The McNeese State baseball team will look to stay in the hunt for the regular-season Southland Conference title this week when it hosts New Orleans in a three-game series beginning at 6 p.m. today.
The home series will mark the last time the Cowboys (23-9, 13-2 SLC) will play in Joe Miller Ballpark before embarking on an eight-game road trip lasting almost two weeks before returning on May 2 for a game against LSU-Alexandria.
“It’s good to be home,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “We’ve got a long road stretch coming up after this, but these (three) games at home will give us a chance to rest up a little bit and sleep in our own beds.”
The Cowboys occupy the second spot in the league standings behind Sam Houston State (12-0 SLC), while the Privateers (19-15, 8-7) are tied for fourth.
Hill attributed McNeese’s success to a high level of consistency that his team has played with.
“We’re definitely playing more consistently, and I have to put that with the kids and what they’re doing,” Hill said. “We haven’t really changed a lot of what we’re doing from a teaching and coaching standpoint. Some things that they’ve done have made me a better coach, and we’ve got great leadership.”
Regular Friday starter Austin Sanders (3-2, 3.27 ERA) is expected to get the start tonight for Game 1. The senior lefty has 47 strikeouts to 18 walks in 44 innings pitched in eight starts.
He will go head to head with a Privateers squad batting .301 with a .457 slugging percentage thanks to 72 doubles, 10 triples and 31 home runs.
John Cable leads UNO with a .362 batting average followed by junior infielder Owen Magee and senior infielder Samuel Capielano, both of whom are batting .331.
It’s this kind of offense that will keep the Cowboys honest in a series that, based on records, looks like a mismatch.
“They’re all big (games),” Hill said. “Every time you play, you know that if you don’t play well, you’re going to get beat in this conference.”
The Cowboys lineup — which has a team batting average of .318, the 10th-best in the NCAA — will likely go up against UNO junior right-hander Shawn Semple (5-1, 2.15). Team are hitting .225 against Semple.
The Cowboys have six batters with hitting clips over .300, led by Joe Provenzano (.393) followed by Matt Gallier (.378) and Ricky Ramirez (.368).
Senior outfielder and leadoff batter Robbie Podorsky has recorded hits in all but five games and has stolen a team-high 21 bases in 23 attempts.
“The offense, the way that it’s been going, you have a chance to win every ball game,” Hill said.
“It’s going to be a battle, no doubt about it,” he said. “They’ve got some good arms, they’re right there at the top of the league in home runs. It’s going to be a tremendous, battle.”
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