Off to the best start in Justin Hill’s tenure as head coach, the Cowboys now leap into Southland Conference play Friday night.

McNeese opens the conference with a three-game weekend series against Nicholls at Joe Miller Ballpark. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

“It is a quick start to the conference,” Hill said. “It is different from years past; we have had to jump right into league play this year.”

Led by strong pitching, McNeese is off to a 6-1 start. The Cowboys have won four straight and allowed just seven runs over those games, two being shutouts.

McNeese is 14th in the nation in earned run average at 2.29 and ninth in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 4.16. Over the first seven games, the Cowboys have fanned 79, an average of 11.3 per outing. 

They have whiffed 55 for an average of 13.8 per game over the last four. Opponents are hitting just .205 against Cowboy pitchers.

“This is a really good pitching staff,” McNeese catcher Grant Mangrum said. “We feel really good going into conference.
“It is different this year. Last year we had five weeks before the conference started, now it has been just two. But we are ready.”

Nicholls enters the series 5-4, having lost their last two games. 

McNeese hopes to get some of its players back healthy. They beat Louisiana-Lafayette despite having 10 players down with illness. Hill said he expects some of the players to return in time for the weekend.

“We will just have to see who is available as they feel better,” Hill said. “We will work from there.”

The Cowboys did find a Friday night starter in the early going. Left-hander Alexis Gravel will get the ball against the Colonels.

He was named the Southland’s Pitcher of the Week Monday. Gravel is 1-0 and has not allowed a run in 10 innings of work, striking out 15.

“Alexis has worked hard to be where he is,” said Hill. “He has real good stuff and throws strikes.”

He will face right-hander Michael Lindsey, who has a 5.79 ERA, without a decision. On Saturday, Cooper Golden (0-0, 5.63) will face Alec Sparks (2-0, 1.80). 

McNeese has not named a starter for the finale, while the Colonels are scheduled to throw righty Dalton Hill (1-0, 0.9.).

The Cowboys have found a closer in Sergio Lopez. He has allowed just one run in nine innings while striking out 14. 

Lopez is 2-for-2 in save opportunities and has a victory. Lopez is the early leader in the nation’s walks and hits per innings (WHIP) at .22.

“He is not afraid of the moment,” said Hill. “He comes in and throws strikes.”

Easton Dowell leads the McNeese offense with a .370 average, and Larry Edwards is close behind at .350. 

Now, we will find out how the Cowboys compete against the Southland competition.