Robichaux seeking solutions prior to Sun Belt play.

LOUISIANA La. — With Sun Belt Conference play 10 days away, Louisiana’s baseball team still has a number of personnel issues to be decided.

Clearing up those issues is the goal for coach Tony Robichaux and his staff in the five games preceding the March 26-28 league-opening series against Western Kentucky, and the process begins in earnest tonight.

The Cajuns (10-6) host a struggling Texas Southern squad at 6:30 p.m. at M. L. “Tigue” Moore Field in the continuation of a 12-game homestand, and fans can expect a lot of UL players – pitchers and positional – to see action against the 3-15 Tigers.

“You never want to underestimate an opponent, because not one of them is going to walk up without a bat,” Robichaux said. “But we want to develop our base as strong as we can. We’re going to hold out some arms we’re going to use over the weekend, and try to start some guys that haven’t been consistent at the plate and try to get them feeling better about themselves.”

Those players should get their chances tonight. Texas Southern has actually won only once on the field this year, with two of those victories coming by forfeit from Texas College over the past weekend. TSU hasn’t played since a home loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville last Tuesday.

“We think we’re going to be a much better team by the time we get deep into (Southwestern Athletic) conference play,” said TSU assistant coach Brian White. “Where we’ve started is not indicative of where we’ll finish … that’s the way our whole coaching staff sees it.”

The Tigers do have the SWAC’s preseason Player of the Year in outfielder Corey Alexander, who hit .315 and slugged .621 last year. White said that outfielder Andre Nevels and catcher Julio Alvarez (.322 last year) have been swinging hot bats.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@lafayette.gannett.com