University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Crucial Regular Season Finale At UNO
5/13/2009 9:00:00 PM | Baseball
Series Information
Date: Thursday, May 14 - Friday, May 15 - Saturday, May 16
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Privateer Park - New Orleans, La.
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com
TV:
Saturday: CST (Cox 37)
Radio: Jay Walker
Thursday: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 (KPEL-AM)
Friday: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 (KPEL-AM)
Saturday: NewsRadio 105.1-FM (KPEL-FM)
Pre-game shows begin 30 minutes prior to first pitch
| Tentative Starting Pitchers |
LOUISIANA | UNO |
| Thursday | RH Zach Osborne 3-3, 3.41 ERA |
LH Ricky Ott 1-3, 8.37 ERA |
| Friday |
RH Justin Robichaux 1-3, 2.00 ERA |
RH Joe Zimmerman 3-3, 5.35 ERA |
| Saturday |
RH Michael Cook 4-3, 5.59 ERA |
TBA |
BASES NOTED
? A NEW HOME RUN LEADER
Last weekend versus WKU, Scott Hawkins hit his 40th career home run to claim the No. 1 spot in the Cajuns record book for all-time career home runs. He broke a first-place tie with Ron Robicheaux (1983-86) that lasted 17 games. Hawkins is also in the top five or chasing a place there in multiple categories. He ranks second in games started (195), fourth in at bats (733) and total bases (394), fifth in runs scored (153), and needs one double, 15 hits, and seven games played to earn fifth-place ties in each of those categories.
? ALL-TIME SERIES (UL LEADS 73-67)
New Orleans is one of the Cajuns' most storied rivals. The two programs have met 140 times ? the oldest series for Louisiana against any Sun Belt Conference school. This weekend's series marks the 34th straight season the Cajuns and Privateers square off. UL and UNO take part in a Sun Belt series for the 22nd time. The Ragin' Cajuns are 32-18 vs. UNO under Tony Robichaux (30-14 in regular season contests). Louisiana has had the most recent success in the series, taking 11 of the last 12 regular season meetings and sweeping UNO four times this decade. The last time the Cajuns lost a series to the Privateers came in 2000 (swept at “The Tigue”). This decade, the Ragin' Cajuns have won 10 of the 12 meetings held at Privateer Park (swept in 2003 and 2005). Louisiana holds a 42-20 edge in SBC regular season play. The Privateers hold a 4-2 edge in the SBC Tournament. The two programs have met in three SBC Tournaments, twice meeting in the championship game (1998 & 2007). The two programs have met as conference foes ever since joining the American South Conference in 1988.
? SCOUTING THE PRIVATEERS
The Privateers have become one of the hottest teams in the Sun Belt Conference over the last month. New Orleans has won each of its past four SBC series, taking two-of-three games from FIU, Arkansas State, FAU and UALR for an 8-4 mark. The hot stretch has positioned the Privateers for a spot in the league tournament as they are currently in fifth place. Third baseman Nick Schwaner has had quite the turnaround season. Schwaner, who is tied for second in the SBC in doubles (20), sixth in home runs (12) and eighth in RBIs (51), was hitting .208 with two home runs and six RBIs in the first 18 games of the year. Since then, the Slidell native has hit .405 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. He is hitting .489 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs in UNO's 22 wins this year. Senior closer David Burch has adjusted to his new role quite nicely. The Morgan City product is 9-for-9 in save opportunities this year after moving into the closer's role at the end of March. The right-hander had not allowed a run in his last 12 2/3 innings prior to giving up one against UALR last Sunday. UNO has lost nine games by 10 runs or more this year, which sets a school record. The Privateers have lost 20 of their 30 games by five runs or more. Pitching has been a problem for the Privateers. They enter this weekend's series with a 7.53 ERA. Burch is the lone UNO pitcher with a sub-5.00 ERA. UNO pitching has surrendered 578 hits in 454 1/3 innings. Joe Zimmerman is the top-line starter with a 3-3 mark, 5.35 ERA and 60 strikeouts. UNO features a stark fielding disparity; the Privateers' fielding percentage is .950 with 98 errors while opponents are fielding .970 with only 59 errors.
? THE TIME WARP
The UNO series has had two changes. Friday's game, originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m., has been advanced to 3 p.m. to accomodate UNO's graduation ceremonies, and Saturday's 4 p.m. game has been moved to 3 p.m. and added to the Sun Belt's television package on CST.
? IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Saturday's game of the series will be televised live on CST beginning at 3 p.m. It's this week's Sun Belt Conference Game of the Week. It should be one of the most heated contests in the league this week as both teams will be fighting for seeding and/or possibly a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
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