After a down 2024, the McNeese Cowboys baseball team looks to have a bounce year in 2025. Skipper Justin Hill returns for another season in Lake Charles as the Pokes have some questions to answer heading into their opening series versus Wichita State.
Despite going just above .500 last season, McNeese was picked to finish third in the conference behind Lamar and Southeastern. The Cardinals earned 18th first-place votes while Southeastern was voted to finish at the top of the standings four times.
Head Coach: Justin Hill (12th year)
2024 Record: 32-27
2024 Postseason Result: Lost in Southland Conference Baseball Tournament
2025 Preseason Ranking: 3rd
CRAZY SCHEDULE AHEAD
Conference play begins early for the Cowboys as they gear up for a series against defending Southland Champion Nicholls on February 28th. Most teams play more than 20 non-conference games before facing a conference foe. McNeese however will only play eight.
Those games will feature a three-game series versus the Wichita State Shockers, then a matchup with the top-ranked Texas A&M Aggies according to D1Baseball. Following that, the Pokes will welcome in the Oakland Grizzlies for a weekend set before the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns head to Lake Charles to help wrap up the non-conference part of the schedule for McNeese.
PITCHING IN QUESTION
McNeese’s pitching rotation is nowhere near set in stone. A majority of this year’s arms are new to the program and have never pitched here before.
Of the 21 pitchers on McNeese’s roster, 17 have played for previous college programs, the majority from the community college and junior college ranks. The other four are two freshmen, one sophomore, and a redshirt senior. The senior pitcher was Isaac Duplechain out of Barbe High School.
One of the bigger gets out of the transfer portal for the Cowboys was Myles Meyer. The senior right-hander previously spent time with the Oklahoma Sooners after pitching for the American River College and California State University.
ALL-CONFERENCE HITTERS
The All-Southland Conference’s first and second teams were announced last week and a couple of Cowboys hitters made the rosters.
Conner Westenburg was one of four outfielders named to the first team. The senior out of Porter, Texas batted .296 on the year with a .472 slugging percentage and started all 59 games for the Cowboys on the way to the SLC title game in 2024.
Taking up the utility spot on the second team was infielder Simon Larranaga, a Mont Belvieu, Texas native. Last season, Larranaga recorded 41 hits, scored 26 runs, and drove in the same amount in 39 games played (38 starts).
The McNeese baseball team will begin their 2025 season at home when they host the Wichita State Shockers. First pitch at Joe Miller Ballpark is set for 6:00 PM on Friday, February 14th.