Chad Clement (right) was the SLC coach of the year last season. He's pictured with conference commissioner Tom Burnett.

Dec. 11, 2006

The 2007 baseball schedule for McNeese State's defending Southland Conference champions includes an appearance in an early season tournament and outings with such nationally ranked teams as LSU, Texas A&M, Tulane, Alabama, Houston and Louisiana-Lafayette.

"I think that it is one of the best and probably toughest schedules that we have ever had," Cowboy head coach Chad Clement said, noting that McNeese will open the season Feb. 9 in the Texas-Pan American tournament where they will face such teams as Cal State Northridge, Oklahoma State and the host team.

"It's a schedule against some of the nation's better baseball teams and the pre-season slate is one that should help get us ready for our conference season," Clement, who was the league's coach of the year in 2006, added.

The Cowboys open their home schedule Feb. 16 in a three game, three day series with Louisiana Tech and other non-conference opponents who will play at Cowboy Diamond are LeMoyne, St. Johns University out of the Big East Conference, Louisiana-Lafayette,Louisiana-Monroe and Houston.

McNeese will have four conference series at home this season and split their series with Lamar, playing the first game in Beaumont and the other two in Lake Charles.

This year the conference has been divided into two divisions. The Cowboys are in the east along with Lamar, Central Arkansas, Nicholls State, Northwestern State and Southeastern Louisiana.

The two divisional champions will advance to the league's post season tournament along with the next four teams with the best conference record. Although games with Central Arkansas will count in the standings, the team itself is not eligible to compete in the conference tournament this year.

McNeese returns three first team performers from last year's all-conference teams including Danny Davis, the league's pitcher of the year. Also back are infielder Bryan Cartie and outfielder Charlie Kingrey, the team's MVP.

Infielder Shon Landry, who earned freshman all-American honors, is also back as is pitcher Derek Blacksher, catcher Joe Hulett and pitcher Chris Denton.

McNeese posted a 35-20 won-lost record last year, winning 13 of its last 14 regular season conference games.

McNeese 2007 Baseball Schedule

Feb. 9 vs Cal-State Northridge (at Tex-Pan Am tournament)

Feb. 10 vs Oklahoma State (at Tex-Pan Am tournament)

Feb. 11 at Tex-Pan American

Feb. 13 at Texas A&M

Feb. 16 Louisiana Tech

Feb. 17 Louisiana Tech

Feb. 18 Louisiana Tech

Feb. 20 at Houston

Feb. 23 LeMoyne College

Feb. 24 LeMoyne College

Feb. 25 LeMoyne College

Feb. 27 at Louisiana-Monroe

Mar. 2 at Alabama

Mar. 3 at Alabama

Mar. 4 at Alabama

Mar. 6 at Tulane

Mar. 8 St. Johns

Mar. 9 St. Johns

Mar. 10 St. Johns

Mar. 13 at LSU

Mar. 16 Tex-San Antonio

Mar. 17 Tex-San Antonio

Mar. 18 Tex-San Antonio

Mar. 20 at Louisiana-Lafayette

Mar. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette

Mar. 23 at Nicholls State

Mar. 24 at Nicholls State

Mar. 25 lat Nicholls State

Mar. 27 Louisiana-Monroe

Mar. 30 Northwestern State

Mar. 31 Northwestern State

Apr. 1 Northwestern State

Apr. 5 at Southeastern Louisiana

Apr. 6 at Southeastern Louisiana

Apr. 7 at Southeastern Louisiana

Apr. 13 at Tex-Arlington

Apr. 14 at Tex-Arlington

Apr. 15 at Tex-Arlington

Apr. 20 Sam Houston State

Apr. 21 Sam Houston State

Apr. 22 Sam Houston State

Apr. 27 at Tex A&M-Corpus

Apr. 28 at Tex A&M-Corpus

Apr. 29 at Tex A&M-Corpus

May 1 Houston May 4 Central Arkansas

May 5 Central Arkansas

May 6 Central Arkansas

May 11 at Texas State

May 12 at Texas State

May 13 at Texas State

May 17 at Lamar

May 18 Lamar

May 19 Lamar

May 23-27 SLC Tournament