2023 McNeese Cowboys baseball team

2023 McNeese Cowboys baseball
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	35–23 (12–12 Southland)
Head coach	Justin Hill (10th season)
Assistant coaches	Nick Zaleski Jim Ricklefsen
Home stadium	Joe Miller Ballpark

2023 Southland Conference baseball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Nicholls ‍†‍‡‍^y	15	–	9		.625			34	–	24		.586
Incarnate Word  ‍‍‍	14	–	10		.583			28	–	26		.519
New Orleans  ‍‍‍	13	–	11		.542			36	–	24		.600
Lamar  ‍‍‍	13	–	11		.542			32	–	23		.582
McNeese  ‍‍‍	12	–	12		.500			35	–	23		.603
Northwestern State  ‍‍‍	12	–	12		.500			29	–	27		.518
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi  ‍‍‍	12	–	12		.500			24	–	30		.444
Southeastern Louisiana  ‍‍‍	9	–	14		.391			25	–	25		.500
Houston Christian  ‍‍‍	7	–	16		.304			11	–	37		.229
† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament As of June 3, 2023[1] Rankings from D1Baseball

The 2023 McNeese Cowboys baseball team represented McNeese State University during the 2023 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Cowboys played their home games at Joe Miller Ballpark and were led by tenth–year head coach Justin Hill. They are members of the Southland Conference.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 3, 2023. McNeese was picked to finish first in the Southland Conference with 118 votes and 7 first place votes.^[2]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	McNeese State	118 (7)
2	Southeastern Louisiana	115 (10)
3	Lamar	88
4	New Orleans	87
5	Northwestern State	65 (1)
6	Nicholls	59
7	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	55
8	Houston Christian	41
9	Incarnate Word	20

Preseason All-Southland team

Five McNeese players were named to the conference preseason first team. Three McNeese players were named to the conference preseason second team. ^[2]

First Team

• Edgar Alvarez (NICH, JR, 1st Base)
• Brad Burckel (MCNS, SR, 2nd Base)
• Josh Leslie (MCNS, SR, 3rd Base)
• Parker Coddou (NICH, JR, Shortstop)
• Bo Willis (NWST, JR, Catcher)
• Tre Jones (TAMUCC, JR, Designated Hitter)
• Payton Harden (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
• Brendan Ryan (TAMUCC, SR, Outfielder)
• Xane Washington (NICH, R-SR, Outfielder)
• Zach Garcia (TAMUCC, SO, Starting Pitcher)
• Grant Rogers (MCNS, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Tyler Theriot (NICH, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Burrell Jones (MCNS, SR, Relief Pitcher)
• Alec Carr (UIW, SR, Utility)

Second Team

• Josh Blankenship (LU, SR, 1st Base)
• Daunte Stuart (NWST, JR, 2nd Base)
• Kasten Furr (NO, JR, 3rd Base)
• Tyler Bischke (NO, JR, Shortstop)
• Bryce Grizzaffi (SELA, SR, Catcher)
• Kade Hunter (MCNS, SR, Designated Hitter)
• Josh Caraway (TAMUCC, JR, Outfielder)
• Braden Duhon (MCNS, JR, Outfielder)
• Issac Williams (NO, JR, Outfielder)
• Cal Carver (NWST, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Tyler LeBlanc (NO, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Will Kinzeler (SELA, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Dalton Aspholm (SELA, SR, Relief Pitcher)
• Tre’ Obregon III (MCNS, SR, Utility)

Schedule and results

Legend
	McNeese State win
	McNeese State loss
	Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions
Bold	McNeese State team member
*	Non-Conference game
†	Make-Up Game

