Ragin' Cajuns Baseball Heading to the Box

[NewsCopy]

  The University of Louisiana takes on LSU tonight in a baseball game in Baton Rouge at 6:30 p.m.

This is the second straight season the two programs meet, with LSU holding a 44-21 advantage. After a 2002 meeting in the NCAA Regional at Baton Rouge, the teams did not meet for five years. The series resumed last season at Alex Box Stadium with an 5-3 LSU victory on April 29. The teams have split the last six meetings, but LSU owns an 8-4 advantage in the Robichaux Era. This is the first meeting at the “new” Alex Box Stadium, and the second since Paul Mainieri took the Tigers’ coaching reins. The last two UL wins were shutouts: 5-0 on June 1, 2002, in the NCAA Regional at Baton Rouge and 7-0 in a regular season meeting on March 19, 2002. The Cajuns and Tigers met in NCAA Regional play in 1990, 1991 and 2002, with Louisiana’s last win in the series taking place in the winner’s bracket final of the 2002 NCAA Regional, a 5-0 victory.

• LAST MEETING
The Cajuns were the last non-conference opponent to take the field at the “old” Alex Box Stadium with an April 29 visit to Baton Rouge in 2008. LSU spoiled UL’s upset bid, scoring five runs in the fifth for a 5-3 win. Louisiana scored single runs in the first, second and third innings for a quick 3-0 lead, and Brent Solich had the Tigers shut down through four complete before his brilliant performance was spoiled in the fifth. Solich lasted 5 1/3 innings, while allowing just two earned runs. Buddy Glass gave up one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief, while LSU’s Daniel Bradshaw (3-5) stopped the Cajuns down the stretch, scattering three hits on six strikeouts in four innings.

• VETTING THE TIGERS
The Tigers are in their third season under head coach Paul Mainieri, and were chosen as both Collegiate Baseball and USA Today/ESPN’s preseason No. 1. The Tigers dropped two-of-three to Illinois last weekend, falling to No. 3 in Collegiate Baseball and No. 4 in the USA Today/ESPN polls. Wednesday’s game will be LSU’s 12th home contest through 14 total. LSU’s loss to Illinois on Friday ended the Tigers’ 25-game regularseason win streak dating back to last season, but the Tigers came back the next day to hit seven home runs, including three grand slams, in Saturday’s 22-10 win over the Illini. The Tigers have launched 27 homers – including five grand slams – in 12 games this season, thanks to double-digit home run totals from seven different players. They are batting .350 as a team, led by D.J. LeMahieu’s .526 average and Sean Ochinko’s .458. LSU defeated Sun Belt team New Orleans 19-3 last Tuesday, and open SEC play this weekend hosting Kentucky.

• RETURN OF THE SHUTOUT
Prior to Friday’s 2-0 loss to Arkansas State, the Cajuns had not been shut out since May 24, 2008, by New Orleans in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament by a score of 10-0. The loss also marks the first time the Cajuns have been shut out on the road since April 22, 2008, when Lamar handed Louisiana a 3-0 blank. Last Wednesday’s blanking of the Texas Southern Tigers was the first winning shutout for the Cajuns.

• HITTIN' THE ROAD
Including Wednesday’s game at LSU, the next three midweek games for the Ragin’ Cajuns will be on the road. UL visits McNeese State next Tuesday, March 17, and Houston the following Tuesday, March 24. The next mid-week game at “The Tigue” will take place on Wednesday, April 1 against Northwestern State.

UL Staff Reports

[rhineaux]

Does anyone know anything about the Internet Feed for the game. If I remember correctly, the game last year wasn't available online through ragincajuns.com, but only if you bought the service through LSU. However, I just checked, and it shows the game as being a "Live Event" on the ragincajuns.com Media Player. That leads me to believe that it will be available to us for free, but I'm just curious if anyone knows for sure.

[wcd35]

_ Does anyone know anything about the Internet Feed for the game. If I remember correctly, the game last year wasn't available online through ragincajuns.com, but only if you bought the service through LSU. However, I just checked, and it shows the game as being a "Live Event" on the ragincajuns.com Media Player. That leads me to believe that it will be available to us for free, but I'm just curious if anyone knows for sure. _

I'm seeing that as well. I dont think you have to sign up through LSU though. However, I dont think this is a free game. I think you need to have the paid package with UL to watch this one. It would be nice if the school advertised this a little more. I'm sure they can get some subscriptions to watch this game.

[CajunProud]

_ I'm seeing that as well. I dont think you have to sign up through LSU though. However, I dont think this is a free game. I think you need to have the paid package with UL to watch this one. It would be nice if the school advertised this a little more. I'm sure they can get some subscriptions to watch this game. _

Advertise! We talking about Advertise! What the F? You are a UL fan, you should automatically know this info. Advertise! Advertise! (sarcasm off)

[Clutch0364]

_ Advertise! We talking about Advertise! What the F? You are a UL fan, you should automatically know this info. Advertise! Advertise! (sarcasm off) _

Were you using your Allen Iverson voice while saying that

[CajunProud]

_ Were you using your Allen Iverson voice while saying that _

Trying to.

[rhineaux]

_ Does anyone know anything about the Internet Feed for the game. If I remember correctly, the game last year wasn't available online through ragincajuns.com, but only if you bought the service through LSU. However, I just checked, and it shows the game as being a "Live Event" on the ragincajuns.com Media Player. That leads me to believe that it will be available to us for free, but I'm just curious if anyone knows for sure. _

I just got an e-mail from a friend, that was from Matt Hebert, stating that anyone who is a member of ragincajuns.com will be able to catch the feed.

[NOCajun]

THE CAJUNS NEED TO ROCK THAT NEW LITTER-BOX TONIGHT!!!