University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
UL Hosts La.-Monroe in Sun Belt Opener
3/17/2011 9:43:00 PM | Baseball
THE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Friday-Sunday, March 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: La.-Monroe (10-5, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Radio: Sports Radio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL)
Television: MyKLAF (Saturday only)
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com
STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: LHP Taylor Hubbell (UL) vs. RHP Drew Granier (La.-Monroe)
Saturday: RHP Jordan Nicholson (UL) vs. LHP Randy Zeigler (La.-Monroe)
Sunday: LHP T.J. Geith (UL) vs. RHP Brent Gay (La.-Monroe)
The "New Season" Begins Friday: UL opens Sun Belt play this weekend (March 18-20) hosting in-state rival La.-Monroe. The series with the Warhawks begins the Ragin' Cajuns title defense of their 2010 Sun Belt Conference championship.
20th Season in Sun Belt: The Cajuns are entering their 20th season of competition in the Sun Belt Conference. Since joining the league in 1992, Louisiana has accrued a league mark of 315-181 (.635) and claimed six conference championships.
Home, Sweet Home: Louisiana enters the Sun Belt opening series with La.-Monroe riding a seven-game winning streak at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field. The last time the Cajuns won eight straight at "The Tigue" was in 2009 (won 9 straight from Mar. 20-Apr. 14). UL's last double figure win streak at "The Tigue" came in 2007 (started season 15-0 at home).
The Sun Belt's Best: To no one's surprise the Ragin' Cajuns rank nationally and lead the Sun Belt in home average attendance. In the latest national attendance rankings UL is 15th with an average home attendance of 3,289.
The La.-Monroe Series (UL leads 61-45): Since moving to Division I in 1972, the Ragin' Cajuns are 33-14 vs. La.-Monroe. The teams have alternated season sweeps the past two seasons at Warhawk Field in Monroe. La.-Monroe swept in 2009 and the Cajuns returned the favor in 2010. This weekend's set is the second Sun Belt series at "The Tigue" between the two programs and La.-Monroe's first visit since 2008. The Cajuns are 7-5 in Sun Belt Conference play against the Warhawks and 18-11 vs. La.-Monroe in the Robichaux Era. Later in the season, the two teams close out SBC play with a three-game series May 19-21 in Monroe (new this year is facing geographical rival twice in SBC play).
Back-and-Forth Series of Late: Since becoming Sun Belt foes in 2007, the Cajuns and Warhawks have traded win streaks. The Cajuns won the first four meetings (swept '07, claimed '08 opener), then La.-Monroe captured the next five meetings. UL carries a three-game win streak into this weekend's series.
Quick Reset: UL opened the current four game homestand on Tuesday with a 12-3 win over Alcorn State. The win snapped a four game losing streak for the Cajuns. Mike Petello's RBI single in the fifth inning broke a 3-all tie and began a string of nine unanswered runs. UL clubbed a season-high nine extra base hits and 17 total hits.
A Different Foe: For the first time since 2007, UL opens Sun Belt play against a team not named Arkansas State. UL and ASU opened SBC play the previous three seasons.
Tough as Nails: In 63 innings of work this season the Cajuns bullpen has allowed just 12 runs and 46 hits. The pen's ERA is 1.71 and WHIP is 0.95.
Not Giving In: The bullpen did not allow a run in 13 1/3 innings of work last week.
Triumphant Return: Senior Joey Satriano made his return to the bullpen last weekend and looked better than ever. Satriano tossed three innings of scoreless, one-hit relief against UC Santa Barbara. He finished with four strikeouts.
Pitching is the Name of the Game: Cajuns pitching has held the opponent below five runs 12 times in 16 games.
It's a Sin to Steal on Him: Opponents are having a hard time sneaking a stolen base on Chris Sinclair. Opponents are 2-for-8 in stolen base attempts on the Cajuns catcher. It took six attempts before an opponent was successful.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
