FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Taylor Freeman (Courtesy of McNeese State)
McNeese State marks Terry Burrows second season as head baseball coach by playing a 53 game schedule in 2009, the first 11 of the contests set for Cowboy Diamond.
The Cowboys kick off the season on Feb. 20 by hosting Houston Baptist and then will also play Arkansas-Little Rock, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State in series at home before hitting the road.
And, road trips will have McNeese tackling such teams as state powerhouses Tulane and LSU along with Houston and Louisiana-Lafayette.
Southland Conference action will come earlier in the season also as McNeese opens league play in a three game series with Northwestern State when the teams get together in Cowboy Stadium beginning March 6.
“I’m really excited about the coming season,” Burrows said, “especially the fact that we will be playing our first 11 games at home.”
A total of 24 lettermen return including position starters Taylor Freeman at catcher, Shon Landry at shortstop and Josh Cholley and Sam Merrill in the outfield. Starting pitchers returning are Tyler Davis and Jonathan Conrad.
Last year Freeman earned all-conference honors after leading the Cowboys with a .378 batting average, knocking in 52 runs and belting eight home runs. Landry hit .299 with five homers and 35 RBIs while Davis had a 3-9 won-lost record and a 5.42 ERA.
Among 12 newcomers to the team this year are pitcher Tommy Luce of Seminole State College and infielders Alex Johnson of Wharton Junior College and Steve Irvine of East Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys posted a 13-42 overall record last year along with a 7-23 conference record.
