The Cowboys fell off last spring after a solid run at fighting for Southland Conference titles and winning their share.

They finished 32-27 overall and 11-13 in the league and out of contention.

McNeese State looks to get back into the race this season with a lot of new faces, or shall we say arms. A redone pitching staff will hold the key to their hopes of returning to the league’s elite.

“I don’t know if I know yet what I got in certain personal,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “We have a lot of pieces, but I just don’t know how they all fit.”

The coaches and sports information directors selected McNeese third in their preseason poll. Lamar and Southeastern were chosen first and second, respectively.

Hill enters his 12th season at McNeese as the winningest coach in program history. He has posted a 333-268 record. The Cowboys will open their season on Valentine’s Day with a three-game series at home against Wichita State.

“We only have eight games before we start league play this year, so we will be trying to win games and learn some things about ourselves as we go,” said Hill. 

There are a couple of offensive parts back for the Cowboys. Conner Westenburg returns for his senior season and was one of two McNeese players named on the preseason All-SLC team.

Westenburg hit .296 with six home runs and 41 RBIs last season, stealing 20 bases in 23 tries. He also played a solid defense and will likely lead off and patrol centerfield this spring.

“Conner is an excellent defender and can run,” said Hill. “He can set the table for us.”

The other McNeese player to make the preseason club is fellow senior Simon Larranaga, who goes first base right field. Larranaga led McNeese with nine home runs last season in 138 at-bats.

Illinois-Chicago transfer Marcus Heusohn is expected to bring some power to the Cowboys along with a healthy Bailey Hollins. The redshirt junior hit .300 last spring in 26 games for McNeese.. 

“He is just getting up to game speed,” said Hill. “When he gets in the lineup, he changes things.”

McNeese hopes to get production out of Larry Edwards Jr., a transfer who will play left. The roster includes 18 returning Cowboys and 23 newcomers.

Pitching will be a lot of figuring things out as they go for McNeese. 

“We have a lot of new guys coming, and the ones back will be likely in new roles,” said Hill. “I got a decent idea of what they can do, but you don’t really know until you see how they do in stressful situations.

“Most of the bullpen guys have not pitched here before. So we have to see what they do against this type of competition.”

Alexis Gravel is back after going 2-4 last year, working both as a starter and out of the bullpen. The senior lefty will be a big piece of the rotation puzzle. 

The rest will be more of a wait-and-see mentality. 

“I know what our potential is,” said Hill. “We will have more power than last year, but we still have much to do.”