Baseball Kicks Off 2012 Campaign in San Marcos

Game Notes | CenturyLink Bobcat Invitational Home Page

CENTURYLINK BOBCAT INVITATIONAL
Dates: Friday-Sunday, Feb. 17-19
Location: San Marcos, Texas
Site: Bobcat Ballpark (2,000)
Times: 6:00 p.m. (Fri) | 6:00 p.m. (Sat) | 3:00 p.m. (Sun)
Opponents: Friday: Wichita State | Saturday: Santa Clara | Sunday: Texas State
Radio: Sports Radio ESPN 1420 AM (Friday only) & News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM (Saturday and Sunday)
Live Stats/Video: www.txstatebobcats.com
Internet Broadcast: ESPN 1420-AM and 96.5 KPEL-FM

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday vs. Wichita State: RHP Joe Zimmermann (UL) vs. LHP Josh Smith (WSU)
Saturday vs. Santa Clara: RHP Jordan Nicholson (UL) vs. RHP Brock Simon (SC)
Sunday vs. Texas State: LHP Chris Griffitt (UL) vs. RHP Kyle Finnegan (TSU)

Raise the Curtain: Louisiana opens the 2012 baseball season Friday-Sunday, Feb. 17-19 taking part in the CenturyLink Bobcat Invitational at Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos, Texas. This is the 41^st season for UL as a Division I program and the 18^th season of the Tony Robichaux Era.

Lone Star Travelers: This weekend's trip marks the first of two tournaments in the state of Texas. The weekend of March 2-4, the Cajuns take part in the UTSA Classic in San Antonio.

Remember Me?: Louisiana makes its first appearance at Bobcat Ballpark since the 2004 squad met Texas State in a three-game series Feb. 20-22, 2004. TSU took 2-of-3 from UL that weekend.

Cajuns in Openers: Since 1972, Louisiana is 27-13 in season openers and has won 12 of its last 14 season openers. Under Tony Robichaux, the Ragin' Cajuns are 13-4 in season openers.

Everybody Have Their Name Tag?: The Cajuns welcome 14 newcomers (8 freshmen, 6 JUCOs) to the 2012 squad. Louisiana lost 13 seniors plus junior center fielder Alex Fuselier off last season's third-place Sun Belt finish.

Brand New Lineup Card: Expect plenty of new faces in the batting order. Only three season-ending starters (Jordan Bourque, Chase Compton, Michael Strentz) remain from the 2011 squad.

Robichaux Among Baseball's Elite: UL head coach Tony Robichaux enters the 2012 season in the Top 25 amongst winningest active Division I baseball coaches. Robichaux's 871 career victories stands 22^nd on the list.

Robe Nearing Another Milestone: Head coach Tony Robichaux enters 2012 needing 29 wins to reach 900 career wins. His career record coming into the 2012 season is 871-586-1.

Searching for Better Results: In their last round robin tournament appearance the Cajuns came away winless in the Cal Baseball Classic held at AT&T Park last March 11-13 in San Francisco.

Like Father, Like Son Part 2: The 2012 roster features Austin Robichaux, the youngest of head coach Tony Robichaux's three children. Austin is the second of coach Robichaux's children to play at UL as his older brother Justin wore the Cajuns uniform from 2007-10.

Series History vs. the Field: Louisiana faces both Wichita State and Texas State for the first time since 2005. The Cajuns and Santa Clara meet for the first time ever on the diamond. Wichita State leads the series 9-3, while Louisiana holds an 8-4 series edge over Texas State.

Last Time We Met: UL and Wichita State last met on March 1, 2005 in the Hawaii Rainbow Classic with the Cajuns pounding out 22 hits in a 19-3 triumph. UL and Texas State last met on Feb. 27, 2005 in the finale of the Mardi Gras Baseball Classic at “The Tigue” (Cajuns won 10-1).

Pitching Prowess: UL pitching has led the Sun Belt in ERA in nine of the last 12 seasons (2000-11). Louisiana held the opposition to five runs or less 39 times in 58 games (27-12 record) during the 2011 campaign

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Baseball Kicks Off 2012 Campaign in San Marcos

Next Event

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics