On Deck - Lions vs Central Michigan & McNeese State

SLU Lions (7-1) vs Central Michigan Chippewas (2-5)
Cowboy Diamond - Lake Charles, LA
3pm Friday March 2
2pm Saturday March 3

SLU Lions (7-1) vs McNeese State Cowboys (2-6)
Cowboy Diamond - Lake Charles, LA
7pm Friday March 2

The Line on the Lions
Offense:  .243
Pitching:  2.79/.216 OBA
Defense:  .975
Ranking:  N/R
Boyd's World RPI:  N/A
Last 10 Games:  -
Last 5 Games:  4-1
Streak:  L1

The Line on the Chippewas
Offense: .259
Pitching:  4.19/.253 OBA
Defense:  .932
Ranking:  N/R
Boyd's World RPI:  N/A
Last 10 Games:  -
Last 5 Games:  2-3
Streak:  L1

The Line on the Cowboys
Offense:  .284
Pitching:  6.81/.334 OBA
Defense:  .927
Ranking:  N/R
Boyd's World RPI:  N/A
Last 10 Games:  -
Last 5 Games:  1-4
Streak: L2

What to Watch For
This weekend will be somewhat of a three team round robin type tournament.  SLU and McNeese State will each play two games against Central Michigan and one non-conference game against each other.  For the weekend the Lions and Cowboys will play three games each and the Chippewas will play four.  The three games for Lions replace the originally scheduled weekend series against UNO in Hammond.  UNO has dropped to Division II.

Top hitters for the Lions are Brock Hebert (.500/0/0), Harry Slade (.286/0/10) and Jacob Fisher (.278/0/5).  Hebert leads the team in runs scored (11), doubles (5), total bases (18), and stolen bases (3).  SLU is expected to throw Joseph Koon (2-0, 1.50), Jordan Hymel (1-0, 1.86), and Josh Janway (1-0, 0.96).  The Lions weekend bullpen, which has been very effective, includes Dylan Hills (3-0, 7K's/6IP), Jason Greenleaf (.158 OB), and closer Stefan Lopez (4 saves).  The three have a combined 0.00 ERA.

Central Michigan's top hitters are William Arnold (.370/4/9), Nate Theunissen (.355/1/6), and Jordan Dean (.300/0/2).  The Chippewas top pitchers are Zach Cooper (0-1, 0.69), Ryan Longstreth (1-0, 1.69), and Rick Dodridge (0-2, 3.60).  Cooper has 18K's in 10IP and is holding opponents to a .091 BA.

Leading the way at the plate for McNeese State are Collin Todd (.483/0/2), Taylor Drake (.409/2/5), and Seth Granger (.344/1/3).  Expected to start for the Cowboys are Caleb Miller (1-2, 13.14), Trey Brown (0-0, 2.70), and Michael Clemens (0-0, 7.88).

Last Time They Played - This will be the first ever meeting between the Lions and Central Michigan.  Last season McNeese State came into The Pat and upset the Lions by winning the weekend series.  The Cowboys won game one 8-4 and game two 9-4.  SLU salvaged the series on Sunday by winning 8-4.