University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Defending SBC Champs Open 2011 Season
2/17/2011 6:40:00 PM | Baseball
THE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Friday-Sunday, Feb.18-20
Location: Lafayette, La.
Site: M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field (3,755)
Times: 6:00 p.m. (Fri) | 2:00 p.m. (Sat) | 1:00 p.m. (Sun)
Opponent: Southeast Missouri (2010 Record: 30-25, 13-9 Ohio Valley)
Television: MyKLAF (Saturday only)
Radio: Sports Radio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL)
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com
STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Joe Zimmermann (UL) vs. LHP Jordan Underwood (SEMO)
Saturday: LHP T.J. Geith (UL) vs. RHP Jon Dicus (SEMO)
Sunday: RHP Joey Satriano (UL) vs. RHP Brad LaBruyere (SEMO)
Raise the Curtain: Louisiana opens the 2011 baseball season Friday-Sunday, Feb. 18-20 hosting Southeast Missouri State at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field. This is the 40th season for UL as a Division I program and the 17th season of the Tony Robichaux Era.
Nice to Meet You: This weekend's series marks the first-ever meeting between Louisiana and Southeast Missouri State.
High Expectations: Louisiana was picked third in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll, while Southeast Missouri was predicted to finish second in the Ohio Valley preseason coaches poll.
Champions Recognized: Prior to first pitch on Friday, members of the 2010 Ragin' Cajuns baseball squad that captured the 2010 Sun Belt Conference championship will receive their championship rings.
Coach Hud Set for Sunday's First Pitch: New UL football coach Mark Hudspeth will deliver the ceremonial first pitch of Sunday's 1 p.m. contest.
Cajuns in Openers: Since 1972, Louisiana is 27-12 in season openers and has won 12 of its last 13 season openers. Under Tony Robichaux, the Ragin' Cajuns are 13-3 in season openers. UL's all-time record in home openers is 31-8 (25-8 at "The Tigue").
Home, Sweet Home: UL enters its 34th season calling M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field home. The Cajuns are 733-282-1 (.722) in the park, posting winning marks each of the last 15 seasons and a 240-89-1 (.729) record since 2000.
Faithful Fans: The final attendance number for the season at "The Tigue" was 58,803 over 31 dates for an average of 1,896 which was tops in the Sun Belt Conference and Top 40 nationally (actual rank No. 32). UL averaged 1,000-plus for the 11th consecutive season.
Record Ticket Sales: A record number of season tickets have already been sold for the 2011 season and only a limited amount of available season tickets remain. The record breaking number means that seating is going to be extremely limited in 2011.
Geith, Poirrier Grab Preseason Honors: Louisiana seniors T.J. Geith and Jordan Poirrier were named to the 2011 All-Sun Belt Conference Preseason Baseball Team. Geith logged 90 2/3 innings and posted a 6-1 regular season record in 2010. Poirrier led Louisiana in batting average, runs scored, doubles, extra base hits, slugging percentage and on-base percentage in 2010.
Captains Named: Seniors Matt Goulas and Taylor Hubbell have been named captains of the 2011 UL baseball squad. Goulas, a New Iberia native, has been one of the nation's toughest to strikeout in his career. Hubbell held opponents to a .193 average in 13 relief appearances last season.
Shoes to Fill: UL must replace three key elements from 2010 in order to stay atop the Sun Belt - victories and strikeouts leader Zach Osborne, catcher and two-time RBI leader Chad Keefer plus defensive stalwart Justin Robichaux at first base.
A Veteran Team: Louisiana's roster features 13 seniors and 10 juniors for a total of 23 upperclassmen. UL is experienced as well with five returning position players, three pitchers who started a year ago and virtually the entire bullpen intact.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns have a midweek, home-and-home scheduled with Nicholls State. The Cajuns and Colonels meet at "The Tigue" on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m., then UL travels to Thibodaux for a 6 p.m. meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Ray Didier Field.
Next weekend the Cajuns welcome Siena for a three-game series Friday-Sunday, Feb. 25-27.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
