LAKE CHARLES – McNeese baseball opened its 2025 season in style with a 7-1 victory over Wichita State to improve to 1-0 as the Shockers fell to 0-1 on opening day at Joe Miller Ballpark.
 
The Cowboys took an early lead in the third inning on a solo home run by senior Conner Westenburg ahead of the Shockers tying up the game in the fifth.
 
McNeese retook the lead in the fifth inning as Westenburg came home on a Matt Stancliff (junior) double 2-2 before Stancliff scored on a single by senior Marcus Heusohn.
 
Owning a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Pokes added on to their lead with three runs scored by Westenburg, Stancliff, and Mack Brousseau.
 
Redshirt sophomore Easton Dowell scored the final run of the game for the Pokes in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Stancliff.
 
McNeese and Wichita State continue the series Saturday at 11 a.m. at Joe Miller Ballpark on ESPN+.
 
Pitching Appearances
Alexis Gravel: 4.0 IP, 3 K's, 5 H, 1 BB, 0 ER
Sergio Lopez: 5.0 IP, 7 K's, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 ER
 
McNeese Notes
• Gravel struck out three straight batters in a row between the second and third innings.
• Lopez made his first appearance for the Pokes, striking out a career-high seven batters.
• Conner Westenburg hit his first home run of the season in his second at-bat in the third inning.
• Westenburg finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate.
• Most runs scored in a season opener since 2020 against Mississippi Valley State in a 9-0 victory.
• Multiple hit games: Conner Westenburg, Matt Stancliff, Easton Dowell
• Players earning their first hit with McNeese: Davis Meche, Matt Stancliff, Marcus Heusohn, Larry Edwards Jr., Mack Brousseau