The Cajuns-Cougars series dates back to 1948, a time before Louisiana joined Division I (joined in 1972). The only decade the programs haven’t met since that time was the 1960s. There have been 47 meetings with UH claiming 35 of them. UL ended the Cougars’ seven-game win streak in the series with a 6-1 win in this season’s earlier meeting (March 3). Houston holds a 9-3 edge during the Robichaux Era. UH has won the last four meetings in Houston which includes a 14-8 victory last season on March 4. Louisiana’s most notable wins in the series came in the 1999 NCAA Houston Regional. UL posted a 5-3 victory in the winner’s bracket finals to advance to the championship game. The Cajuns went on to roll to a 19-8 victory in that championship game that featured two rain delays that lasted more than 5-1/2 hours, to advance to the first Super Regional in school history (vs. Rice at Astrodome). That also happens to be UL’s last victory at Cougar Field.

• SEASON TICKET REDEMPTION NIGHT: The Ragin’ Cajuns will host their first season ticket redemption night at “The Tigue” on Wednesday, April 1, against Northwestern State. Unused season tickets from home games 1-13 (including the FAU rainout) may be redeemed for additional tickets at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

• BAD TIME TO FACE HOT CAJUNS: UL is currently on a five-game tear through non-conference, midweek games, having won their last five non-conference games and compiling a 4-1 midweek record, including a win over then-No. 3 LSU on March 11. The Cajuns are 6-8-1 in weekend games. The win over McNeese State last Wednesday upped Louisiana’s non-conference win streak to five games dating back to the Sunday game of the Southern Miss series.

• VETTING THE COUGARS: With a young team this season the Cougars have gotten off to a slow start at 6-16. UH has only two seniors (pitchers Jimmy Raviele and Chris Wright) and a total of 12 freshmen/redshirt freshmen combined. Don’t let the record fool you, though, as the Cougars have played a tough schedule which featured three-game series with Kansas State and Cal Poly, games with Baylor, UC Irvine, Texas A&M and Rice. The Cougars returned 2009 C-USA Preseason All-Conference Team selections junior Wes Musick and sophomore Chase Dempsay, in addition to sophomore Blake Kelso, who was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team a year ago. After getting swept in three games at Pacific, the Cougars bounced back last week winning four of six contests last week. The Cougars defeated No. 29 Lamar 4-2 in Beaumont and returned to Houston and took two-of-three from UAB in their Conference USA opening series. Zak Presley is the leading hitter with a .318 average while Blake Keslo is a close second at .312. UH’s top run producer is Caleb Ramsey who has driven home 14 runs. Pitching hasn’t been a strong suit for the Cougars – the staff ERA is 6.94 and the lowest ERA amongst all starters with at least two starts is 4.15. UH pitchers have surrendered 259 hits in 192 innings pitched. In 22 games played, opponents have logged double figures in hits 15 times. Houston is 2-5 in mid-week games and has yet to win one at home.

UL Press