Cowboys blank Colonels, Rogers, Foster combine for two-hitter

Published 11:27 am Saturday, April 2, 2022

THIBODAUX — McNeese State pitchers Grant Rogers and Cameron Foster combined to two-hit Nicholls State 2-0 Friday night, handing the Colonels their first Southland Conference loss.

Rogers (3-2) went seven innings, allowing both hits, including a seventh-inning triple to Hunter LeBlanc, while striking out five and walking two for the Cowboys (13-12, 1-2 SLC), who are playing their first road weekend series after 23 home games.

Foster faced seven batters in two hitless innings, walking one and striking out Jaden Collura looking to end the game for his eighth save.

It was the Cowboys’ second shutout of the season and fifth consecutive win over the Colonels (14-10, 3-1), who spoiled a solid outing by Tyler Theriot who went the distance, allowing five hits, walking one and striking out six.

It was the first time the Colonels had been shut out since McNeese’s Bryson Hudgens, Isaac Duplechain and Brad Kincaid combined on a 7-0 three-hitter on May 14 in Lake Charles, a span of 31 games.

The Cowboys scored the winning run in the second inning when Peyton Johnson reached base on an error by Colonels right fielder Xane Washington and advanced to third base. He scored the unearned run on Reid Bourque’s sacrifice fly.

The Cowboys scored an insurance run in the fourth when Brad Burckel led off with a single to center field. He was sacrificed to second by John Leslie and advanced to third on Julian Gonzales’ single to right field. Johnson’s sacrifice bunt scored Burckel.