LAKE CHARLES- The McNeese Cowboys (19-16) will wrap up a four-game homestand on Monday night hosting Sam Houston (19-15) of the Western Athletic Conference. First pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. at Joe Miller Ballpark.
The Rundown
Opponent: Sam Houston Bearkats
Date: April 18
Site: Lake Charles, Louisiana | Joe Miller Ballpark
Time: 6 p.m.
Probable Pitching Matchups:
McN: RHP Brett Payne (1-0, 2.79) SHSU: LHP Matt Dillard (4-2, 3.65)
Series History:
McNeese and Sam Houston are meeting for the 107th time overall, the Bearkats lead 101-55. The two programs met in the Southland Conference Championship last year, McNeese won 2-1.
Last Time Out:
McNeese went 3-0 last week taking down Incarnate Word over the weekend. In game one, the Cowboys scored nine runs in the first five innings and got a shutdown bullpen effort to secure Grant Rogers' fourth win of the year. The Cowboys won via the walk-off Saturday night, Julian Gonzales singled home Payton Harden in the bottom of the 11th inning to complete a 4-3 win. The Cowboys wrapped up the series in convincing fashion winning 11-1 in seven innings while holding UIW to just three total hits.
Payton Harden hit .417 with a double, four runs scored, and recorded two ribbies in the series. Braden Duhon (.357) continued to serve as the catalyst from atop the order, he drove in four in the series and scored three runs. Kade Morris (.300) had a solid series as he tripled, homered, drove in three, and scored four runs.
About McNeese:
Braden Duhon (.359), Brad Burckel (.353), and Payton Harden (.346) are the Cowboys leading hitters. Kade Morris leads the club with six home runs with Burckel right behind him with five. Burckel has also driven in a team-high 24 RBI, Julian Gonzales has added 23.
Burckel and Harden are tied for second in the SLC with 47 hits. McNeese is tied with UNO for the highest average in the conference (.283).
Brett Payne has appeared in seven games this season. His lone start came against Prairie View (4/6), Payne pitched four innings and allowed two hits and one run to record the win.
Opposing batters are hitting .222 against Payne, he's fanned 11 in 9.2 innings.
Get Hot, Stay Hot:
In 17 games since 3/18, Braden Duhon is batting .423 (30-71) with three triples, two doubles, 10 runs batted in, and 6 stolen bases. In that span, Kade Hunter is batting .343 (24-70) with three home runs, six doubles, and 15 RBI.
On The Run:
The Cowboys have stolen the sixth-most bases in the nation with 81. Payton Harden leads with 15 bags while Brad Burckel, Julian Gonzales, and Reid Bourque have each stolen 13.
The Pokes have tripled 19 times this season which is tied with Arizona for the second-highest total in the country.
Closing Time:
Cameron Foster's eight saves are tied for the fourth-most in College Baseball. He's 2-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 33.1 innings.
About Sam Houston:
Sam Houston sits atop the WAC Southwest Division with a 10-5 record in league play. The Bearkats were off over the weekend after dropping midweek games to Rice and UTSA. Their lineup features the nation's RBI leader Carlos Contreras. Contreras is hitting .423 with nine home runs and 59 ribbies. Jake Wishkoski (.417) has driven in 34 runs.
Stay Connected:
For live updates and all things Cowboy Baseball, follow the Pokes on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
