall of Famer Charlie Philips (1987-90).
• Redshirt senior outfielder Julian Gonzales will make his 100th career start. 
• Head coach Justin Hill has recorded 232 career wins as McNeese's head coach, ranking him second all-time in his 8th season, the late Tony Robichaux, a McNeese Hall of Famer, holds the school record with 263 victories from 1987-94.
• The Cowboys are 6-2 in home-openers under Hill.

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