LAKE CHARLES - McNeese Cowboys, the 2022 Southland Conference Champions, will kick off the defense of its back-to-back tournament titles Thursday night at Joe Miller Ballpark against Incarnate Word. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
McNeese will be making its 20th appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament, 10th straight overall and 9th consecutive under head coach Justin Hill.
The Rundown
Opponent: Incarnate Word
Date: May 19
Site: Lake Charles, Louisiana | Joe Miller Ballpark
Time: 6 p.m. CT
Tickets / ESPN+
Probable Pitching Matchup:
(McN) RHP Grant Rogers vs. (UIW) RHP Michael Garza
Series History:
McNeese (31-20, 15-9) and UIW (19-29, 9-15) are meeting for the 22nd time overall. The Cowboys lead the all-time series 17-4 after sweeping the Cardinals earlier this season in Lake Charles (4/14 - 4/16).
About McNeese:
The Cowboys finished SLC play 12-3 down the stretch to win the program's fifth outright Southland Conference Regular Season Title.
Southland Conference Player of the Year Payton Harden, Pitcher of the Year Grant Rogers, and Relief Pitcher of the Year Cameron Foster lead McNeese into the tournament while six other Pokes garnered postseason awards including Josh Leslie who joined those three on the All-Southland Conference First Team.
Reid Bourque, Brad Burckel, Braden Duhon, and Kade Morris were each named to the All-Southland Conference Second Team, while Kade Hunter earned third team honors.
Bourque, Burckel, Morris, and Rogers were also tabbed to the SLC All-Defensive Team. Overall, McNeese earned a league-high 17 postseason awards. Expanded information can be found here.
McNeese carries a batting average of .304 which is good for the 15th highest mark in the nation.
The Cowboy's 122 steals are the fifth-most in the nation. McNeese pulled off the only triple steal in college baseball this season on March 25th against HBU.
The Pokes have tripled 23 times this season which is good for fourth nationally and three shy of the nation's lead.
McNeese ranks in the top three every major category on both sides of the plate amongst the Southland Conference including leading the league in batting average and ERA. Full conference statistics click here.
Chasing History:
Head Coach Justin Hill has recorded 262 career wins during his time at the helm in Lake Charles, one shy of tying the all-time program record of 263 held by the late Tony Robichaux. Hill was named the 2022 Clay Gould SLC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.
About the Cardinals:
UIW enters the tournament after taking two of three against the Islander of Corpus Christi. Hitting .275 as a club, Roberto Gonzalez (.332), Nixon Brannan (.310), and Grant Smith (.290) pace UIW at the plate. Gonzalez and Smith lead the team with 36 and 33 RBI, respectively. Smith and Wilson Edrhardt each lead the Cardinals with seven home runs. Probable starter Michael Garza finished the regular season a 5.56 ERA and a record of 5-4 over 12 starts.
Lake Charles Bracket Schedule:
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Game 1: No. 4 Nicholls vs. No. 5 Northwestern State, 1 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 McNeese vs. No. 8 UIW, 6 p.m.
Friday, May 20, 2022
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 22, 2022 (if necessary)
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m.
*All games will broadcast on ESPN+
For Joe Miller Ballpark rules and policies for attending Thursday's game, click here.
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