D1 Baseball

[NewsCopy]

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team will wrap up fall practice on Sunday when it travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU in a fall scrimmage beginning at noon at Alex Box Stadium.

Louisiana Athletics
RaginCajuns.com
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[DaddyCajun]

Paying for Box I have had since day 1! Buddies Brian, Ad, and Bobby are all in the Box with me for some fun times again at the Tigue!

[NewsCopy]

BATON ROUGE – CJ Willis belted an opposite-field, three-run home run in the opener while Carson Roccaforte and freshman Kyle DeBarge collected two hits in the finale as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team wrapped up fall practice on Sunday, dropping a pair of back-and-forth contests (8-6 and 9-7) at LSU at Alex Box Stadium.

Louisiana, which will officially open the 2022 season on Feb. 18 at home against NCAA Regional finalist UC Irvine, recorded 10 hits in each contest with DeBarge going a combined 4-for-7 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Ragin' Cajuns.

DeBarge drove in Louisiana's first run of the day with an RBI single to drive in Tyler Robertson, who reached on a one-out double. Louisiana scored twice in the sixth inning to take the lead as Julian Brock tripled into the left-field corner, driving in Roccaforte, before scoring on Jonathan Brandon's sacrifice fly.

LSU used a five-run seventh to regain the lead, which was highlighted by Tyler McManus' grand slam to center before withholding a Ragin' Cajuns rally in the eighth.

Brock reached on a one-out walk for Louisiana before advancing to third on Brandon's double down the right-field line. Willis, who began his career at LSU before transferring to Louisiana, cut the Tigers' lead to 7-6 with a home run to left field before Grant Taylor got the final two outs to end the threat.

Louisiana jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning as it took advantage of a trio of LSU errors in the frame. Roccaforte drove in Robertson with an RBI single before the Ragin' Cajuns would score a pair of runs off a pair of Tiger miscues.

Roccaforte, who was a combined 3-for-7, gave Louisiana a 4-0 lead in the third inning with an RBI grounder before LSU would rally to take a 5-4 lead in the bottom half of the frame.

The Ragin' Cajuns regained the lead with their second three-run frame in the fifth as Bobby Lada and DeBarge hit back-to-back RBI doubles before Will Veillon hit an RBI single up the middle.

LSU tied the game at 7-7 in the sixth on an RBI single by Cade Doughty before Dylan Crews added an insurance run with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.

Notable Stats (GAME 1)
Tyler Robertson – 2-2, 2B, 1 run
Kyle DeBarge – 2-3, 1 SB, 1 RBI
Carson Roccaforte – 1-4, 1 run
Julian Brock – 1-1, 3B, RBI, BB, 2 runs
Jonathan Brandon – 1-1, 2B, SacFly, RBI, 1 run
CJ Willis – 2-2, HR, 3 RBI, 1 run
Dylan Theut – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K

Notable Stats (GAME 2)
Tyler Robertson – 1-2, 2B, 2 runs
Connor Kimple – 1-1, 2 BB, 1 run
Kyle DeBarge – 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 runs
Bobby Lada – 1-2, 2B, RBI, 1 run
Carson Roccaforte – 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 run
Will Veillon – 1-4, RBI
Julian Brock – 1-2, 2B, 1 run
Chipper Menard – 1.0 IP, 2 K
Bo Bonds – 1.0 IP, 1 K

Louisiana Athletics
RaginCajuns.com
PRESS RELEASE

[Textitan]

I know today’s focus is mainly about football recruiting, but I saw where D1 baseball put out their fall review for the Cajuns. Not asking anyone to copy and paste the material, just wanting to possibly get some nuggets or highlights.

[CajunStros]

Someone posted screen shots of the D1 write up in the ragin cajun baseball fan page on FB. It’s very comprehensive. They are gushing over the freshman SS shortstop from Kinder. Comparisons to Trahan for obvious reasons.

[JayWalker]

Judging by the article:

Roccaforte has the edge at 1B, but don't forget Willis.
Veillon and Lada are fighting for the second base job.
We have a shortstop. He's a freshman. And, he's really good.
Pendegrass (Houston Transfer) is the leader at third.
Brock has won the catcher job.
There's a logjam in the OF (one reason why Rocco was moved). Hood, Marusak and Robertson might be a smidgen ahead of Hicks and Kimple.
There is, of course, a DH. I don't see holes in next year's lineup. Lots of depth.

Shifflet will be in the weekend rotation. Menard has improved to where he might be, too. Tommy Ray will also fight for a spot. Durke might be at the back of the bullpen if he's consistent throwing strikes. Talley and Schultz were actually mentioned as possible starters. Then there's Christie, Perrin, Wilson and Havard returning. (Havard has lost 30 pounds) And freshman LHP Dylan Theut (TOYT) is mentioned as well. I saw him pitch three times in the fall and was impressed.

[KajunKrazy]

W

Judging by the article:

Roccaforte has the edge at 1B, but don't forget Willis.
Veillon and Lada are fighting for the second base job.
We have a shortstop. He's a freshman. And, he's really good.
Pendegrass (Houston Transfer) is the leader at third.
Brock has won the catcher job.
There's a logjam in the OF (one reason why Rocco was moved). Hood, Marusak and Robertson might be a smidgen ahead of Hicks and Kimple.
There is, of course, a DH. I don't see holes in next year's lineup. Lots of depth.

Shifflet will be in the weekend rotation. Menard has improved to where he might be, too. Tommy Ray will also fight for a spot. Durke might be at the back of the bullpen if he's consistent throwing strikes. Talley and Schultz were actually mentioned as possible starters. Then there's Christie, Perrin, Wilson and Havard returning. (Havard has lost 30 pounds) And freshman LHP Dylan Theut (TOYT) is mentioned as well. I saw him pitch three times in the fall and was impressed.

Good enough to compete for a title and get an at large in your opinion? If all stay healthy.