LAKE CHARLES- For the first time, the McNeese Cowboys (8-5) will welcome Cal State Northridge (7-5) of the Big West Conference to Lake Charles for a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon at 2 PM.
The Rundown
Opponent: Cal State Northridge Matadors
Date: March 11-13
Site: Joe Miller Ballpark | Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Time: 2 PM, 2 PM, 11 AM.
Live Stats
*Friday's Game Has Been Changed From 6 PM to 2 PM due to anticipated weather concerns in the evening.
Probable Pitching Matchup:
Friday:RHP Chance Stone (1-1, 2.89) vs. RHP Blake Sodersten (2-1, 3.12)
Saturday:RHP Andrew Sheridan (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Ryan Wentz (1-1, 1.76)
Sunday: RHP Ty Abraham (1-1, 1.29) vs. TBA
Series History:
McNeese and CSUN are meeting for just the second time, the Matadors won the lone meeting 4-3 in 2007 at a neutral site in Edinburg, Texas.
Last Time Out:
The Pokes are coming off of a 6-3 loss at No. 6 LSU. The game was a one-run contest for most, but late insurance runs added by the Tigers would be just enough to claim victory over the Pokes. Braden Duhon drove in two runs in the ninth inning and made some nice defensive plays throwing out a Tiger trying to tag up at the plate in the fifth. He also had a relay throw to Brad Burckel that assisted in throwing out a runner trying to extend a double into a triple in the eighth.
About McNeese:
Offensively, Tre' Obregon III (.362), Brad Burckel (.340), and Payton Harden (.320) pace the Cowboy offense. Obregon leads the club with 11 runs driven in and is tied with Kade Morris, Peyton Johnson, and Julian Gonzales for a team-high two home runs. Four Pokes have double-digit RBIs (Obregon - 11, Gonzales - 10, Burckel - 10, Harden - 10). Peyton Johnson is hitting .400 over the last five games, he has four multi-RBI games this season which is tied with Gonzales for the club lead. The Cowboys are 28-29 in stolen base attempts.
On the mound, the Cowboys have fanned 134 batters through 108 innings even which leads the Southland Conference. Cameron Foster who hadn't allowed a hit or a run through his first 8.2 innings this season is third in the nation with four saves. He has struck out 20 batters in 10.1 and most recently took home SLC Pitcher of the Week honors for his (2) three-inning saves last week.
Eight Cowboys have made starts on the mound so far, Ty Abraham (3), Grant Rogers (3), and Chance Stone (2) have made the most starts. Abraham is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA plus 17 strikeouts in 14.0 innings. Rogers is 2-1 with 23 Ks in 16.0 innings pitched. Chance Stone is 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA with 12 Ks. Saturday starter Andrew Sheridan has thrown 6.0 scoreless innings this season. Most recently he pitched four scoreless with four strikeouts against No. 25 La. Tech, and one inning of work against No. 6 LSU. Along with Foster, Brian Shadrick, Isaac Duplechain, Christian Vega, and Davis Burgin have been featured most out of the bullpen.
About CSUN:
The Matadors are in the midst of a 12-game road trip that started with a Friday night victory against No. 2 Stanford on March 4th. CSUN upset the Cardinal in the opener in the series with a 9-3 win behind 7.1 quality innings from Blaine Traxel and five RBI from Gabe Gonzalez. Kai Moody (.313, 4 HRs, 14 RBI) & Gonzales (.297, 3 HRs, 10 RBI) lead them at the plate. CSUN comes into Lake Charles fresh off a 9-4 victory at Grand Canyon Wednesday night.
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