A week earlier, their chances of making the postseason were in doubt. Now the Cowboys hold their hopes in their own hands.

“That is what you always want,” said McNeese State head coach Justin Hill. “We are in the same situation, just a better position.”

The Cowboys head to Corpus Christi, Texas, knowing they must win to earn their way into the Southland Conference Tournament. They also know that, unlike last weekend, they are in control of their fate.

With nine regular-season games remaining, McNeese is a half-game ahead of Houston Christian for seventh place. The Cowboys (21-22, 5-10 SLC) are two games up on Southeastern Louisiana thanks to the tiebreaker for the eighth and final spot.

“We have to keep going,” said outfielder Cooper Hext. “There are a lot of games left to play.”

McNeese lost a 9-8 midweek game at Houston Wednesday night as the Cougars rallied from five runs down for the walk-off victory. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (21-27, 9-9) and in the middle of the SLC race.

The Cowboys will go into the weekend not sure who will pitch or when. The goal, Hill said, is to get Cameron LeJeune the ball in the most important positions. The former starter became the closer last week and it worked.

LeJeune picked up a win and a save as McNeese beat Southeastern twice to claim its first league series the season.

“It wasn’t how we drew it up, but it worked out,” Hill said. “I am not sure who my starters will be all weekend, but we will patch it together. It’s not ideal, but we have to try and make it work.”

That’s how the season has been for the Cowboys, who have scrambled their way back into postseason contention thanks to their offense, which struggled early. Over their last five SLC games, McNeese is averaging 8.4 runs a game, hitting eight home runs along the way.

“We showed we can hit the ball out of the ballpark, but we have to find ways to maintain pressure on the defense,” Hill said

The Cowboys have shown their ability to come back. Friday night they rallied from five runs down to beat the Lions. On Sunday it was three runs they spotted SLU.

“It hasn’t been pretty but I’m proud of this group and the way they battle,” Hill said. “They will fight you until the end.”

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will likely be another long weekend. Runs seem to mount on the island, especially when the weather gets warm. The wind, just like last weekend, will be blowing out.

“It’s the same, but opposite,” Hill said. “It blows out to right and right-center while in our park it blows out to left.

“One thing about that park, there are a lot of hits there. The infield is hard when it is dry. This has a chance to be an adventure.”