After seeing their win streak stopped at five by Louisiana-Lafayette on Wednesday, the Cowboys look to start a new one at home tonight.

McNeese State opens a 12- game homestand by hosting Prairie View A&M at Joe Miller Ballpark for the first of three games this weekend. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. today.

Grant Rogers (3-0, 0.82 ERA) will take the hill for the Cowboys (8-5). Rogers is coming off a complete-game shutout of George Washington last week on four hits in a 1-hour, 45-minute gem.

His earned run average is the best in the Southland Conference. Through his 20 innings of work Rogers has struck out 26 and walked five. Opponents are hitting .127 against the right-hander.

“When you got that guy, it’s special,” McNeese head coach Justin Hill said. “You have to enjoy it and stay out of his way.”

Rogers highlights a staff that has been improving. Last weekend against GW, Cowboys pitchers threw a pair of shutouts.

Prairie View (2-12) will try to break a six-game losing skid with freshman Elijah Breeden (1-2, 6.43) the projected starter.

Right-handers Derrick Cherry (1-0, 4.40 ERA), a transfer from Houston, and Zach Voss (0-2, 4.82) are expected to go Saturday and Sunday, respectively for the Cowboys.

“Starting pitching has been good throughout,” Hill said. “We need to come out of the bullpen better. That’s what we need to find out. That is a point of emphasis for us.

“We like the arms, don’t know if the pieces fit yet as a beautiful puzzle yet.”

Brad Burckel (.318) and Payton Harden (.313) led the offense. Cooper Hext has been a surprise power source in the early going with three home runs. Josh Leslie also has three homers and leads the Cowboys with 12 runs batted in.

As for playing the next dozen games at home, including the start of Southland play, Hill said, “I like playing at home and not just being on the field. Less time on a bus and better more time in the classroom is good. I think it is good for our coaches, kids and our fans.”

That’s a good thing because the Cowboys won’t be on the road until the last day of March when they travel to play Houston Christian.

Until then it’s a lot of home cooking.