HOUSTON (Interstat) — The McNeese State Cowboys and Houston Cougars will play a nonconference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon and evening at M.O. Campbell Center, with the 78-degree, cloudy forecast setting the stage for a clash between two teams seeking consistency.

McNeese State (21-21) enters the day after a 10-7, 10-inning loss Sunday to Texas-Rio Grande Valley, its second defeat in the three-game series. The Cowboys have split their last 10 games and will look to even their record before a weekend road trip to Stephen F. Austin.

Houston (18-25) comes off a 5-2 loss Tuesday at Stephen F. Austin and has dropped seven of its last nine contests. The Cougars are trying to build momentum ahead of a home series against Cincinnati beginning Friday.

Players to watch

McNeese State left fielder Isaiah Keller has been the Cowboys’ most productive bat. In his last 10 games, Keller is batting .367 (11-for-30) with four home runs and 10 RBIs. He went 3-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs in Sunday’s loss and is 7-for-12 in his last three starts.

Houston pitcher Caden Cooper will likely be called on in relief. In his most recent outing Tuesday, Cooper threw 4.0 innings, allowing no hits and two earned runs with one strikeout. Over his last five appearances, Cooper has a 7.36 ERA across 10.1 innings, surrendering nine earned runs on three hits.

Projection

Interstat’s game simulator predicts a 6-2 McNeese State win. However, the same system’s ELO rating gives Houston a 56.3 percent probability of victory.

Upcoming schedules

McNeese State opens a three-game series at Stephen F. Austin on Friday. The Cowboys then host Northwestern State for a three-game set beginning May 7.

Houston begins a three-game home series against Cincinnati on Friday, followed by a Tuesday matchup with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Cougars then travel to Arizona for a three-game series May 8-10.