UL and Troy meet for just the second time at Riddle-Pace Field in a Sun Belt series.

Louisiana took two-of-three from the Trojans in the first SBC visit to Riddle-Pace Field during the 2007 season. Since Troy joined the Sun Belt, Louisiana has won the season series 2-1 each time for a 6-3 lead in SBC regular season play. The Cajuns also own two SBC Tournament victories – 9-7 in the 2007 tournament in Mobile and 6-1 in last season’s tournament in Lafayette.

The programs have split four previous meetings held at Riddle-Pace Field. The Cajuns have never lost back-to-back games to the Trojans and twice have followed up Troy wins with a three-game win streak. In each SBC series, UL has won the series opener. Troy has taken the series finale the past two seasons. Prior to the Trojans joining the SBC in 2006, the teams met six times as non-conference foes (1998 and 2003), splitting the meetings.

In 2008 Louisiana won the season series for the third straight season and Troy avoided the sweep with an 11-4 win in the finale at “Tigue” Moore Field. UL took the opener on Friday, on the strength of a pair of two-run home runs by Chance Harst. Crafty left-hander Hunter Moody tossed eight masterful innings as UL went on to win 7-3. The Cajuns knocked in seven runs – five earned – off of reigning SBC Pitcher of the Week Tim Wheeler. Inclement weather forced a doubleheader on Saturday. The Cajuns posted a 5-3 win in the first game, as Michael Cook allowed only one run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings and Justin Robichaux closed the door by pitching the final 3 2/3 innings. Dillon Guillory’s first collegiate home run and two RBI were the difference. In the nightcap, the Trojans scored eight runs in the middle innings to break a 3-all tie. Cajuns reliver Danny Farquhar was battered for five runs on five hits as the Trojans pulled away.

The Cajuns won the first two games and were in line to sweep in their first visit to Riddle-Pace Field, but Troy claimed the finale. UL started the weekend with a bang, clubbing out a 13-3 victory. After being shutout for the first four innings, the Cajuns broke the game open in the fifth inning as they scored seven runs with two outs in the inning. Four Ragin’ Cajuns collected multiple hits on the night and UL rapped out 11 total. On Saturday, Louisiana built a 4-0 lead and held off a late rally by the Trojans. Starting pitcher Hunter Moody ws solid as he worked into the eighth. Moody surrendered six hits on the afternoon with only one extra base hit. On Sunday, the Trojans raced to a 14-4 victory. Gregory Harmon took the loss. The sophomore retired the first five batters he faced, but surrendered four runs in the third inning to take the loss. The Cajuns bullpen, which had been solid in all but one appearance on the season, surrendered 10 runs in less than five innings of work.


The Trojans are the Sun Belt’s hottest team, having won nine consecutive conference games since a 13-10 loss to UNO on March 28. The streak could be double digits had it not been for a pair of rainouts last weekend at UALR. This weekend’s set is just Troy’s third home SBC series of the season and it begins a stretch of three straight weekends at Riddle-Pace Field. The Trojans lost two-of-three to FIU and WKU to start SBC play and have since rebounded against teams near the bottom of the standings (UNO, Arkansas State, FAU and UALR). The Trojans are sixth in the SBC with a 5.48 ERA and seventh with a .308 batting average. Pitcher Jason Walls ranks third in the SBC with a 3.38 ERA in nine starts. Chad Watson leads the Sun Belt with five triples. Walls is holding opponents to a .232 batting average, second in the conference. The Trojans have six players who have hit at least five home runs. Leading the way is Miles Hoyle who has hit nine. Three players - Ryan Ditthardt (19), Brett Henry (16) and Michael Precise (16) – have double-digit multiple-hit games. Ditthardt leads the way with 12 multiple-RBI games.

UL Press