LAKE CHARLES- The McNeese baseball team returns for a midweek matchup as the Cowboys are set to welcome Prairie View to Joe Miller Ballpark Wednesday night.
The Rundown
Opponent: Prairie View (13-15)
Date: April 5
Site: Joe Miller Ballpark | Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Time: 6 p.m.
Live Stats / McNeese Sports Youtube
Probable Pitching Matchup: TBA
Series History:
McNeese and Prairie View are meeting for the 51st time, McNeese leads the all-time series 49-1. The two teams squared off last year in Lake Charles with the Pokes recording a 4-0 sweep.
Last Time Out:
The Cowboys are coming off their first series win in Thibodaux since 2007 taking two of three against Nicholls. In game one, Grant Rogers took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and threw 7.0 scoreless innings allowing just two hits. Cameron Foster closed out the 2-0 win. The Pokes won game two 5-1, starting pitcher Chance Stone gave the Cowboys 4.0 innings allowing just one run, with no walks and three strikeouts. McNeese relievers Burrell Jones, Christian Vega, and Cameron Foster put up zeros in the final six innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five. Kade Hunter scored two runs, Kade Morris had two hits, and Josh Leslie had two ribbies. The Pokes dropped game three in 10 innings, 8-7. Center fielder Payton Harden tied a career-high collecting four hits in the contest.
About McNeese:
The Cowboys (15-13) sit atop SLC in slugging percentage (.425) and rank second with a .280 batting average, 267 hits, 47 doubles, and 405 total bases. On the mound, the Cowboy's season ERA of 4.06 is atop the conference and 46th in the nation. The staff leads the conference as well with 265 strikeouts, 9 saves, and two shutouts while allowing the second-fewest runs (112).
McNeese has stolen the fifth-most bases in the nation (64). Payton Harden (13), Brad Burckel (11), Julian Gonzales (10), and Reid Bourque (9) lead the charge on the basepath. McNeese has tripled 14 times this season, tied for the fourth-highest total in the country.
Brad Burckel (.364 - 3rd in SLC), Payton Harden (.348 - 6th in SLC), and Braden Duhon (.329 - 9th in SLC) lead the Cowboys in hitting. Kade Hunter is also hitting .359 across 63 at-bats. Burckel leads the club with four home runs with an OPS of 1.014. Burckel and Peyton Johnson have driven in a team-high 19 runs.
Cameron Foster's eight saves are the fourth-most in College Baseball. He's 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 26.0 innings. Michigan State transfer Burrell Jones has made 10 appearances this season and is 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA over 19.0 innings.
Who's Hot?:
In the four games last week, Payton Harden hit .389 with two doubles, a triple, three ribbies with a .611 slugging percentage. The triple was Harden's 200th career hit, the 12th Cowboy to reach that mark. Braden Duhon hit .375 last week with a triple and two ribbies, he's raised his average from .219 on March 19th to .329. Kade Hunter (.353) and Brad Burckel (.333) also had productive weeks in the heart of the McNeese lineup.
Jump On 'Em Early:
The Cowboys have outscored their opponents 105-65 across the first, second, third, and fourth innings this season. The Pokes are 12-3 when they score first.
About Prairie View:
The Panthers are riding a four-game win streak coming off a weekend sweep of Arkansas - Pine Bluff. Benjamin Ybarra leads the team with a .360 batting average, and 32 hits. Tre Turner is hitting .338 with two homers and 20 runs batted in.
Stay Connected:
For live updates and all things Cowboy Baseball, follow the Pokes on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
