LAKE CHARLES – McNeese baseball (17-16, 7-8) returns home this weekend to host Incarnate Word (16-17, 7-11) in a three-game series. First pitch for Friday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

The Cowboys are coming off a 4-1 midweek win over Grambling, backed by a dominant pitching performance as the staff combined for 15 strikeouts. Brady Corcoran picked up his first collegiate win to move to 1-1 on the season, while Eric Nachtsheim recorded his second save.

Incarnate Word enters the weekend following a series loss at home to Southeastern prior to Easter weekend and a 16-4 midweek run-rule loss to No. 2 Texas. The Cardinals recorded six hits against the Longhorns, with three going for doubles. Matthew Foley was charged with the loss, allowing two runs on one hit in one inning of work.

Series Information: vs Incarnate Word

• Location: Lake Charles, LA 
• Last 5 Meetings: 4-1
• Last Meeting: April 13, 2025| McN, 14-7 at UIW

Records:

• McNeese (17-16, 7-8)
• Incarnate Word (16-17, 7-11)

Promotions:
Friday, April 10^th – Alumni Night

• Participating Alumni will: 
  • Be given two free tickets to the game. 
  • Be recognized on the field pre-game
  • Take a group picture
  • Stand with the current team for the national anthem 
• Register Here by Friday morning: https://shorturl.at/JfIbS

Saturday, April 11^th – Bark at the Park

• Note: Dog owners are responsible/liable for their pets at all times. All dogs must remain on a leash and are not permitted in the stands. A designated restroom area will be provided; owners are required to clean up after their dogs. Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in removal from the event.

Gameday Notebook:

• Head Coach Nick Zaleski of the Cardinals was Assistant Coach for the Cowboys for four seasons before serving as Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coordinator for his final four seasons for a total of 8 seasons with the Cowboys
• Cowboys coming off an 4-1 victory over Grambling 
• Brady Corcoran picked up his first collegiate win over Grambling to move to 1-1 on the season
• Cowboys dropped the series at New Orleans 2 games to 1with two of the three going to extra innings
• Eric Nachtsheim picked up his fourth win on the season against UNO
• Hayden Stringfellow hit his third homer of the season in game 1 at UNO
• Simon Larranaga hit his third homer of the season in game 3 at UNO
• Connor Schneider hit his second homer of the season in game 3 at UNO
• Matt Stancliff and Bryce Fontenot enter the game on a six-game hit streak
• Matt Stancliff will enter the game with a reached base streak and reached safely streak of 22.
• Danny Barbero leads the team in home runs with five.
• Marcus Heusohn leads the team in doubles with nine.
• Matt Stancliff leads the team in stolen bases with 17 on the season
• Nachtsheim leads the pitching staff in strikeouts on the season with 73 in his ten appearances.

• Cowboy pitching staff has recorded 345 strikeouts in 296.2 innings pitched this season. The Cowboys return three of their top four hitters from the 2025 campaign, highlighted by Easton Dowell, who led the team with a .369 batting average. Marcus Heusohn also returns after posting a .327 average and 15 doubles, the third-most on the team, while Larry Edwards Jr. hit .316 and drove in a team-high 47 runs.

• Simon Larranaga returns to the Cowboys after leading them last season in home runs with 12 on the year.
• Cooper Golden returns as the lone weekend starter from last season after compiling a 3-3 record and 4.71 ERA in 14 starts and 15 appearances. 
• Cowboys will play 32 home games this season.
• Head Coach, Justin Hill is entering his 13^th season at the helm of the program and is the school's all-time winningest coach with a 365-284 overall record and 180-143 conference record.
• Cowboys return 20 players from last year's team, as well as welcome 21 newcomers to the roster.
• The 21 newcomers for the Cowboys hail from Bossier Parish CC (5), Navarro College (3), Rose State College, LSU-E, National Park College, Hill College, Butler, UNLV, Tyler Juco (2), Delgado CC, Central Missouri, Mississippi College, UT Tyler, and High School (2).
• Three of the Cowboys' opponents this season advanced to the NCAA Regionals last year – Kansas, Houston Christian, and LSU, who won the College World Series against Coastal Carolina.