PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — The Prairie View A&M baseball team will step out of conference play on Wednesday evening as the Panthers travel to Lake Charles, Louisiana to take on McNeese in a midweek contest. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Joe Miller Ballpark, with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
Prairie View A&M (4-14, 0-3 SWAC) looks to snap a seven-game skid as it continues its early-season slate on the road. The Panthers are coming off a tough opening weekend in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, where they were swept by Bethune-Cookman in a three-game series.
Despite the recent results, Prairie View A&M showed flashes offensively in its last outing. In a Saturday doubleheader, Sonnier Moses and Tyvon Moore led the charge at the plate. Moses highlighted game one with a home run and two RBIs, while Moore delivered a standout performance in game two, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Ryland Duson also contributed across both games, driving in multiple runs and providing timely hitting.
On the season, the Panthers are paced by Basilio Williams, who leads the team with a .328 batting average and six stolen bases. Michael Burroughs has been a consistent presence at the plate, hitting .298 with a team-high .467 on-base percentage, while Duson (.290) and Corie Lockette (.283) continue to provide depth in the lineup. Prairie View A&M has emphasized patience at the plate, drawing walks and creating scoring opportunities, but will look to convert more consistently with runners in scoring position.
On the mound, Kenneth Haynes and Beau Beaty have anchored the Panthers' starting rotation, combining for 11 starts this season. The pitching staff will look to limit big innings after the Panthers have allowed 71 runs over their last seven games.
McNeese (9-10, 4-5 Southland) enters Wednesday's contest looking to bounce back after dropping two of three games to Lamar over the weekend. The Cowboys scored 13 runs on 18 hits in the series, including four extra-base hits, and will open a 10-game homestand with the matchup against Prairie View A&M.
Offensively, McNeese is led by Danny Barbero, who enters the game riding a five-game hitting streak while batting just under .400 on the season. Matt Stancliff has been a dual threat for the Cowboys, leading the team with 12 stolen bases while also sharing the team lead in home runs (three) alongside Barbero. Marcus Heusohn adds additional firepower, tying for the team lead with five doubles.
The Cowboys' pitching staff has been a strength, recording 199 strikeouts over 168 innings this season. Eric Nachtsheim leads the team with 45 strikeouts, while the staff continues to generate swings and misses at a high rate.
Wednesday's contest will mark the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs, with McNeese holding a 5-0 advantage in the series. The last meeting came on March 3, 2024, when the Cowboys edged the Panthers 5-4 in Lake Charles.
With both teams looking to regain momentum, Wednesday's midweek matchup presents an opportunity for Prairie View A&M to reset and build confidence before returning to conference play.
