McNeese Baseball Opens 2025 Season Against Wichita State

The McNeese Cowboys are set to kick off their 2025 baseball season with a three-game series against the Wichita State Shockers at Joe Miller Ballpark. We've got everything you need to know to start off your baseball weekend.

This will be the seventh all-time meeting between the two teams, with Wichita State holding a 5-1 series advantage. Their last contest in 2018 was a nail-biter, ending in an 11-10 Shockers victory. The Cowboys, however, won the first-ever meeting in 2003 by a score of 4-3.

McNeese returns 18 players from last year’s squad, which made it to the Southland Conference Tournament Championship Game. The team also welcomed 23 newcomers, adding depth and talent to the roster. The Cowboys were picked to finish third in the Southland Conference preseason poll.

Two key returners for McNeese are seniors Conner Westenburg and Simon Larranaga. Westenburg earned a spot on the Southland Preseason All-Conference First Team, while Larranaga was selected for the Second Team.

On the mound, left-hander Alexis Gravel will start Friday’s game against Wichita State’s right-hander Brady Hamilton. Saturday will feature another lefty-righty battle with McNeese’s Cooper Golden facing off against Grant Adler. The Sunday starters for both teams have yet to be announced.

PROJECTED STARTERS:

FRIDAY: Alexis Gravel (McNeese) vs Brady Hamilton (Wichita State)
SATURDAY: Cooper Golden (McNeese) vs Grant Adler (Wichita State)
SUNDAY: TBA vs TBA

The Shockers finished the 2024 season with a 32-29 record and reached the AAC Championship Game, where they fell to Tulane. Wichita State, picked to finish second in the AAC this season, is looking for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013.

The Shockers return nine position players who started at least 10 games last season, along with nine pitchers who appeared in at least eight contests. Their roster also includes seven Division I transfers, such as standout pitcher Grant Adler (Kansas) and slugger Owen Washburn (Texas Tech). Key players to watch include Jordan Rogers, who had a breakout 2024 season, and Josh Livingston, who hit 11 home runs last year.

Wichita State is also focused on improving its speed on the base paths. Returning speedster Camden Johnson (7/8 steals in 2024) will be joined by JUCO transfers Davis Mauzy (35 SB), Zeb Henry (24 SB), and Kaleb Duncan (23 SB), making them a dangerous team on the bases.

Opening weekend begins Friday at 6 p.m., followed by games on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m. All three matchups will be streamed live on ESPN+.

McNeese fans are eager to see how the Cowboys matchup against a tough Wichita State squad. With strong returning talent and exciting newcomers, the Pokes are ready to make a statement to open the season. Expect a competitive series as both teams take their first steps toward a successful 2025 campaign.