Play it straight, Cowboys have no room for errors

Published 9:44 am Thursday, April 14, 2022

By Jim Gazzolo

McNeese State catcher Ben David makes a play on a foul ball during a March 27 game against Houston Baptist at Cowboy Diamond. (Kirk Meche / Special to the American Press)

After a lost weekend in New Orleans and a rainout in Lafayette, the Cowboys return home tonight to try and find their rhythm.

With Sunday being Easter, McNeese State’s Southland Conference series against Incarnate Word runs Thursday through Saturday. The opener begins at 6 p.m. today at Joe Miller Ballpark.

“They are a very good hitting team playing well,” McNeese head coach Justin Hill said. “We will have to play well to beat them. They are going to test us.”

The Cowboys (16-16, 3-6 SLC) were swept by UNO last weekend. Meanwhile, UIW (15-14, 5-4) was sweeping Northwestern State, which entered that series in first place.

“We have to play the game better,” Hill said. “We just made too many mistakes at critical times.”

The Cowboys will send Grant Rogers (3-3, 3.74 ERA) to the mound in the opener. UIW did not announce its starting pitcher.

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“Grant has given us a chance to win every game he’s pitched,” Hill said.

The Cardinals are hitting .280 with Roberto Gonzalez (.350) and Ridge Rogers (.340) leading the way. Gonzalez brings a 12-game hitting streak to Lake Charles and has driven in a team-high 19 runs. Reid Hensley has added a team-leading four home runs in nine games.

Rogers was named the Southland’s Hitter of the Week on Monday.

“They have a very good lineup and we are going to have to try and control them,” Hill said. “It’s important that when we make mistakes we limit the damage and don’t let it snowball.”

Kade Hunter (.363), Brad Burckel (.361) and Braden Duhon (.360) lead McNeese’s offense, which is fourth in the nation in stolen bases with 71. Burckel and Kade Morris led the Cowboys in homers with five apiece.

Right-hander Ty Abraham will not pitch this weekend, Hill said. He injured his knee last weekend and the extent of the injury is not yet known. He would have been the Cowboys’ Sunday starter.

“We will have to see where we are and piece things together,” Hill said. “We are hoping for the best with him.”

Righty Chance Stone (2-2, 3.86) will go for McNeese on Saturday.

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