2021 McNeese State Cowboys baseball team


The 2021 McNeese State Cowboys baseball team represented McNeese State University during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Cowboys played their home games at Joe Miller Ballpark and were led by eighth–year head coach Justin Hill. They were members of the Southland Conference.

2021 McNeese State Cowboys baseball
Fort Worth Regional appearance
Southland Conference Tournament champions
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record32–30 (21–18 Southland)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Nick Zaleski
  • Jim Ricklefsen
Home stadiumJoe Miller Ballpark
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Southland Conference baseball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Abilene Christian  ‍‍‍ 25 13   .658 36 21   .632
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi  ‍‍‍ 20 14   .588 25 29   .463
New Orleans  ‍‍‍ 23 17   .575 29 28   .509
Sam Houston State  ‍‍‍ 20 15   .571 30 25   .545
Southeastern Louisiana  ‍‍‍ 22 17   .564 32 24   .571
Northwestern State  ‍‍‍ 20 16   .556 27 26   .509
McNeese State  ‍‍y 21 18   .538 32 30   .516
Lamar  ‍‍‍ 17 19   .472 25 23   .521
Central Arkansas  ‍‍‍ 18 22   .450 23 28   .451
Stephen F. Austin  ‍‍‍ 17 22   .436 20 31   .392
Incarnate Word  ‍‍‍ 17 23   .425 21 28   .429
Nicholls  ‍‍‍ 16 24   .400 21 34   .382
Houston Baptist  ‍‍‍ 11 27   .289 14 38   .269
† – Conference champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 6, 2021[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball

Preseason

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Southland Conference Coaches Poll

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The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 11, 2021 and the Cowboys were picked to finish third in the conference with 244 votes and one first place vote.[2]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Sam Houston State 276 (17)
2 Central Arkansas 247 (5)
3 McNeese State 244 (1)
4 Southeastern Louisiana 243 (3)
5 Northwestern State 193
6 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 146
7 Incarnate Word 144
8 Nicholls 108
9 New Orleans 101
10 Abilene Christian 98
11 Stephen F. Austin 92
12 Lamar 87
13 Houston Baptist 49

Preseason All-Southland Team & Honors

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[3]

First Team

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  • Ryan Flores (UIW, 1st Base)
  • Nate Fisbeck (MCNS, 2nd Base)
  • Beau Orlando (UCA, 3rd Base)
  • JC Correa (LAMR, Shortstop)
  • Gavin Johnson (SHSU, Catcher)
  • Clayton Rasbeary (MCNS, Designated Hitter)
  • Sean Arnold (UIW, Outfielder)
  • Brandon Bena (HBU, Outfielder)
  • Colton Cowser (SHSU, Outfielder)
  • Noah Cameron (UCA, Pitcher)
  • Will Dion (MCNS, Pitcher)
  • Kyle Gruller (HBU, Pitcher)
  • Conner Williams (UCA, Pitcher)
  • Itchy Burts (TAMUCC, Utility)

Second Team

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  • Preston Faulkner (SELA, 1st Base)
  • Logan Berlof (LAMR, 2nd Base)
  • Anthony Quirion (LAMR, 3rd Base)
  • Reid Bourque (MCNS, Shortstop)
  • Chris Sandberg (NICH, Catcher)
  • Lee Thomas (UIW, Designated Hitter)
  • Josh Ragan (UCA, Outfielder)
  • Jack Rogers (SHSU, Outfielder)
  • Tyler Smith (NSU, Outfielder)
  • John Gaddis (TAMUCC, Pitcher)
  • Gavin Stone (UCA, Pitcher)
  • Luke Taggart (UIW, Pitcher)
  • Jeremy Rodriguez (SFA, Pitcher)
  • Jake Dickerson (MCNS, Utility)

Roster

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2021 McNeese State Cowboys roster
 

