Rain alters Cowboys’ plans, Rogers named midseason all-American pitcher

Published 9:00 am Friday, April 7, 2023

Rain washed away Thursday night’s series opener for the Cowboys, turning today into a long afternoon at Joe Miller Ballpark — weather permitting.

McNeese State will play two games against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi starting at 3 p.m.

Originally, the second game in the Southland Conference series was scheduled for 6 p.m. today. Now it will come 45 minutes after the first game’s conclusion.

Saturday’s final game remains scheduled for 11 a.m.

“That is the best chance to get all three games in,” explained McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “We will fight like crazy to try to play the entire series.

“Sometimes when it rains, I feel like Charlie Brown.”

The Cowboys are looking to get back into the league race after starting conference play 2-4.

McNeese is 18-10 while the Islanders enter the series 13-17, 1-2 and on a four-game losing streak. TAMU-CC has given up 51 runs in those four games and is 1-9 away from home.

The Cowboys will start ace right-hander Grant Rogers (7-0, 1.12 ERA) in the first game. Opponents are hitting .159 against him.

Redshirt sophomore Matthew Watson (2-3, 5-23), a right-hander, will make his seventh start of the season.

While McNeese is undefeated in games started by Rogers, it is 11-10 in the rest.

“Our team plays at a different level when (Rogers) is out here,” Hill said. “You have a lot of confidence when he is out there.”

Earlier Thursday Rogers was named to the D1 Baseball Midseason All-American second team.

He is one of two pitchers in Division I with seven victories.

Rogers did warm up Thursday night before lighting caused the first delay last night but told Hill he was still ready to go.

“We will see how he feels before the game, but the plan is for him to start the first one,” Hill said.

“This is always a tough series,” said Corpus Christi head coach Scott Malone. “These guys expect to win. They expect to a weekend series and a conference.

“We will need our best team effort in all facets.”

The Islanders lead the conference and are 18th in the nation in hits with 314. They are batting .307 .

However, Corpus has hit 13 homers, last in the league.

Ryan Brendan leads the Islanders and the SLC with a .382 average. Teammate Chance Reisdorf is fourth at .353.

Hill said he will decide Friday who will start Game 2.

“We have been struggling with our starts, no secret,” Hill said.