Louisiana Baseball will hit the road for its final away game of the regular season on Tuesday night when it makes the short drive to take on New Orleans.
Louisiana is coming off a crucial series win over UTA, keeping the team alive in the Sun Belt West Division Title race.
New Orleans is having a solid season, owning the most conference wins in the Southland.
Who: Louisiana (28-21, 11-10 Sun Belt) vs. New Orleans (28-24, 23-17 Southland)
Where: Maestri Field
When: May 18
WATCH: New Orleans Website Stream
Listen: ESPN 1420
On the Call: Jay Walker (play-by-play), Brad Topham (color)
Last Meeting: Louisiana lost, 10-3, (3/12/2019)
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Tuesday: RHP David Christie vs. LHP Tyler LeBlanc
Two-Way TALLEY
Brandon Talley picked up a save and hit a home run last weekend against UTA. Talley became the first Ragin' Cajun to earn a save and hit a home run in a single season since Ryan Wilson and Seth Harrison in 2014.
D-RAKE
Drake Osborn has been nothing short of spectacular for Louisiana behind the plate this year. His 15 doubles on the season is one away from tying Nick Thurman for the most by a Ragin' Cajun catcher since 2016.
One-Two Punch
Louisiana's one-two punch of Spencer Arrighetthi and Connor Cooke have been amazing this year. This is where they rank in the Sun Belt.
- ERA: Cooke (2.00) 3rd / Arrighetti (2.84) 5th
- Opposing Batting Average: Cooke (.161) 1st / Arrighetti (.221) 9th
- Strikeouts: Arrighetti (85) 2nd / Cooke (81) 3rd
- Wins: Arrighetti (7) T-2nd / Cooke (6) T-5th
Sweet Feet
Tyler Robertson is quite the speed demon for Louisiana, leading the Sun Belt Conference in steals with 19. The Ragin' Cajuns currently lead the Sun Belt with 81 total steals. This also ranks 12th in the country.
Walks to Strikeouts
Drake Osborn's plate discipline has been insane this year. The senior is currently on pace to become the first Ragin' Cajun since 2017 (Brenn Conrad) to walk more than they have struck out. Here is the list of players who have done that in the last 10 years.
- Drake Osborn (18 walks/11 strikeouts) -2021
- Brenn Conrad (30 walks/25 strikeouts) - 2017
- Brenn Conrad (24 walks/17 strikeouts) - 2016
- Stefan Trosclair (26 walks/24 strikeouts) - 2016
- Tyler Girouard (44 walks/31 strikeouts) - 2015
- Tyler Girouard (29 walks/26 strikeouts) - 2014
- Blake Trahan (38 walks/32 strikeouts) -2015
- Blake Trahan (44 walks/37 strikeouts) -2014
- Chase Compton (27 walks/17 strikeouts) -2014
- Blake Trahan (30 walks/27 strikeouts) -2013
- Chase Compton (27 walks/26 strikeouts) -2013
- Tyler Frederick (19 walks/14 strikeouts) -2012
- Greg Fontenot (21 walks/16 strikeouts) -2011
- Alex Fuselier (29 walks/27 strikeouts) -2011
OUCH
Aside from his great power numbers in 2021, Ben Fitzgerald also gets plunked a decent amount. The Mason City, Iowa, native has been hit by a pitch 14 times this year, the most since Gavin Bourgeois (18) in 2018.
Scouting the enemy
New Orleans has been solid this season, posting a 28-24 record. The Privateers have been great at the plate, batting .275 as a team and seeing three players who are hitting over .300. Tuesday night's pitcher, Tyler LeBlanc, owns a 6.43 ERA in 28.0 innings pitched.