LAKE CHARLES- The McNeese Cowboys (16-16) will conclude a seven of eight game road stretch when they meet UL-Lafayette (18-14) Tuesday night at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.
The Rundown
Opponent: UL-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
Date: April 12
Site: Lafayette / M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park
Time: 6:00 p.m.
ESPN+
Probable Pitching Matchup:
RHP Brett Payne (1-0, 2.79) vs. LHP Chipper Menard (3-1, 5.93)
Series History:
McNeese and ULL are meeting for the 177th time overall. The longtime foes met for the first time on April 1, 1960, the Ragin' Cajuns lead the series 100-76. The clubs met on March 16th in Lake Charles with the Cowboys falling 10-8.
Last Time Out:
The Cowboys dropped the series over the weekend at New Orleans after defeating Prairie View last Wednesday. Braden Duhon hit .474 last week with a triple and four runs scored. Kade Hunter (.375) and Brad Burckel (.333) also had productive weeks. Hunter homered in game one against UNO while driving in six on the week and Burckel homered in game two and drove in three.
Duhon was an honorable mention for Southland Conference Hitter of the Week.
About McNeese:
Kade Hunter (.363), Brad Burckel (.361) Braden Duhon (.360), and Payton Harden (.333) are the Cowboys leading hitters. Kade Morris and Burckel are co-leading the team with five homers. Burckel has also driven in a team-high 23 RBI with Julian Gonzales right behind him with 21. Josh Leslie has also added 15 ribbies in his first 12 games of the season.
Burckel is leading the Southland Conference with 44 hits and ranks third with an OPS of 1.029.
Probable starter Brett Payne made his first start of the season last Wednesday against Prairie View. Payne earned the win limiting the Panthers to one run on two hits in 4.0 innings with one walk and three strikeouts. He also added an inning of relief in game two this past weekend at UNO.
On The Run:
The Cowboys have stolen the fifth-most bases in the nation with 71. Payton Harden (14), Brad Burckel (12), Julian Gonzales (11), and Reid Bourque (11) lead the team in that department. The Pokes have also tripled 16 times this season which is tied for the third-highest total in the country.
Closing Time:
Cameron Foster's eight saves are tied for the fourth-most in College Baseball. He's 1-1 with a 1.23 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.
About ULL:
The Ragin' Cajuns won four of five last week with a win at La. Tech and a weekend sweep of Arkansas State in Sun Belt play. Hitting .252 as a team, ULL is led by Carson Roccaforte who is hitting .348 with seven home runs and 37 RBI. Connor Kimple (.298) is behind Roccaforte with four home runs and 21 RBI.
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