# 2024 McNeese Cowboys baseball team

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$^7$ to reach the tournament championship game where they were defeated by 2nd seed Nicholls 15–1$^7$.

## Previous season

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.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 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.

#### 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 |
| Feb. 16 | at Texas A&M* | 8 | Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park • College Station, TX | 0–15 | Ryan Prager (1-0) | Voss, Zach (0-1) | None | SECN+ | 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* | | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 3–11 | Andrew Herrmann (1-0) | Strmiska, Caleb (0-1) | None | | 712 | 0–4 |
| Feb. 23 | New Mexico State* | | 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 | Louisiana Tech* | | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 4–13 | Copeland,Caden (2-0) | Voss, Zach (0-2) | None | ESPN+ | 1,190 | 4–5 |
March (9–7) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar 1 | Prairie View A&M* | | 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* | | Billy Allgood Field • Pineville, LA | 1–0 (10 inn) | Morrow, Kainin (3-0) | Cooksey, B. (3-1) | LeJeune, Cameron (3) | | 202 | 8–5 | |
| Mar 9 | at Arkansas* | 2 | Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR | 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 Southern* | | Lee–Hines Field • Baton Rouge, LA | 4–3 (14 inn) | Mott, Marcus (1-0) | C. Davis (0-1) | Barthelemy, Brock (1) | | | 9–8 | |
| Mar 20 | at Louisiana* | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lake Charles, LA | 1–4 | Matthew Holzhammer (2-0) | Moeller, JT (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 2,912 | 9–9 | |
| Mar 22 | Northwestern | | 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 | Mississippi Valley State* | | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 6–0 | Abraham, Ty (1-1) | QUIN BENNETT (0-1) | None | | 854 | 12–10 | |
| Mar 28 | Northwestern State | | 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr 2 | Alcorn State* | 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 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX | 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* | Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA | 0–16 (7 inn) | Kade Anderson (3-1) | Caraway, Daelan (2-3) | None | SECN+ | 9,937 | 16–15 | |
| Apr 12 | Incarnate Word | 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 | Sam Houston* | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 5–4 | Shadrick, Brian (1-0) | Gavi Coldiron (3-3) | Barthelemy, Brock (2) | | 902 | 17–18 | |
| Apr 19 | at New Orleans | Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA | 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 | Louisiana Christian | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 6–4 | Moeller, JT (3-4) | Colton Williams (0-2) | None | | 925 | 19–20 | |
| Apr 26 | Southeastern Louisiana | 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 1 | at Houston* | Schroeder Park • Houston, TX | 8–9 (10 inn) | Solis, Alex (1-2) | Maldonado, Evan (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 1,042 | 21–22 | |
| May 3 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | 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 | Southern* | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 14–4 (7 inn) | Swenson, Max (2-0) | Genesis Prosper (2-1) | None | | 922 | 25–22 | |
| May 10 | Houston Christian | 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 | Texas State* | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | 7–6 (10 inn) | Swenson, Max (3-0) | Holbook, Nicholas (0-1) | None | | 954 | 28–23 | |
| May 16 | at Nicholls | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | 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) :
Southland Tournament (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) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA | 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: :

## Conference awards and honors
### 2024 All-Southland Conference team

Source: 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 :
| Honors | Player | Position | Date Awarded |
| SLC Hitter of the Week | Conner Westenburg | OF | February 26, 2024 |
| SLC Hitter of the Week | Simon Larranaga | IF/DH | May 6, 2024 |
| SLC Pitcher of the Week | Cameron LeJeune | RHP | May 20, 2024 |