LAKE CHARLES, La. - McNeese Baseball (27-23, 10-11 SLC) hosts Texas State (26-26, 12-15 SBC) in its home finale at Joe Miller Ballpark Tuesday, May 14 as the teams meet for the first time since the 2019 campaign.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. with live stats available to those aiming to follow along with the action. The Cowboys have hosted four games in a row at home, concluding the five-game homestand against the Bobcats.

The Pokes have won seven of their last 10 games and six of their prior seven conference games. McNeese returns to SLC action on the road following the meeting against Nicholls, fighting for seeding within the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament.

Cooper Hext, a senior, earned his seventh triple of the season against Houston Christian Friday night to move up in career triples in the McNeese record books, now sitting at second with 14 through four seasons. He is ranked fourth in the nation in the category.

McNeese has won three of its prior four midweek games, all three happening at The Jeaux against Sam Houston, Louisiana Christian, and Southern.

Series Preview
• McNeese and Texas State last met in February 2019 for two games.
• The Bobcats hold a 43-34 advantage over the Cowboys all-time since the teams first met in 1988.
• From 1988-1992, McNeese was 8-2 in the first 10 meetings.
• When playing at The Jeaux, the Pokes have claimed 14 victories over the Bobcats.

McNeese Notes
• McNeese has won three conference series in a row to move from ninth in the SLC standings up to fourth and clinching a tournament berth.
• The Cowboys previously beat SLU 2-1, A&M-Corpus Christi 3-0, and beat HCU 2-1 over the weekend.
• The Pokes have won seven of their last nine conference games and eight of their past 11.
• Cooper Hext is fourth in the nation with seven triples on the season. Hext leads the conference while Conner Westenburg sits sixth in the conference with three.
• Hext has earned 14 career triples through four seasons, moving up to second all-time in McNeese history, three away from tying the record.
• The blue and gold sit 18th in the nation with 18 triples and second in the conference, one shy of New Orleans.
• JT Moeller leads the team in pitching appearances at 23 while Kainin Morrow is right behind him at 21 appearances on the season.
• Cooper Hext owns the best batting average on the team at .312, collecting 24 extra-base hits, the second most on the squad.
• The Cowboys have earned at least six hits in 42 of 50 games this season.
• McNeese is 79th in D1 Baseball with two shutouts on the season, blanking Northwestern and Mississippi Valley State.
• Max Swenson owns the lowest ERA of the relief pitchers that have thrown at least 10 innings in 4.58.
• Fifteen pitchers on the Cowboys' staff have made at least one appearance through six conference series. All season long, 17 pitchers have pitched on the mound.
• The NCAA ranked McNeese as having the 17th-hardest strength of schedule in the nation before Southland play after taking on ranked opponents in Arkansas and Texas A&M, the second-to-last undefeated team.
• Cooper Hext was named to the SLC Preseason All-Conference Second Team.
• McNeese was slated to finish fifth in the conference in the SLC Preseason Poll.
• The Cowboys have 23 returners on the squad with 17 newcomers for the season.
• McNeese has mad 11 straight appearances in the SLC Tournament, qualifying each year under the tutelage of Coach Hill.

Scouting the Opponent
• Texas State is even at 26-26 on the season, winning four of their last six, claiming two conference series.
• The Bobcats are 5-9 against similar opponents this season.
• Texas State most recently defeated #21 Troy in a conference weekend series.
• Texas State continues a road trip against Southern Miss on Thursday ahead of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

Last Five
2/24/2019    Texas St. 5, McNeese 3
2/22/2019    Texas St. 18, McNeese 10
2/25/2018    McNeese 1, Texas St. 0
2/24/2018    Texas St. 4, McNeese 3
2/23/2018    Texas St. 12, McNeese 1