McNeese State advances in Southland Conference Baseball Tournament

Photo by Chris Price
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (May 25, 2016) Capitalizing on 10 hits, the No. 6 McNeese State Cowboys took the first game of the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament with a 3-0 win over the No. 3 Northwestern State Demons on Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The tournament returned to the Houston area in 2016 and is being played at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.

The Cowboys, who raised their season record to 30-23, scored a single run in the seventh inning, adding two additional runs in the eighth. The Demons managed only four hits in the loss with starting pitcher Adam Oller, who pitched seven complete innings, receiving the loss. Cowboy starting pitcherKaleb Fontenot raised his record to 6-5 for the season with the win. The Ville Platte, Louisiana native faced 29 batters, gave up two hits, while striking out 12 and walking only three. Collin Kober, pitching one inning in relief, gave up two hits and was credited with his ninth save of the season. CatcherCameron Toole was 1-for-3 for the Cowboys with one run and one RBI. Center fielder Ricky Ramirez was also 1-for-3, with one run. Shortstop Will Fox went 3-for-4 to increase his hit total to 43 in 2016.

With the loss, the Demons drop to 33-23 and will face the loser of the New Orleans vs. Southeastern Louisiana game on Thursday, May 26 with a 9 a.m. first pitch. McNeese State will play the winner of the New Orleans-Southeastern Louisiana matchup on Thursday, May 26 with a 4 p.m. start. In other action on Wednesday, No. 1 Sam Houston will face No. 8 Stephen F. Austin at 4 p.m. with No. 4 Lamar taking on No. 5 Central Arkansas in the nightcap with a scheduled 7 p.m. start.