By Jim Gazzolo

Special to the American Press

 

This stretch raised some eyebrows for McNeese State baseball coaches when the schedule came out.

The Cowboys had a rare weekend off and had not played a game in six days, heading into Tuesday’s game with Alcorn.

“You are not sure how things are going to work out,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill.

Things worked out just fine for the Cowboys.

Behind another big offensive effort, McNeese pounded Alcorn 21-3 at Joe Miller Ballpark. That is the most runs scored by the Cowboys this season. McNeese used seven pitchers in the contest.

The Cowboys improved to 20-5 on the season and continued the program’s best start since 1991, when McNeese started 24-5.

Conner Westenburg and Larry Edwards each had three hits to lead the Cowboy attack. Both extended their multi-hit games on the season to 12 as well. 

Westenburg scored five runs while Edwards scored four and drove in five.

This game was no contest from the start, as McNeese captured its third straight win by the run rule. It lasted just 6½ innings, and Alcorn fell to 4-21. 

Not only was it McNeese’s fifth-straight victory, but it was also its third-straight victory by the shortened run rule. Twice last week, they won games by more than 10 runs. On Tuesday though, the Cowboys scored the most runs of the season, picking up 16 hits. 

Edwards led McNeese’s offensive parade, driving in five runs in the first two innings, as the Cowboys jumped out to a 14-2 lead after three. 

After allowing a run in the top of the first on Kalum Banks’ second home run of the season, the Cowboys responded with five of their own in the first, four in the second, and five more in the third, putting the game away early.

Edwards had the big hit in the first two frames, batting with the bases loaded both times. In the first he ripped a 3-run double into the corner in left. He followed that up with a two-run single to right in the second. 

Before the game, McNeese head coach Justin Hill said it was important for his club to handle business.

“We want to work the rust off and play good baseball to prepare for the weekend,” Hill said. “You don’t know how having a weekend off affects you. 

Since being shut out by Southeastern in the first game of their series two weeks ago, McNeese has scored 67 runs over the last five games. 

McNeese will return to action with a three-game Southland Conference series against New Orleans starting Friday night. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m.