Justin Hill’s unknown Cowboys aren’t easing into their new season that’s for sure.

The 11th edition of Hill’s McNeese State baseball team hits the road for a three-game series against the No. 8 team in the nation Texas A&M starting Friday at 6 p.m.

It is the first time McNeese has opened on the road since 2021 when the Cowboys traveled to Alabama where they were swept by the Crimson Tide.

“It is exciting to play the big programs,” said McNeese senior left fielder Bradon Duhon. “We are looking forward to showing what we can do this year. Nobody is expecting anything from us.

“I think we can shock some people.”

The Cowboys are picked for fifth in the Southland Conference’s preseason poll, their lowest spot since 2019.

Duhon is the only starter returning to his position from a year ago.
“I really don’t know what to expect,” said Hill. “Thank makes it exciting. The sky is the limit.”

McNeese isn’t even sure who its Game 2 starter on Saturday will be.

Senior right-hander Zach Voss will get the start for the Cowboys. Voss started six games last season, posting a 1-3 record. He also had two relief appearances.

Voss posted a 4.85 earned run average over 26 innings, striking out 21. He struggled with his control, walking 11 and allowing 17 runs, 14 earned, on 27 hits.

Voss did throw well in the fall game he started against defending champ LSU back in November at Joe Miller Ballpark.

“He has earned it,” Hill said of Voss. “He has worked real hard and threw well against LSU.”

Ty Abraham is expected to serve both out of the bullpen and as a starter. If everything were to go right, Abraham could close Friday nights and start on Sundays. He did that some last season.

The Aggies will counter with lefty Ryan Prager, a redshirt sophomore from Dallas.

Prager spent all of last season recovering from an injury and did not pitch in 2022 he appeared in 18 games, starting 16 while posting a 1-4 record with a 5.16 ERA over 59⅓ innings, striking out 53.

All eyes will be on Aggie newcomer Braden Montgomery. A two-way player, Montgomery hit 35 home runs his first two seasons at Stanford before moving to Texas A&M in the offseason.

He joins sophomore Jace LaViolette, who hit 21 homers as year ago in his rookie season.

Duhon will lead the Cowboys after playing in in 53 of the 58 McNeese games last season, starting 51. He was in the outfield most of the time, hitting .258 while stealing 19 bases in 22 attempts.

“We have a lot of guys who know their roles,” said Duhon. “I think we are a more complete team. I think it is going to be fun.”

Last year’s Cowboy team was picked for first and finished tied for fifth. This year they want to flip those numbers.

“Maybe we have a bit of a chip on our shoulder being picked fifth,” said senior pitcher Ty Abraham. “We do have a lot of older guys who want to go out with a bang.”

Hill is ready for the new season even if it comes with question marks.

“Every year is different, every year is special,” Hill said.

McNeese’s latest “special” season starts with one tough foe.