LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA – Fresh off Wednesday night's 10-4 win over Prairie View A&M, the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team travels to Southland Conference rival McNeese State on Friday for the start of a three-game series.

The Cardinals (13-24, 5-7) are not eligible for postseason play, but can play a big part in which teams make it to the Southland Conference tournament over the next few weeks.  UIW is hitting .248 as a team and they have a .343 on-base percentage.  Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS) has been carrying the load on offense recently with a 13-game hitting streak.  He is hitting .308 on the season and leads the team with nine doubles, two homers, 26 RBI's and a .427 slugging percentage.

The UIW pitching staff is led by Friday's starter Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS).  He is 5-5 with a 2.65 earned run average overall and is a superb 3-1 with a 1.91 ERA in conference play.  Dylan Boss (Boerne/Boerne HS) is scheduled to start Saturday's game and is 2-4 with a 4.44 earned run average in 46.2 innings.  Jacob Potts (Glendale, AZ/Browne HS) will likely start the series finale on Sunday and is 2-3 with a 4.81 ERA.

The Cowboys (20-19, 10-8) are hitting .281 as a team and have outscored opponents by 18 runs this year.  Jackson Gooch leads the team with a .340 batting average and 30 RBI's.  Andrew Guillotte is hitting at a .325 clip with 13 doubles and 13 stolen bases.

The McNeese State pitching staff is led by a strong and deep bullpen.  Steven O'Bryant and Tyler Erickson have combined for 43 appearances this year.  The team's top starter has been Kaleb Fontenot who is 3-1 with a 2.30 earned run average in 47.0 innings.
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