Ragin' Cajuns Open Road Stretch at LA Tech
For the third consecutive season, Louisiana (4-9) will travel to Ruston to face former Cajuns assistant Wade Simoneaux and his Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (9-5).
After playing seven of the last eight games at home, Louisiana will now play nine of its next 10 and 13 of the next 18 on road.
Last weekend, the Cajuns suffered a tough setback as the defending Sun Belt Conference champions were swept at home by the Arkansas State Indians.
Louisiana’s bats have come alive in the last five games. Freshman Matt Goulas led the Cajuns with a .368 clip last week, going 7-of-19. Goulas is currently on a six-game hitting streak.
Preseason All-American Scott Hawkins drove in six of the Cajuns’ 18 runs last week, while freshman Greg Fontenot had two two-RBI performances.
Last Wednesday against SLU, Michael Cook, son of former Cajuns hurler Danny Cook, became the first Cajun freshman since Justin Robichaux to win in his first career start of the mound.
CAJUNS SWEPT IN SBC SERIES FOR FIRST TIME IN FIVE SEASONS. Arkansas State scored the game’s first six runs, while Louisiana committed six errors as the Ragin’ Cajuns suffered their first Sun Belt series sweep in five seasons with a 9-2 loss Sunday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.
Louisiana suffered its first Sun Belt series sweep since April 23-25, 2004, when Florida International swept the Cajuns in Miami. It was also the first time Louisiana was swept in a SBC series at home since May 12-14, 2000, against the New Orleans Privateers.
OPEN ROAD AHEAD FOR CAJUNS. Tuesday night marks the first of a long road stretch ahead for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Nine of Louisiana’s next 10 games and 13 of the next 18 are on the road.
This weekend, Louisiana heads to Florida Atlantic before returning home to face the Northwestern State Demons on Tuesday, March 18.
TURN BACK THE CLOCK NIGHT ON TAP FOR MARCH 18. Following this week’s four-game road trip, Louisiana returns home to host Northwestern State for ‘Turn Back the Clock Night’ on Tuesday, March 18.
LOUISIANA TECH SCOUTING REPORT. After a 6-0 start to the season, Louisiana Tech (9-5) has lost five of its last eight games with eight of its nine wins this season coming at J.C. Love Field.
Sunday, Tech snapped a two-game losing streak with a twin bill sweep of Central Arkansas, winning the three-game series 2-1.
As a team, the Bulldogs are batting .307 and are led by Adam Cobb’s .441 average with 5 HR and 13 RBI. Chris Kersten leads Tech with 20 RBI.Tech starting pitcher Mike LeBreton is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA this season. His first victory came in game two of a doubleheader against Texas-Arlington.
LOUISIANA TECH SERIES. Louisiana leads the all-time series 76-62, but is 22-23 in Ruston.
Louisiana won both of last season’s meetings and at one point had won 18 straight games in the series from 1994-2000.
In 2006, Louisiana lost both meetings in Ruston.
The teams haven’t met for a three-game series since opening the 2005 season at "The Tigue". That season, the Cajuns swept the Bulldogs.
UP NEXT - FLORIDA ATLANTIC. Following Tuesday’s non-conference tilt at Louisiana Tech, the Ragin’ Cajuns travel to Boca Raton, Fla., to face the Florida Atlantic Owls for a three-game Sun Belt series.
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. 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.
SUN BELT OPENERS. Louisiana is 10-7 in Sun Belt Conference openers with a 9-5 mark under Robichaux. Louisiana had won the last seven when opening the conference slate at home until falling 3-0 to Arkansas State on Saturday.
RaginCajuns.com
Chris Yandle
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