Sweeping start to SLC - American Press

Cowboys use their bats to blast past Nicholls and sweep the weekend series to open play in the Southland Conference.

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Published 8:04 pm Sunday, March 2, 2025

The Cowboys brought their bats and brooms Sunday evening to Joe Miller Ballpark.

Then they made quick work of the defending Southland Conference champs to sweep the league-opening series.

Easton Dowell’s two-run blast capped the biggest scoring output of the season as McNeese walked off Nicholls 14-3 in a game shortened to seven innings by the run rule.

Dowell’s homer was the second of the inning, a blast that landed 397 feet away from where it launched over the fence in left. It was Dowell’s third home run of the season.

Larry Edwards started the winning rally with his first homer of the year and third hit of the game. Edwards capped a 3-for-4 day that raised his average to .387.

“It feels real good to get my swing going and hit that first one,” said Edwards. “Sweeping the opening league series means a lot for us. We just want to keep on going.”

The victory gives the Cowboys (9-1, 3-0) their first opening weekend league sweep since 2021 and their best overall start since 1991. Nicholls fell to 5-7, 0-3.

“Good to get this win and win this series,” said McNeese head coach Justin Hill. “Having already won the series yesterday, you want to get the sweep.”

Edwards was the big hitter, finishing the weekend 5-for-11. He drove in five on Sunday, including three with a bases-loaded double in the 6-run second.

Nicholls came out strong, scoring three runs in the first off McNeese starter Paul Coppinger, who managed to settle down and last 3⅓ innings.

“Paul did a good job hanging in there and bouncing back,” said Hill. “They came out swinging and ambushed us. Our hitters did a great job answering.”

McNeese tied the game with three runs of its own at the bottom of the first, with Davis Meche’s two-run single being the big hit. Simon Larranaga drove in the Cowboys’ first run with a single to center.

Marcus Heausohn drove in two in the second with a single before Edwards ripped his first of two doubles to left. That capped McNeese’s biggest inning and put the Cowboys up 9-3. 

“We were not worried about falling behind,” said Hill. “We are coming together as an offense and just kept going out there.”

Edwards drove in another run in the 2-run fourth with his second double. That put the Cowboys up 11-3. Ten of their first 11 runs were scored with two out.

The bottom third of the Cowboy lineup finished 5-for-10, drove in seven, and scored four runs.

“I feel our strength is that we can score and get help from everyone,” said Hill. “The biggest thing was the offense hasn’t allowed the lack of success to affect them.”

Caleb Stimiska, Braedyn Cunningham, and Brady Corcoran combine to throw the final 3⅔ innings, allowing just two hits. Stimiska (2-0) was credited with the win. Dalton Hill (1-2) took the loss for Colonels.

McNeese will look to win its eighth straight when it hosts Dillard from New Orleans Tuesday at 1 p.m., weather permitting.  

“We need to play right now, so we will try to get it in,” said Hill.

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