2024 McNeese Cowboys baseball team explained

Mode:	baseball
Year:	2024
Team:	McNeese Cowboys
Conference:	Southland Conference
Short Conf:	Southland
Record:	32–27
Conf Record:	11–13
Head Coach:	Justin Hill
Hc Year:	11th
Asst Coach1:	Jim Ricklefsen
Asst Coach2:	Mikey Hoehner
Asst Coach3:	Miles Durham
Stadium:	Joe Miller Ballpark

The 2024 McNeese Cowboys baseball team represented McNeese State University during the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Cowboys played their home games at Joe Miller Ballpark and were led by eleventh–year head coach Justin Hill. They are members of the Southland Conference. They compiled a 32–27 overall record and a 11–13 record in conference play to tie for 4th place. Qualifying for the SLC tournament, the 5th seeded Cowboys were 3–2 in tournament play. They defeated 4th seeded Northwestern State 10–5 and 8th seeded Incarnate Word 6–2. The Cowboys were defeated by 1st seed Lamar 9–18 and then defeated Lamar 14–4 to reach the tournament championship game where they were defeated by 2nd seed Nicholls 15–1.

Previous season

See main article: 2023 McNeese Cowboys baseball team.

The Cowboys had a regular season record of 35–23 and a conference record of 12–12 finishing in a three way tie for fifth place in conference play. They participated in the 2023 Southland Conference baseball tournament as the sixth seeded team. After winning their first conference tournament game against seventh seeded Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, the Cowboys lost to first seeded Nicholls and defeated second seeded Incarnate Word before being eliminated losing to fifth seeded Northwestern State.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2024. McNeese was picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference with 67 votes.^[1]

Coaches poll
1	Nicholls	126 (14)
2	Lamar	106 (1)
3	New Orleans	92 (3)
4	Incarnate Word	81
5	McNeese	67
6	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	55
7	Southeastern Louisiana	53
8	Northwestern State	42
9	Houston Christian	26

Preseason All-Southland team

Cooper Hext was named to the conference preseason second team.^[1]

First Team

• Edgar Alvarez* (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
• MaCrae Kendrick (NICH, SR, 2nd Base)
• Ethan Ruiz (LU, SR, 3rd Base)
• Parker Coddou* (NICH, SR, Shortstop)
• Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
• Rey Mendoza* (UIW, GR, Designated Hitter)
• Mitchell Sanford* (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
• Samuel Benjamin* (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
• Issac Williams (UNO, SR, Outfielder)
• Jacob Mayers* (NICH, SO, Starting Pitcher)
• Brooks Caple* (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Hunter Hesseltine* (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Gavin Galy* (NICH, RJR, Relief Pitcher)
• Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Utility)

• -2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

Second Team

• Cameron Crotte (UIW, SR, 1st Base)
• Austin Roccaforte (LU, SR, 2nd Base)
• Dylan Mach (UNO, SR, 3rd Base)
• Jake Haze* (SLU, GR, Shortstop)
• Bo Willis (NWST, SR, Catcher)
• River Orsak (LU, SR, Designated Hitter)
• Garrett Felix (NICH, SR, Outfielder)
• Cooper Hext (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
• Christian Smith-Johnson (TAMUCC, SO, Outfielder)
• Chase Prestwich (NWST, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Isaiah Zavala (UIW, GR, Starting Pitcher)
• Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Jackson Cleveland (LU, JR, Relief Pitcher)
• Isaiah Zavala (UIW, SR, Utility)

