RUSTON – The Diamond 'Dogs (4-0) host the McNeese Cowboys (1-2) for their first midweek contest of the new season and the first of a two-game home-and-home split between the two sides at the Love Shack on Wednesday, February 18. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Feb. 18, 2026 (6 p.m. CT)
Location: J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park
Watch: ESPN+
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Series History: LA Tech leads 81-46
LA Tech Starter: LHP Landon Fontenot
McNeese Starter: LHP Parker Morgan
 
Wednesday's contest marks the 128th meeting between LA Tech and McNeese, with the first contest dating back to 1970 when the Cowboys won the season series, 3-1. The Bulldogs won the last meeting in 2024, 13-4, and have secured victories in four of their last five meetings. Tech has seven-straight home wins when playing McNeese and are 10-2 against the Cowboys at the Love Shack since 2012.
 
Head coach Justin Hill began his 13th season at the helm of the McNeese baseball program, carrying a career record of 365-287 into Wednesday's contest as the schools' winningest coach in program history along with a 180-143 record in conference games. Hill has secured 10 30-win seasons since 2014, along with two regular-season Southland championships (2017, 2022) a Southland Tournament championship in 2021, two NCAA Regional appearances (2019, 2021) and is a two-time Southland Coach of the Year (2017, 2022).
 
Hayden Stringfellow leads the team with a .500 average and 1.071 OPS and is tied for the most hits with six, as well as tied for the second-most total bases with six during Opening Weekend.
 
Bryce Fontenot, Korey Cooper and Danny Barbero were the lone home run hitters against Sam Houston, and Fontenot and Daniel Pinkerton are tied for the most RBIs with three.
 
 
The Diamond 'Dogs got off to a 4-0 start for the third-straight year and the seventh time in the Lane Burroughs era since 2017. With those four weekend wins, Burroughs is now just two wins shy of tying Barry Hinton for the second-most coaching wins in LA Tech baseball history.
 
Graduate transfer Colby Lunsford found his stride at the plate immediately in his debut as a Bulldog. The ULM transfer batted .600 throughout the four-game weekend series vs Houston Christian with six runs, three doubles, two home runs--both of which happened in the season opener inlcuding his first at-bat as a Bulldog, six RBI, 18 total bases, a stolen base and a staggering OPS of 1.825 which ranks fifth in CUSA through Opening Weekend.
 
Cade Patterson was among an elite group on Opening Day as well, belting two grand slams in the season opener and ending the weekend with a .400 average, 5 runs and a team-high 12 RBIs to lead the conference at the start of the season. Patterson was the first Bulldog to hit two grand slams in a game since TJ Soto in 2000, both of which he hit in the same inning.
 
The Bulldogs' four home runs in Friday's game were the most in a season opener since LA Tech hit four homers against Air Force on Opening Day in 2021.
 
Florida State transfer Hudson Rowan and reigning CUSA Freshman of the Year Brooks Roberson both earned wins in their first starts of the year on the mound. Rowan earned the nod to start Game 2 of the series vs HCU, and dealt a gem in his LA Tech debut. The junior southpaw went five scoreless innings allowing just one hit, two walks and striking out a pair of Huskies.
 
Roberson dominated on the mound in the series finale, throwing six scoreless innings in the seven-inning run rule giving up just two hits and a walk while fanning three batters. Both Hudson and Roberson kept the Houston Christian lineup to just a mere .085 average at the plate.
 
Matt Houston made a statement in his season debut, making a start behind the dish in the Sunday finale and going 4-4 at the plate with two homers, already exceeding his 2025 total of just one four-bagger. His second homer of the day was one of the most massive pokes the Bulldog faithful have seen in a long time, with the ball traveling 455 feet to dead center and bouncing off the third floor of the apartments residing beyond the center field wall.
 
Houston joined Lunsford as the only two players in CUSA with 10 total bases in a game to start the season.
 
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