LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese Cowboy baseball team will report for spring camp on Monday to officially kick-off the 2026 season.
 
Head coach Justin Hill, the school's all-time winningest coach, enters his 13th overall season as the leader of the program and carries a 365-284 overall record and 180-143 conference record.
 
Hill and his staff return 20 players from a squad that posted a 32-17 overall record and 19-11 conference record in 2025 including three of the top four hitters.
 
Junior shortstop Easton Dowell, who flirted with a .400 batting average for much of the season, returns after posting a team-best .369 average along with a .597 slugging mark. He also popped 17 doubles, a triple, seven home runs and knocked in 37 runs.
 
Outfield senior Larry Edwards Jr. knocked in a team-high 47 runs and 18 doubles while finishing fourth on the team with a .316 average.
 
Infielder senior Marcus Heusohn ranked third on the team in batting with a .327 average. He also hit 15 doubles, third-most, three home runs and 32 RBIs.
 
Also returning is senior infielder Simon Larranaga who led the Cowboys with 12 home runs.
 
On the mound, Cooper Golden returns as the lone weekend starter from last season.  Alexis Gravel, an All-Southland Conference selection will miss the 2026 season.
 
Gravel posted a 4-3 record with a 3.45 ERA after making 10 starts and 12 appearances. He threw 47 innings and struck out a team-high 67 batters, ranking fourth in the Southland Conference. He also was part of two combined shutouts and held opponent hitters to a .236 average. Gravel missed the last two weekends of the regular season with an injury but returned to see action in the conference tournament.
 
Golden compiled a 3-3 record and 4.71 ERA in 14 starts and 15 appearances. He led the team with 65 innings pitched. He struck out 46 batters and allowed a .267 opponent batting average. He threw a gem against Southeastern in the SLC tournament, holding the Lions to no runs in six innings.
 
McNeese will welcome 21 newcomers to the roster this season.
 
The Cowboys will open the season Feb. 13-15 for a home weekend series against Sam Houston at The Jeaux.  
 
Week of Jan. 12 Intrasquad Schedule

• Thursday, January 15 at 1 PM
• Saturday, January 17 at 1 PM (ALUMNI GAME)

**All times and dates for intrasquads are subject to change dependent on weather**