• -2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

Schedule and results

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

2024 McNeese Cowboys baseball game log
Regular season (29–25)
February (4–5) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Feb. 16 at Texas A&M* 8 0–15 Ryan Prager (1-0) Voss, Zach (0-1) None 7,078 0–1 Feb. 17 at Texas A&M* 8 Olsen Field at Bluebell Park • College Station, TX 1–6 Brock Peery (1-0) Abraham, Ty (0-1) Zane Badmaev (1) SECN+ 5,818 0–2 Feb. 18 at Texas A&M* 8 Olsen Field at Bluebell Park • College Station, TX 0–10 (7 inn) Shane Sdao (1-0) Gravel, Alexis (0-1) None SECN+ 5,500 0–3 Feb. 20 Louisiana 3–11 Andrew Herrmann (1-0) Strmiska, Caleb (0-1) None 712 0–4 Feb. 23 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 2–1 Lejeune, Cameron (1-1) Trey Meza (1-1) None 943 1–4 Feb. 24 New Mexico State* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 7–6 Morrow, Kainin (1-1) Steve Solorzano (0-1) Maldonado, Evan (1) 756 2–4 Feb. 25 New Mexico State* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 11–8 Swenson, Max (1-0) Hayden Lewis (0-2) Lejeune, Cameron (1) 961 3–4 Feb. 26 New Mexico State* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–5 Moeller, JT (1-0) Saul Soto (1-1) Morrow, Kainin (1) 840 4–4 Feb. 28 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 4–13 Copeland,Caden (2-0) Voss, Zach (0-2) None 1,190 4–5
March (9–7) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Mar 1 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 8–7 Lejeune, Cameron (2-0) Victor Mendoza (0-1) None 1,711 5–5 Mar 2 Prairie View A&M* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 19–12 Barthelemy, Brock (1-0) Tyson Carlton (0-1) None 951 6–5 Mar 3 Prairie View A&M* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 5–4 Morrow, Kainin (2-0) Victor Mendoza (0-2) LeJeune, Cameron (2) 1,712 7–5 Mar 6 at Louisiana Christian* 1–0 (10 inn) Morrow, Kainin (3-0) Cooksey, B. (3-1) LeJeune, Cameron (3) 202 8–5 Mar 9 at Arkansas* 2 1–3 Hagen Smith (2-0) LeJeune, Cameron (2-1) Gabe Gaeckle (3) SECN+ 8–6 Mar 9 at Arkansas* 2 Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR 1–11 (8 inn) Brady Tygart (3-0) Voss, Zach (0-3) Koty Frank (3) SECN+ 11,031 8–7 Mar 10 at Arkansas* 2 Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR 5–18 (7 inn) Gage Wood (2-0) Morrow, Kainin (3-1) None SECN+ 9,296 8–8 Mar 12 at * 4–3 (14 inn) Mott, Marcus (1-0) C. Davis (0-1) Barthelemy, Brock (1) 9–8 Mar 20 at Louisiana* 1–4 Matthew Holzhammer (2-0) Moeller, JT (1-1) None ESPN+ 2,912 9–9 Mar 22 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 4–12 MCCLURE, MATT (2-2) LeJeune, Cameron (2-2) None ESPN+ 973 9–10 Mar 23 Northwestern Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 1–0 Daelan Caraway (2-0) GARRETT SHEARER (1-4) None ESPN+ 968 10–10 Mar 24 Northwestern Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–3 JT Moeller (2-1) SHEARER, GARRETT (1-4) None ESPN+ 896 11–10 Mar 26 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–0 Abraham, Ty (1-1) QUIN BENNETT (0-1) None 854 12–10 Mar 28 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 8–2 LeJeune, Cameron (3-2) Newton, Aidan (0-3) Morrow, Kainin (2) 980 13–10 1–0 Mar 29 Northwestern State Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 2–6 Bunch, Caleb (1-0) Daelan Caraway (1-1) None 1,011 13–11 1–1 Mar 30 Northwestern State Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 4–10 Marionneaux, Dylan (2-4) Abraham, Ty (1-2) None 1,059 13–12 1–2
April (8–9) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record Apr 2 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 9–7 Caraway, Daelan (2-1) Nico Garcia (0-1) Shadrick, Brian (1) 864 14–12 Apr 3 Alcorn State* Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 11–4 Barthelemy, Brock (2-0) Kewan Braziel (0-6) None 872 15–12 Battle of the Border (Rivalry) Apr 5 4–2 LeJeune, Cameron (4-2) Caple, Brooks (4-3) Moeller, JT (1) ESPN+ 1,847 16–12 2–2 Apr 6 at Lamar Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX 0–1 (11 inn) Neal, Austin (2-0) Caraway, Daelan (2-2) None ESPN+ 2,067 16–13 2–3 Apr 7 at Lamar Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX 3–4 Perez, Andres (2-0) Moeller, JT (2-2) None ESPN+ 1,377 16–14 2–4 Apr 9 at LSU* 0–16 (7 inn) Kade Anderson (3-1) Caraway, Daelan (2-3) None SECN+ 9,937 16–15 Apr 12 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–8 Salinas, Josh (4-1) Moeller, JT (2-3) Rodriguez, Luis (1) ESPN+ 945 16–16 2–5 Apr 13 Incarnate Word Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 3–10 Zavala, Isaiah (3-3) Voss, Zach (0-4) None ESPN+ 986 16–17 2–6 Apr 14 Incarnate Word Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 5–10 Johnson, Dave (4-2) Gravel, Alexis (0-2) None ESPN+ 989 16–18 2–7 Apr 16 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 5–4 Shadrick, Brian (1-0) Gavi Coldiron (3-3) Barthelemy, Brock (2) 902 17–18 Apr 19 5–6 Blasick, Nathan (1-0) Moeller, JT (2-4) None ESPN+ 485 17–19 2–8 Apr 20 at New Orleans Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA 18–17 Shadrick, Brian (2-0) Blasick, Nathan (2-1) None ESPN+ 335 18–19 3–8 Apr 21 at New Orleans Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA 3–6 Edwards, Grant (4-3) Gravel, Alexis (0-3) Dennis, Cortez (2) ESPN+ 402 18–20 3–9 Apr 23 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–4 Moeller, JT (3-4) Colton Williams (0-2) None 925 19–20 Apr 26 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 9–8 Abraham, Ty (2-2) Fabre, Larson (1-1) LeJeune, Cameron (4) ESPN+ 990 20–20 4–9 Apr 27 Southeastern Louisiana Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 3–12 Lee, Dakota (1-3) Kainin Morrow (3-2) None ESPN+ 1,061 20–21 4–10 Apr 28 Southeastern Louisiana Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 9–5 LeJeune, Cameron (5-2) Vosburg, Aiden (0-4) None ESPN+ 953 21–21 5–10
May (8–4) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record May 1 at * 8–9 (10 inn) Solis, Alex (1-2) Maldonado, Evan (0-1) None ESPN+ 1,042 21–22 May 3 7–3 Ty Abraham (3-2) Dove, Kendall (1-4) Cameron LeJeune (5) ESPN+ 182 22–22 6–10 May 4 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 9–4 Gravel, Alexis (1-3) Hill, Jack (1-4) None ESPN+ 235 23–22 7–10 May 5 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX 13–10 LeJeune, Cameron (6-2) Soliz, Cam (3-2) None ESPN+ 245 24–22 8–10 May 7 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 14–4 (7 inn) Swenson, Max (2-0) Genesis Prosper (2-1) None 922 25–22 May 10 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 6–2 Voss, Zach (1-4) Edwards, Parker (4-6) None ESPN+ 933 26–22 9–10 May 11 Houston Christian Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 13–6 Barthelemy, Brock (3-0) Gunter, Rye (2-2) None 1,024 27–22 10–10 May 11 Houston Christian Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 7–9 Lopez, Mark (1-0) Abraham, Ty (3-3) Wells, Jarek (2) 1,024 27–23 10–11 May 14 Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA 7–6 (10 inn) Swenson, Max (3-0) Holbook, Nicholas (0-1) None 954 28–23 May 16 3–4 Mayers, Jacob (4-1) Voss, Zach (1-5) Saltaformaggio, Nico (2) ESPN+ 505 28–24 10–12 May 17 at Nicholls Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA 3–10 Desandro, Devin (6-4) Gravel, Alexis (1-4) None 501 28–25 10–13 May 18 at Nicholls Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA 10–6 Cameron LeJeune (7-2) Hill, Sam (3-2) JT Moeller (2) ESPN+ 613 29–25 11–13
Post-season (3–2)
(3–2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record May 22 vs. (4) Northwestern State (5) 10–5 Zach Voss(2-5) Bryan, Tyler(1-3) None ESPN+ 30–25 1–0 May 23 vs. (8) Incarnate Word (5) Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA 6–2 Alexis Gravel(2-4) Zavala, Isaiah(4-6) Cameron LeJeune (6) ESPN+ 31–25 2–0 May 24 vs. (1) Lamar (5) Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA 9–18 Perez, Andres(3-1) Brock Barthelemy(3-1) None ESPN+ 31–26 2–1 May 25 vs. (1) Lamar (5) Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA 14–4 (7 inn) Ty Abraham(4-3) Morse, Trhea(4-1 None ESPN+ 32–26 3–1 May 25 vs. (2) Nicholls (5) Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA 15–1 (7 inn) Farley, Dylan(3-2) Zach Voss(2-6) Mone ESPN+ 1,198 32–27 3–2
Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = Canceled Bold = McNeese team member Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll. Schedule Source:^[2] ^[3] ^[4] ^[5] ^[6]

