University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
UL & Nicholls Set for Midweek Matchup
2/21/2011 11:57:00 PM | Baseball
MIDWEEK SERIES
GAME #1
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 22
Location: Lafayette, La.
Site: M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field (3,755)
Times: 6:00 p.m
Opponent: Nicholls State (1-2)
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL)
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com
STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Michael Cook (UL) vs. LHP Mike Wisecarver (NICH)
GAME #2
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 23
Location: Thibodaux, La.
Site: Ray Didier Field (1,000)
Times: 6:00 p.m
Opponent: Nicholls State (1-2)
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL)
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com
STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Jordan Nicholson (UL) vs. LHP Dalton Torres (NICH)
Cajuns and Colonels Stage Mid-Week Series: Louisiana and Nicholls State meet in a midweek, home-and-home series Tuesday-Wednesday, Feb. 22-23. The two squads will meet at "Tigue" Moore Field on Tuesday then the series heads to Ray Didier Field in Thibodaux on Wednesday. Both games will begin at 6 p.m.
The Nicholls Series (UL leads 65-49-1): The Cajuns and Colonels resumed their series last season after no meetings in 2008 and 2009. The series with Nicholls is fifth-most played, with 115 previous meetings. UL carries a six-game win streak over Nicholls into Tuesday's matchup. Overall, UL has won 13 of the past 16 meetings. The Cajuns swept a three-game, season opening series last season by scores of 6-2, 6-2 in Lafayette (Feb. 19-20) and 10-1 in Thibodaux (Feb. 21). The last Nicholls win came on May 17, 2005 in Thibodaux - an 8-6 decision.
Home Field Advantage: The Cajuns have won the last 12 meetings with Nicholls at "The Tigue" and haven't lost to the Colonels in the facility since April 1995.
Weekend Attendance Reaches All-Time High: Louisiana established a new weekend series attendance record as 10,603 passed through the gates of M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field for the season opening series with Southeast Missouri. A sellout crowd of 3,768 was on hand for the season opener. The weekend attendance total bested the previous series record of 9,032 vs. South Alabama in May 2003.
No Stage Fright Here: Needing a win to avoid a sweep Louisiana was tied at 2-all with Southeast Missouri after five complete. Tony Robichaux turned to true freshman Matt Hicks in the sixth inning and in his collegiate debut the freshman delivered. Hicks posted four innings of hitless relief and collected the victory.
Stingy Pitching: Cajuns pitching held SEMO to a .215 average and surrendered only three extra base hits in 27 innings of work.
Stingy Pitching, Part Two: Last season, Louisiana's pitching staff held Nicholls to only one earned run in 27 innings during the season opening series. The Colonels bats were limited to a .198 average.
Lockdown Mode: Entering this week's action, the Cajuns pitching staff carries a string of 14 1/3 innings pitched without an earned run allowed. During the same span, only five hits have been surrendered.
Two-Out Success: The Ragin' Cajuns offense posted a .344 average (11-for-32) in two-out situations. Jordan Poirrier posted a pair of two-out doubles in the series finale driving home a run each time.
Smooth Moves in the Field: Greg Fontenot and Jordan Poirrier turned in stellar defensive efforts during the SEMO series. Fontenot committed only one error in 15 chances at shortstop. Poirrier fielded all but one of 22 chances cleanly at second base
Smashing Debut: True freshman Ryan Leonards opened his rookie campaign with back-to-back, multiple-hit games. Leonards hit leadoff all three games and served as the Cajuns designated hitter.
Back to "The Tigue" Friday: Wednesday's game in Thibodaux is the lone road game during a season opening stretch in which the Cajuns play eight of the first nine games at "The Tigue". UL is back at "The Tigue" Friday-Sunday, Feb. 25-27 hosting Siena. Then on Tuesday, March 1 Southern visits for a midweek matchup.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
