March 24, 2008

McNeese State will be out to build on a three game winning streak when the Cowboys host the University of Houston in a non-conference baseball game on Tuesday.

It's the first of five home games for the Cowboys this week. They will also entertain Grambling on Wednesday and then host Southeastern Louisiana in a three game Southland Conference series beginning Friday.

McNeese is now 6-14 after sweeping a three game league series from Nicholls State over the weekend. The Cowboys are 4-3 at home this season.

Head coach Terry Burrows wasn't sure who his starting pitcher would be against Houston but probables are Jonathan Conrad and Dallas Smith. Conrad is 0-2 on the season with a 9.42 ERA while Smith is 1-1 with an 8.38 ERA.

First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.

Houston will come in with a 14-7 overall record and the Cougars are fresh from winning two of three games with No. 23 ranked East Carolina. Houston has also won three of its last four games and seven of its last nine.

Against Southland Conference opponents this season, Houston is 3-0, having defeated Texas State, SFA and Sam Houston State.

Catcher Taylor Freeman has taken over as the Cowboys' leading batsman. He's hitting .367, has hit a home run and driven in 12 runs. Shortstop Shon Landry is right behind at .346 and he leads the team with five home runs and 23 RBIs.

Tops for Houston in batting is Bryan Pounds with a .427 aveage and he is also the team leader in home runs with four and in RBIs with 24. The Cougars are batting .308 as a team.