University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Back at "The Tigue", UL Hosts Siena
2/24/2011 9:15:00 PM | Baseball
THE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Friday-Sunday, Feb.25-27
Location: Lafayette, La.
Site: M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field (3,755)
Times: 6:00 p.m. (Fri) | 2:00 p.m. (Sat) | 11:00 a.m. (Sun)
Opponent: Siena (0-3)
Television: MyKLAF (Sunday only)
Radio: Sports Radio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL)
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com
STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Joey Satriano (UL) vs. RHP Kyle Sumple (SIENA)
Saturday: LHP T.J. Geith (UL) vs. RHP Justin Brantley (SIENA)
Sunday: RHP Taylor Hubbell (UL) vs. RHP Zach Hartman (SIENA)
It's Good to Be Home: Following a short trip to Thibodaux to face Nicholls State on Wednesday, Louisiana is back at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field Friday-Sunday, Feb. 25-27 hosting Siena. The Siena series marks the start of another string of four straight games at "The Tigue" and closes out an opening stretch of eight of the first nine games at the facility.
The Siena Series (UL leads 5-0): Siena visits M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field for the third time. The Cajuns welcomed the Saints for a three-game set in 2001 and midweek, two-game set in 2004. Louisiana won all five previous meetings outscoring Siena by a combined tally of 55-10. Two of the five Cajuns wins were shutouts.
Best of the Best: Both Louisiana head coach Tony Robichaux and Siena head coach Tony Rossi rank in the Top 40 amongst active winningest Division I coaches. The two coaches have combined for 1,543 career victories. Robichaux owns 842 career victories while Rossi has collected 701.
Steady Bullpen: Through five games the Cajuns bullpen has performed their task extremely well. Led by two stellar showings from Taylor Hubbell (13.0 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 9K, .182 AVG) the Cajuns pen has combined to hold opponents to five runs and just 14 hits over 24 2/3 innings of work.
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: Last weekend the Cajuns pitching staff held SEMO to a .215 average and surrendered only three extra base hits in 27 innings of work. For the season, Cajuns pitching has limited opponents to five extra baggers and a paltry .228 average.
Two-Out Success: The Ragin' Cajuns offense posted a .344 average (11-for-32) in two-out situations during the season opening series with SEMO. 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 of the SEMO series and served as the Cajuns designated hitter.
Headed to Hattiesburg: Next weekend, the Ragin' Cajuns will play their first road weekend series of the 2011 season. Louisiana and Southern Miss will meet at Pete Taylor Park in Hattiesburg, Miss., March 4-6. Game times are set for 6 p.m., 2 p.m., and 1 p.m. It's the fifth straight season the Cajuns and Golden Eagles battle on the diamond. USM has won two-of-three in the weekend series the past two seasons (2009 & 2010).
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
