Cowboys in control, Playing for seeding in SLC Tournament
Published 12:00 pm Friday, May 6, 2022
- McNeese State shortstop Reid Bourque sends a ball to the outfield for an RBI double in the bottom of fourth inning against Eastern Illinois Saturday afternoon at Cowboy Diamond. Reid broke out of a slump with a three-hit, three-RBI day that included his first home run of the season. (Kirk Meche / Special to the American Press)
“Best to know that with six games left your destiny will be played out on the fields you will be playing on,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “This is a big home stretch for us. All you can ask is to have a chance.”
What’s at stake, aside from a regular season championship, is hosting in the postseason. The top two teams will each host a four-team, double-elimination mini tournament with the winners meeting for the league crown and NCAA berth.
McNeese has won the last two conference tournaments.
“This team is keeping its head down and just working hard,” Hill said. “We know where we are at and what is at stake.”
McNeese, which is 21-12 at home, will throw Grant Rogers (5-3, 3.59 ERA) in the opener. Left-hander Cal Carver (3-4, 4.10) will go for the Demons (21-23, 9-9).
NSU, which is 4-11 away from home, has solid starting pitching.
“We’ve been blessed with really good starting pitching,” Demons head coach Bobby Barbier said. “Those three guys (Carver, Johnathan Harmon and Drayton Brown) have been tremendous all year long, which has allowed us to do some of these things and not have these guys tired for these midweek games. It will be good to get them out there and let them compete.”
McNeese’s offense has been hot. The Cowboys have scored 70 runs over the last eight games and not scoring fewer than six in any of those.
Over the last two games the Cowboys’ bats have been even better, scoring 28 runs on 42 hits.
“You wish you could save some of those but you can’t,” Hill said. “It doesn’t work that way.”
McNeese leads the Southland in hitting (.294). The Cowboys have three of the league’s top five batters, led by second baseman Brad Burckel (.362), followed by Payton Harden third at .357. Braden Duhon checks in fifth (.333).
The Cowboys have four of the league’s top seven in stolen bases with Harden’s 20 heading the field. Reid Bourque is right behind him with 19.
Game 2 will feature righty Chance Stone (3-2, 3.83) starting for McNeese while NSU will send right-hander Harmon (5-5, 2.93) to the mound.
The Demons are set to go with Drayton Brown (5-4, 3.83) for the Sunday finale while the Cowboys have not named a starter.
