Leslie drives in five runs, Cowboys complete sweep

Published 6:01 pm Sunday, March 19, 2023

The Cowboys completed their sweep of Yale Sunday behind the bat of Josh Leslie and four double plays.

Leslie drove in five runs, giving him nine for the series, and the McNeese State defense turned trouble into twin killings to stop any Bulldog rally.

The result was a 9-4 Cowboy victory, their 11th straight at Joe Miller Ballpark, the fourth longest streak in program history. McNeese won 16 straight at home at the end of 1995 and start of 1996.

“It’s hard to win a college baseball game,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “A lot of things can go wrong.”

The Pokes are 15-5, the second-best start through 20 games and third time that has been accomplished in McNeese history. They went 16-4 in 1989. The Cowboys are 12-2 at home.

“We love playing here in this atmosphere,” said second baseman Brad Burckel. “It is great to be a home.”

Burckel reached base four of five times at the plate Sunday and was nine of 10 the last two games.

“He is fun to watch hit,” Leslie said of Burckel. “Hitting next to him in the lineup is just a lot of fun.”

Burckel hit his third home run of the season to lead off the seventh inning and give the Cowboys a 7-3 lead after Yale (4-8) had scored a pair of runs.

Leslie was the big gun for McNeese, driving in three with a double in the second and two more on a single in the eighth, both of those hits coming with two out. He finished 3-for-5 to raise his average to .325 in the process.

He has also driven in 29 runs in the first 20 games.

“I get excited when I see runners on base,” said Leslie. “Hitting is contagious. We are all starting to hit.”

Freshman Braley Hollis also had three hits to raise his batting average to .386.

Zach Voss went five innings and allowed just one run on four hits to get his first victory in three decisions. Christian Vega earned the save, his second.

Yale starter Reid Easterly (2-1) took the loss.

McNeese will be back home on Tuesday night against Houston (8-11) which will bring its own three-game win streak to the game.