Pitchers

  • 10 James Burchett – Redshirt Freshman
  • 14 Brett Payne – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 17 Sean-Michael Brady – Redshirt Freshman
  • 18 Isaac Duplechain – Redshirt Freshman
  • 19 Jonathan Ellison – Redshirt Senior
  • 20 Daniel Hecker – Redshirt Senior
  • 21 Cameron Meeks – Redshirt Freshman
  • 22 Andrew Wood – Redshirt Senior
  • 25 Ty Abraham – Redshirt Freshman
  • 28 Brad Kincaid – Redshirt Senior
  • 31 Zach May – Redshirt Junior
  • 32 Hunter Reeves – Redshirt Senior
  • 33 Bryson Hudgens – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 36 Christian Vega – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 37 Zach Diaz – Redshirt Junior
  • 40 Brody Strahan – Redshirt Junior
  • 41 Hayden Shaddox – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 43 Kevin Roliard – Redshirt Junior
  • 44 Chance Stone – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 45 JT Peloquin – Redshirt Freshman
  • 46 Isaiah Naylor – Freshman
  • 47 Will DionRedshirt Sophomore
  • 49 Grant Fontenot – Freshman
  • 50 Cameron Lejeune – Freshman
  • 99 Cameron Foster – Redshirt Junior
 

Catchers

  • 6 Tre Obregon III – Redshirt Junior
  • 12 Schuyler Thibodaux – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 13 Brett Whelton – Redshirt Senior
  • 38 Matt Keller – Redshirt Junior
  • 48 Ben David – Freshman

Infielders

  • 3 Nate Fisbeck – Redshirt Senior
  • 4 Gabve Vasquez – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 8 Kade Morris – Redshirt Junior
  • 11 Reid Bourque – Redshirt Junior
  • 15 Ricky Munoz – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 26 Jordan Yeatts – Redshirt Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 0 Braden Duhon – Redshirt Freshman
  • 1 Payton Harden – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 2 Cooper Hext – Freshman
  • 9 Carson Carpenter – Freshman
  • 27 Julian Gonzales – Redshirt Junior
  • 34 Clayton Rasbeary – Redshirt Senior

Utility

  • 16 Jake Dickerson – Redshirt Senior
  • 24 Peyton Johnson – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 39 Nate Collins – Redshirt Junior

Coaching staff

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2021 mcneese state cowboys coaching staff
  • Justin Hill – Head coach – 8th year
  • Nick Zaleski – Associate head coach/Pitching coordinator – 6th year
  • Jim Ricklefsen – Assistant head coach/recruiting coordinator/Alumni Relations – 6th year
  • Cass Hargis – Volunteer assistant Coach – 2nd year

