No. 6 McNeese Holds No. 3 Northwestern State Scoreless
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SUGAR LAND, Texas – No. 6 McNeese defeated No. 3 Northwestern State 3-0 in the opening game of the 2016 Southland Conference Tournament at Constellation Field.
McNeese senior right-hander Kaleb Fontenot threw eight scoreless innings including 12 strikeouts, tying his career-high.
McNeese’s senior catcher Cameron Toole scored in the top of the sixth inning as senior infielder Connor Crane reached on an error to put the Cowboys on the board.
In the top of the eighth inning, McNeese loaded the bases with one out as Toole picked up a squeeze bunt scoring junior outfielder Matt Gallier. Junior outfielder Rickey Ramirez also laid down a bunt scoring freshman outfielder Shane Selman before retiring the side to lead 3-0.
The Demons loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning with junior infielder Regan Kaufman at the plate as a last-effort, but the Cowboys picked up a double play to end the game.
Northwestern State turned two double plays against the Cowboys to tie Georgia Tech as the top team for most double plays this season with 71.
No. 6 McNeese State will face the winner of No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana and No. 7 New Orleans Thursday at 4 p.m. The Demons will face the loser between the Lions and the Privateers Friday at 9 a.m. in a must-win game.
McNeese Head Coach Justin Hill
Overview of the game
“Kaleb Fontenot was really good today. I am proud of our hitters and what they did. They grinded out at-bats throughout the day. We had some chances early but weren’t able to punch it through. Adam Oller made some great pitches and they made some good plays behind him. Our kids kept going trying to find a way to punch it across and Kaleb gave us that opportunity to do that today.”
On offense and how they were able to hit past Adam Oller
“We knew that we were actually going to have to knock him out of the ballgame but our guys extended at-bats, put the ball in play and take the walks. That is two appearances he has had against us this year and the most guys he has walked so it is just a credit to our guys and what Coach Zaleski has done with them. I thought we had a great approach today.”
On squeeze and sac bunt plays to take a three run lead over Northwestern State
“We thought from a personnel standpoint it was the right call and the situation happens where we can get the runner up an get Cameron Toole on base with that because they didn’t have anyone covering first base. Then the situation right behind it where it felt like with the momentum it was right call. Coach Zaleski and I were on the same page and he made a great call with that situation.”
Northwestern State Head Coach Lane Burroughs
Overview of the game
"Adam (Oller) had too many stressful innings. They did a great job pressuring him, not necessarily getting hits off him, but he was in the stretch every inning. Fontenot wasn’t. We did not pressure him at all. We hit a few balls hard early in the game. I know we had good contact. Regan (Kaufman) hit one off his back. He had a long inning there, and we come back out and he throws six pitches and gets out of the inning. We did not put any pressure on him. We did not take anything from him. Tip your hat to him. He was really good. The two times we faced him this year, that’s the best we’ve seen all year."
On McNeese
"They put pressure on Adam. When you’re pitching stressful innings, and you’re in the stretch all game, it’s going to catch up with you, and it did eventually. Once they got the one-run lead, they could do some things offensively. They didn’t sac bunt a couple of times and paid for it with double plays. A one-run lead with those guys pitching is like a five-run lead. Once they got the lead, they could safety squeeze a couple of guys in. It’s easy to do those kind of things when you have a lead and that guy on the mound. Tip my cap again to Fontenot. He was really good."
On next game
"We’ll see what we’re made of. We’ll come out and try to fight our way out of the loser’s bracket. The bottom line is you have to play at 9 every time now. We’ve got to play better. We’ve got to have more competitive at-bats."