Conference awards and honors

2024 All-Southland Conference team

Source:^[7]
Cooper Hext was named to the conference first team. Cooper Hext, Conner Westenburg, and Cameron LeJeune were named the All-Defensive Team.

First Team

• Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
• Edgar Alvarez (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
• Isaac Webb (TAMUCC, RJR, 2nd Base)
• TJ Salvaggio (SLU, JR, Shortstop)
• Shea Thomas (SLU, SR, 3rd Base)
• Mitchell Sanford (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
• Samuel Benjamin (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
• Cooper Hext (MCN, SR, Outfielder)
• Dalton Beck (UIW, JR, Designaterd Hitter)
• Bryce Calloway (UNO, JR, Utility)
• Brooks Caple (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Colton Mercer (UNO, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Brennan Stuprich (SLU, RJR, Starting Pitcher)
• Nico Saltaformaggio (NICH, SR, Relief Pitcher)

Second Team

• ak Skinner (LU, JR, Catcher)
• Brayden Evans (LU, JR, 1st Base)
• Diego Villescas (UNO, JR, 2nd Base)
• Parker Coddou (NICH, JR, Shortstop)
• Sebastian Trinidad (TAMUCC, SR, 3rd Base)
• Reese Lipoma (NWST, JR, Outfielder)
• Basiel Williams (NICH, RSR, Outfielder)
• Cameron Caley (UIW, SR, Outfielder)
• River Orsak (LU, SR, Designaterd Hitter)
• Drake Anderson (NICH, JR, Utility)
• Matthew Watson (TAMUCC, RJR, Starting Pitcher)
• Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
• Hunter Hesseltine (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
• Caleb Bunch (NWST, JR, Relief Pitcher)

2024 All-Southland Defensive team

• Miguel Useche (UNO, JR, Catcher)
• Edgar Alvarez (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
• Dalton Hurst (UNO, JR, 2nd Base)
• Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Shortstop)
• Rocco Gump (NWST, JR, 3rd Base)
• Cooper Hext (MCN, SR, Left Fielder)
• Conner Westenburg (MCN, JR, Center Fielder)
• Mitchell Sanford (UNO, SR, Right Fielder)
• Cameron LeJeune (MCN, RJR, Pitcher)

Weekly awards

Weekly honors!style=""

Honors	Player	Position	Date Awarded	Ref.
SLC Hitter of the Week	Conner Westenburg	OF	February 26, 2024	^[8]
SLC Hitter of the Week	Simon Larranaga	IF/DH	May 6, 2024	^[9]
SLC Pitcher of the Week	Cameron LeJeune	RHP	May 20, 2024	^[10]

See also

2024 McNeese Cowgirls softball team

Notes and References

1. Web site: Nicholls Chosen to Repeat at Southland Baseball Champions; Preseason All-Conference Team Released . James Hill. Southland Conference . February 8, 2024 . February 8, 2024.
2. Web site: Taylor Riemersma . McNeese announces schedule for 2024 baseball campaign . Crescent City Sports Enterprises LLC . December 22, 2023 . November 22, 2023.
3. Web site: Taylor Riemersma . Baseball announces schedule for 2024 campaign . McNeese State University Athletics . December 21, 2023. November 22, 2023.
4. Web site: 2024 Baseball Schedule . December 21, 2023.
5. Web site: DIBASEBALL.COM TOP 25 . NCAA.com . December 21, 2023.
6. Web site: Phil Stratton . Extra Bases - 2024 Team Schedules . College Baseball Insider . January 13, 2024 . September 25, 2023.
7. Web site: James Hill . Southland Conference Announces 2024 Baseball Awards, All-Conference, and All-Defensive Teams . Southland Conference . May 25, 2024 . May 21, 2024.
8. Web site: James Hill . McNeese's Westenburg, Lamar's Caple Named Jersey Mike's Baseball Players of the Week . March 1, 2024 . February 26, 2024.
9. Web site: James Hill . McNeese's Larranaga, Nicholls' Saltaformaggio Named Jersey Mike's Southland Baseball Players of the Week . May 25, 2024 . May 6, 2024.
10. Web site: Anthony Goss . SLU's Coley, McNeese's LeJeune take home final Jersey Mike's SLC Baseball Player of the Week awards of the season . May 25, 2024 . May 20, 2024.