Schedule and results

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Legend
  McNeese State win
  McNeese State loss
  Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions
Bold McNeese State team member
2021 McNeese State Cowboys baseball game log
Regular season (28-28)
February (4-3)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record
Feb. 19 at Alabama Sewell–Thomas StadiumTuscaloosa, AL L 6-10 Prielipp (1-0) Dion (0-1) None SECN+ 1,748 0-1
Feb. 20 at Alabama Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 3-4 Lee (1-0) Roliard (0-1) None SECN+ 1,764 0-2
Feb. 21 at Alabama Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 5-9 Hitt (1-0) Strahan (0-1) Guffey (1) SECN+ 1,764 0-3
Feb. 26 Prairie View A&M Joe Miller BallparkLake Charles, LA W 5-0 Dion (1-1) Smith (0-1) None 439 1-3
Feb. 27 Prairie View A&M Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 3-1 Abraham (1-1) Laux (0-1) Reeves (1) 257 2-3
Feb. 27 Prairie View A&M Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 6-5 Roliard (1-0) Hardit (0-1) None 257 3-3
Feb. 28 Prairie View A&M Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 11-5 Brady (1-0) Mendoza (0-1) None 440 4-3
March (8-8)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record
Mar. 3 Louisiana Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 4-3 Duplechain (1-0) Moriarty (0-1) Reeves(1) 402 5-3
Mar. 5 at Louisiana Tech J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson ParkRuston, LA L 0-11 Fincher (2-0) Dion (1-2) Tomkins (1) 1,000 5-4
Mar. 6 at Louisiana Tech J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park • Ruston, LA L 3-4 Griffen (1-1) Duplechain (1-1) Ouellette (2) 1,000 5-5
Mar. 7 at Louisiana Tech J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park • Ruston, LA L 4-14 Whorff (2-1) Vega (0-1) None 1,000 5-6
Mar. 12 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 4-2 Kincaid (1-0) Gaddis (0-1) Dion (1) 236 6-6 1-0
Mar. 13 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 9-8 Duplechain (2-1) Miller (0-1) None 312 7-6 2-0
Mar. 14 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 12-7 Reeves (1-0) Purcell (0-1) None 298 8-6 3-0
Mar. 16 LSU Alexandria Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 16-6 May (1-0) Colligan (0-2) None 438 9-6
Mar. 19 at Houston Baptist Husky FieldHouston, TX W 12-6 Duplechain (3-1) Zarella (0-3) None 200 10-6 4-0
Mar. 20 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX W 7-1 Dion (2-2) Coats (0-3) None 11-6 5-0
Mar. 20 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX L 3-7 Morris (1-0) Foster (0-1) Reitmeyer (1) 400 11-7 5-1
Mar. 21 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX W 10-0 Ellison (1-0) Tinker (0-4) None 200 12-7 6-1
Mar. 26 Stephen F. Austin Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA L 5-8 (10 inns) Koch (1-0) Reeves (1-1) Gauthe (4) 315 12-8 6-2
Mar. 27 Stephen F. Austin Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA L 2-5 Todd (1-2) Dion (2-3) Poell (1) 312 12-9 6-3
Mar. 27 Stephen F. Austin Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA L 3-4 Gauthe (1-0) Roliard (1-2) Emmons (1) 348 12-10 6-4
Mar. 28 Stephen F. Austin Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA L 0-2 Sgambelluri (1-1) Vega (0-2) Gauthe (5) 190 12-11 6-5
April (8-10)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record
Apr. 1 at Southeastern Louisiana Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni FieldHammond, LA W 6-4 Roliard (2-2) Hughes (1-2) None ESPN+ 918 13-11 7-5
Apr. 2 at Southeastern Louisiana Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA W 5-0 Dion (3-3) Shaffer (1-2) None ESPN+ 937 14-11 8-5
Apr. 2 Southeastern Louisiana Lions Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA L 3-6 Warren (5-1) Ellison (1-1) Hoskins (4) ESPN+ 937 14-12 8-6
Apr. 3 at Southeastern Louisiana Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA L 9-13 Stuprich (2-1) Meeks (0-1) None ESPN+ 925 14-13 8-7
Apr. 6 at LSU Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman FieldBaton Rouge, LA L 1-14 Edwards (1-2) Vega (0-3) None SECN+ 3,606 14-14
Apr. 9 Incarnate Word Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 10-6 Abraham (2-0) Zavala (3-2) Duplechain (1) 311 15-14 9-7
Apr. 10 Incarnate Word Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 19-1 (7 inns) Dion (4-3) Rollins (1-4) None 16-14 10-7
Apr. 10 Incarnate Word Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 4-1 Ellison (2-1) Garza (3-1) Foster (1) 429 17-14 11-7
Apr. 11 Incarnate Word Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 10-4 Vega (1-3) Minter (0-1) None 368 18-14 12-7
Apr. 17 at Sam Houston State Don Sanders StadiumHuntsville, TX L 2-6 Davis (5-2) Hudgens (0-1) None 512 18-15 12-8
Apr. 18 at Sam Houston State Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX L 5-6 (14 inns) Wesneski (1-1) Foster (0-2) None 512 18-16 12-9
Apr. 18 at Sam Houston State Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX L 4-5 Atkinson (4-1) Ellison (2-2) Beard (1) 512 18-17 12-10
Apr. 19 at Sam Houston State Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX L 4-6 Backhus (2-0) Vega (1-4) Havlicek (2) 512 18-18 12-11
Apr. 21 at Louisiana M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo ParkLafayette, LA L 3-4 Burk (3-0) Abraham (2-1) Schultz (3) ESPN+ 643 18-19
Apr. 24 UT Arlington Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA L 1-8 Tavera (1-4) Dion (4-4) King (1) 412 18-20
Apr. 24 UT Arlington Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA L 5-6 (10 inns) Wong (2-1) Brady (1-1) Austin (1) 377 18-21
Apr. 25 UT Arlington Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 5-3 Ellison (3-2) Moffat (3-3) Foster (2) 439 19-21
Apr. 30 New Orleans Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 8-6 Reeves (2-1) Erbe (1-3) Foster (3) 399 20-21 13-11
May (8–7)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC Record
May 1 New Orleans Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 8-3 Dion (5-4) Turpin (7-2) None 447 21-21 14-11
May 1 New Orleans Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA L 4-8 Mitchell (4-1) Ellison (3-3) Seroski (8) 487 21-22 14-12
May 2 New Orleans Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA L 10-13 Acree (2-1) Abraham (2-2) Seroski (9) 379 21-23 14-13
May 7 at Northwestern State H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud FieldNatchitoches, LA W 7-1 Dion (6-4) Harmon (4-3) None 458 22-23 15-13
May 7 at Northwestern State H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA L 3-4 Carver (6-4) Hudgens (0-2) Brown (4) 458 22-24 15-14
May 8 at Northwestern State H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA L 3-4 Brown (2-2) Foster (0-2) None 510 22-25 15-15
May 8 at Northwestern State H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA L 5-6 Taylor (2-0) Vega (1-5) None 510 22-26 15-16
May 14 Nicholls Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 7-0 Hudgens (1-2) Gearing (4-4) None 398 23-26 16-16
May 15 Nicholls Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 13-3 (7 inns) Dion (7-4) Kilcrease (2-8) None 447 24-26 17-16
May 15 Nicholls Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 10-7 Ellison (4-3) Mancuso (0-2) Vega (1) 419 25-26 18-16
May 16 Nicholls Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA W 6-5 Abraham (3-2) Heckman (2-6) Foster (4) 437 26-26 19-16
May 20 at Central Arkansas Bear StadiumConway, AR L 1-8 Moyer (5-6) Hudgens (1-3) None 348 26-27 19-17
May 21 at Central Arkansas Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 6-1 Dion (8-4) Williams (2-2) None 304 27-27 20-17
May 21 at Central Arkansas Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 6-5 (10 inns) Foster (1-3) Williams (2-3) None 255 28-27 21-17
May 22 at Central Arkansas Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 4-5 Gilbertson (2-3) Abraham (3-3) Verel (1) 410 28-28 21-18
Post-season (4–2)
SLC Tournament (4–0)
Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record
May 26 vs. (2) New Orleans (7) Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA W 12-0 (8 inns) Dion (9-4) Turpin (9-3) None ESPN+ 1,262 29-28 1-0
May 27 vs. (3) Southeastern Louisiana (7) Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA W 3-2 Ellison (5-3) Stuprich (6-3) Foster (3) ESPN+ 1,167 30-28 2-0
May 28 vs. (3) Southeastern Louisiana (7) Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA W 18-2 (7 inns) Abraham (4-3) Dugas (0-1) None ESPN+ 1,225 31-28 3-0
May 29 vs. (5) Sam Houston State (7) Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA W 2-1 Hudgens (2-3) Backhus (4-2) Foster (4) ESPN+ 903 32-28 4-0
NCAA tournament (0-2)
Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record
Fort Worth Regionals
Jun. 4 vs. (1)/No. 8 TCU (4) Lupton StadiumFort Worth, TX L 4-12 Krob (8-1) Foster (1-4) None ESPN3 4,468 32-29 0-1
Jun. 5 vs. (3) Oregon State (4) Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX L 5-10 Watkins (3-4) Foster (1-5) None ESPN3 3,969 32-30 0-2
Schedule Source:[4]