2023 McNeese Cowboys baseball game log
Regular season (35–23)
February (4–4) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Feb. 17 Creighton* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 1–0 Rogers, Grant (1-0) Ryan Windham (0-1) Abraham, Ty (1) 1,015 1–0 Feb. 18 Creighton* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 4–9 Daniel Hammond (1-0) Steward, Luke (0-1) Tommy Steier (1) 1,001 1–1 Feb. 19 Creighton* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 1–5 Justin Kleinsorge (1-0) Voss, Zach (0-1) 1,060 1–2 Feb. 21 at Sam Houston* Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX 6–18 David, Chandler (2-0) Steward, Luke (0-2) ESPN+ 878 1–3 Feb. 24 at UT Arlington* Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX 10–4 Rogers, Grant (2-0) Kuykendall, Thomas (0-1) 399 2–3 Feb. 25 at UT Arlington* Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX 12–8 Vega, Christian (1-0) Peters, Connery (0-1) 363 3–3 Feb. 26 at UT Arlington* Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX 6–12 Noah, Caden (2-0) Voss, Zach (0-2) Norris, Zach (1) 351 3–4 Feb. 28 Louisiana* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 5–4 Morrow, Kainin (1-0) Brendan Moody (0-1) Vega, Christian (1) 1,405 4–4
March (14–4) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Mar. 1 at Southern* Lee–Hines Field • Baton Rouge, LA 10–3 Jones, Burrell (1-0) Antoine Harris (0-2) 268 5–4 Mar. 3 George Washington* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 2–0 Rogers, Grant (3-0) Logan Koester (0-1) 1,043 6–4 Mar. 4 George Washington* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 7–0 Cherry, Derrick (1-0) Austin Odell (1-3) 1,052 7–4 Mar. 5 George Washington* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 7–6 Vega, Christian (2-0) Chris Knight (0-1) 979 8–4 Mar. 8 at Louisiana* M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA 3–5 Ray, Tommy (2-0) Lejeune, Cameron (0-1) Marshall, Blake (1) 3,959 8–5 Mar. 10 Prairie View A&M* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 9–0 Rogers, Grant (4-0) Victor Mendoza (0-2) 1,081 9–5 Mar. 11 Prairie View A&M* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 10–0 (8 inn) Cherry, Derrick (2-0) Michael Dews (0-3) 861 10–5 Mar. 12 Prairie View A&M* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 11–10 Jones, Burrell (2-0) Joshua Larzabal (0-1) 1,040 11–5 Mar. 14 Mississippi Valley State* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 7–2 Morrow, Kainin (2-0) VALENZUELA, ISAIAH (1-3) 958 12–5 Mar. 17 Yale* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 7–1 Rogers, Grant (5-0) Reese, Bryant (1-1) 1,062 13–5 Mar. 18 Yale* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 8–1 Cherry, Derrick (3-0) Shaw, Colton (1-1) Abraham, Ty (2) 1,037 14–5 Mar. 19 Yale* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 9–4 Voss, Zach (1-2) Easterly, Reid (2-1) Vega, Christian (2) 1,030 15–5 Mar. 21 Houston* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–9 CITELLI, Cade (1-2) Morrow, Kainin (2-1) MURRAY, Justin (2) ESPN+ 1,104 15–6 Mar. 24 Nicholls Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 8–3 Rogers, Grant (6-0) Theriot, Tyler (2-4) 1,020 16–6 1–0 Mar. 25 Nicholls Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–8 (12 inn) Saltaformaggio, Nico (2-0) Vega, Christian (2-1) 1,320 16–7 1–1 Mar. 26 Nicholls Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 5–8 Mancuso, Josh (2-1) Voss, Zach (1-3) Saltaformaggio, Nico (2) 1,068 16–8 1–2 Mar. 28 Southern* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 12–5 Moeller, JT (1-0) Daren Smith (1-2) ESPN+ 1,017 17–8 Mar. 31 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 15–5 (7 inn) Rogers, Grant (7-0) Baumann, Baylor (0-2) 200 18–8 2–2
April (10–7) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Apr. 1 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 2–4 Zander, Walker (1-3) Cherry, Derrick (3-1) Smitherman, Javan (2) ESPN+ 300 18–9 2–3 Apr. 2 at Houston Christian Husky Field • Houston, TX 10–12 Charles, Matthew (1-1) Vega, Christian (2-2) Smitherman, Javan (3) ESPN+ 250 18–10 2–4 Apr. 6 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 8–3 Rogers, Grant (8-0) Watson, Matthew (2-3) 19–10 3–4 Apr. 7 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 3–5 Dickey, Kyle (1-0) Cherry, Derrick (3-2) Dean, Austin (3) 1,042 19–11 3–5 Apr. 8 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 4–3 Jones, Burrell (3-0) Purcell, Colin (2-3) Moeller, JT (1) ESPN+ 1,076 20–11 4–5 Apr. 11 Louisiana Christian* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 3–0 Christian Vega (2–2) Braxton Cooksey (2-3) ESPN+ 21–11 Apr. 12 at Rice* Reckling Park • Houston, TX 7–6 Hart, Cade (1-0) Zaskoda, G. (0-1) Cherry, Derrick (1) CUSAtv 1,667 22–11 Apr. 14 at Southeastern Louisiana Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA 7–6 Vega, Christian (3-2) Lauve, Lance (2-1) Abraham, Ty (3) ESPN+ 1,288 23–11 5–5 Apr. 15 at Southeastern Louisiana Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA 7–8 Rodriguez, Jackson (1-0) Vega, Christian (3-3) ESPN+ 1,178 23–12 5–6 Apr. 16 at Southeastern Louisiana Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA 3–2 Lejeune, Cameron (2-1) Rodriguez, Jackson (1-1) ESPN+ 1,263 24–12 6–6 Apr. 21 New Orleans Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 11–1 (7 inn) Rogers, Grant (9-0) Blanchard, Beau (0-3) ESPN+ 1,138 25–12 7–6 Apr. 22 New Orleans Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 2–9 Mitchell, Brandon (7-3) Jones, Burrell (3-1) ESPN+ 1,233 25–13 7–7 Apr. 23 New Orleans Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–2 Abraham, Ty (1-0) Mercer, Colton (2-4) ESPN+ 1,132 26–13 8–7 Apr. 25 LSU–Alexandria Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 8–1 Barthelemy, Brock (1-0) Benevage, Zack (1-1) 1,007 27–13 Apr. 28 at Incarnate Word Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX 7–8 Hayward, Steve (6-3) Abraham, Ty (1-1) 84 27–14 8–8 Apr. 29 at Incarnate Word Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX 6–8 Cassidy, K (2-2) Jones, Burrell (3-2) Hayward, S (5) 147 27–15 8–9 Apr. 30 at Incarnate Word Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX 9–2 Barthelemy, Brock (2-0) Berens, M (2-3) ESPN+ 110 28–15 9–9
May (5–6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Battle of the Border May 5 Lamar Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–4 Rogers, Grant (10-0) Ellis, Jacob (3-3) Abraham, Ty (4) ESPN+ 1,674 29–15 10–9 May 6 Lamar Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 4–3 Jones, Burrell (4-2) Tauzin, Kole (0-2) Abraham, Ty (5) ESPN+ 1,172 30–15 11–9 May 7 Lamar Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 9–10 Cleveland, Jackson (1-2) Abraham, Ty (1-2) Morse, Trhea (1) ESPN+ 1,099 30–16 11–10 May 9 Nicholls* Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA 7–3 Barthelemy, Brock (3-0) Evans, Cade (0-2) 207 31–16 May 12 at Northwestern State H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA 2–5 Carver, Cal (6-3) Rogers, Grant (10-1) Froehlich, Kyle (7) ESPN+ 732 31–17 11–11 May 13 at Northwestern State H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA 4–2 Abraham, Ty (2-2) Prestwich, Chase (4-4) Barthelemy, Brock (2) ESPN+ 308 32–17 12–11 May 14 at Northwestern State H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA 4–8 Brown, Drayton (5-7) Jones, Burrell (4-3) ESPN+ 328 32–18 12–12 May 16 at LSU* 5 Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA 4–7 Griffin Herring (3-1) Barthelemy, Brock (3-1) Thatcher Hurd (3) SECN+ 10,576 32–19 May 17 Miami of Ohio* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 8–14 Nick Vardavas (3-2) Jones, Burrell (4-4) Martin Sosna (1) 1,002 32–20 May 18 Miami of Ohio* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 13–5 Rogers, Grant (11-1) Connor Oliver (2-6) Vega, Christian (3) 992 33–20 May 19 Miami of Ohio* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–13 Connor Preisel (2-1) Moeller, JT (1-1) 975 33–21
Post-season (2–2)
Southland Tournament (2–2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record May 23 vs. (7) Texas A&M–Corpus Christi (6) Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 4–0 Rogers, Grant (12-1) Watson, Matthew (6-5) ESPN+ 884 34–21 1–0 May 24 vs. (1) Nicholls (6) Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 2–3 Galy, Gavin (1-1) Cherry, Derrick (3-3) ESPN+ 757 34–22 1–1 May 25 vs. (2) Incarnate Word (6) Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 3–0 Hudgens, Bryson (1-0) Berens, Micah (2-5) Barthelemy, Brock (3) ESPN+ 35–22 2–1 May 26 vs. (5) Northwestern State (6) Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 2–6 Brown, Drayton (6-6) Jones, Burrell (4-5) ESPN+ 35–23 2–2

Schedule Source:^[3][4][5]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll. |}

References

1. "2023 Southland Conference Baseball Standings". southland.org. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
2. "McNeese picked to win 2023 Southland Conference baseball crown; Preseason All-Conference Teams announced". Southland Conference. February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
3. "2023 Baseball Schedule Released". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
4. "2023 Baseball Schedule". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
5. Matthew Bonnette (December 6, 2022). "McNeese announces 2023 baseball schedule". Crescent City Sports Enterprises LLC. Retrieved January 16, 2023.