UL - Louisiana (4-6) officially begins its defense of the 2007 Sun Belt Conference regular season championship this weekend when the Ragin’ Cajuns welcome the Arkansas State Indians (5-4) to M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field...
This weekend marks the third consecutive season that A-State has traveled to Lafayette to face the Cajuns. Louisiana hasn’t made a trip to Jonesboro, Ark., since the 2005 season...
Louisiana is 37-8 all-time at home against Arkansas State while Tony Robichaux is 18-5 against the Indians at "The Tigue"...
Louisiana has now won its last two home games after a 3-1 win against in-state rival Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday...
After a slow start to the season, Preseason All-American Scott Hawkins is 5-for-9 with a home run and six RBI in the Cajuns’ last two games this season...
Justin Robichaux has recorded three saves in Louisiana’s four victories this season.
FRESHMAN STELLAR IN SEVEN INNINGS ON WEDNESDAY. Freshman Michael Cook earned his first career win Wednesday, leading the Cajuns to a 3-1 victory over Southeastern Louisiana at "The Tigue". Cook, the son of former Cajuns pitcher Danny Cook, was stellar in his first career start...Cook worked seven-plus innings, scattering five hits – four of which were singles. Cook was responsible for one unearned run...He walked just one batter, while fanning five. Cook retired seven consecutive batters, before allowing a hit in the top of the eighth inning.
AUTOMATIC ROBICHAUX. For the third time in four victories, sophomore Justin Robichaux was called to the mound to close out the game...And, for the third time, Robichaux closed the door on the visitors, earning his third save of the season vs. Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday...Robichaux struck out the side in two innings, striking out two of the last three batters he faced...Robichaux has now struck out seven of 13 batters he has faced in 4 1/3 innings.
HAMMERIN’ HAWKINS. After starting the season 4-for-19 (.211) with one extra-base hit, All-American Scott Hawkins has retured to 2007 form in the last four games...Hawkins is batting .388 (7-for-18) in the last four games, including two doubles, one home run and six RBI. On Tuesday at Houston, Hawkins drove in a career-high-tying four RBI...Earlier this season, Hawkins recorded a career-high four hits in a loss to Oral Roberts.
ARKANSAS STATE SCOUTING REPORT. A-State (5-4) snapped a three-game losing streak after a 7-5 upset win of No. 2 Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., on Wednesday. The Indians jumped out to a 6-0 lead in third inning before the Rebels cound rebound...Last weekend, the Indians went 1-3 at the Cardinal Classic in Beaumont, Texas. After A-State beat Kansas State 2-1, the Indians loss three straight, including two to host Lamar.
ARKANSAS STATE SERIES. Louisiana leads the all-time series 63-24, including a 37-8 mark at home...Tony Robichaux is 18-5 at "The Tigue" vs. the Indians...Louisiana had won eight straight games in the series heading into the finale against A-State. However, the Indians won 4-2 to deny the Cajuns a sweep...Arkansas State is 6-20 at "The Tigue" since joining the Sun Belt Conference for the 1992 season.
SUN BELT OPENERS. Louisiana is 10-6 in Sun Belt Conference openers with a 9-4 mark under Robichaux. Louisiana has won the last seven when opening the conference slate at home.
BULLPEN STRUGGLES AT HOUSTON. Louisiana took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, but Houston scored 12 unanswered runs to deny the Ragin’ Cajuns of a road victory 14-8 Tuesday night at Cougar Field...Louisiana (3-6) was in line to snap its six-game losing streak to the Cougars (5-4) and seal its first victory at Houston since winning the 1999 NCAA Regional until the bullpen fell apart. The Cougars erased the Cajuns’ six-run lead with a three runs in the fifth and a seven-spot in the sixth...Louisiana starter Buddy Glass did not factor into the final pitching decision as the senior allowed two runs on one hit in four innings of work. Glass walked three batters, while striking out two on 62 pitches. Luke Wagley was the hard-luck loser for the Cajuns, allowing two runs in one-third of an inning...In all, seven Cajuns relievers combined to allow 12 runs – 9 earned – on 12 hits with just two strikeouts, facing 29 batters.
I-10 SERIES. Houston was the third of seven Louisiana opponents located along the Interstate 10 corridor. Last week, the Cajuns lost 10-1 at Tulane in New Orleans. The Ragin’ Cajuns also face I-10 schools Rice, McNeese State, South Alabama and LSU.
UP NEXT - LOUISIANA TECH. Following this weekend’s conference-opening series with Arkansas State, Louisiana will head north to face the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Tuesday, March 11...Louisiana Tech is led by former Ragin’ Cajuns assistant Wade Simoneaux, who served on Robichaux’s staff from 1998-2002.