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

Fort Worth Regional

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Fort Worth Regional Teams
(1) TCU Horned Frogs (2) Dallas Baptist Patriots (3) Oregon State Beavers (4) McNeese State Cowboys
First RoundSemi-FinalsFinals
6TCU12
McNeese State4
6TCU6
Dallas Baptist8
Dallas Baptist6
Oregon State5
Dallas Baptist
Oregon State
Lower round 1Lower final
6TCU2
McNeese State5Oregon State3
Oregon State10

Postseason

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Conference accolades

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  • Player of the Year: Colton Cowser – SHSU
  • Hitter of the Year: Colton Eager – ACU
  • Pitcher of the Year: Will Dion – MCNS
  • Relief Pitcher of the Year: Tyler Cleveland – UCA
  • Freshman of the Year: Brennan Stuprich – SELA
  • Newcomer of the Year: Grayson Tatrow – ACU
  • Clay Gould Coach of the Year: Rick McCarty – ACU

References:[5]

References

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  1. ^ "2021 Southland Conference Baseball Standings". southland.org. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "Sam Houston Repeats as Southland Baseball Preseason Favorite". www.southland.org. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  3. ^ "Southland Announces 2021 Preseason All-Conference Baseball Teams". www.southland.org. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  4. ^ "Pokes release '21 baseball schedule featuring 29 home games". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "SFA's Kassidy Wilbur Named Southland Player of the Year". www.southland.org. Retrieved January 6, 2022.