University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Tulane
Cajuns Host Tulane, Visit Northwestern State in Midweek Action
3/19/2012 8:54:00 PM | Baseball
Contact: Matt Hebert
Game Notes
MIDWEEK #1
Date: Tuesday, March 20
Location: Lafayette, La.
Site: M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field
Time: 6 p.m
Opponent: Tulane (14-6)
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL)
Internet Audio Feed: ESPN 1420-AM
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com
STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Austin Robichaux (UL) vs. RHP Alex Byo (TULANE)
MIDWEEK #2
Date: Wednesday, March 21
Location: Natchitoches, La.
Site: Brown-Stroud Field (1,200)
Times: 6:30 p.m
Opponent: Northwestern State (7-12)
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL)
Internet Audio Feed: ESPN 1420-AM
Live Stats/Video: www.NSUDemons.com
STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Kendall Mayer (UL) vs. LHP Jamie Bittle (NSU)
What's On Tap: Louisiana opens a five-game week on Tuesday, March 20, hosting Tulane at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field with a 6 p.m. first pitch. It's the Green Wave's first visit to “The Tigue” since March 26, 2003 when a Ryan Core walk-off home run gave the Cajuns a 9-8 victory. On Wednesday, March 21, the Cajuns travel north on I-49 to meet Northwestern State in Natchitoches. The week wraps up with the Sun Belt Conference home opener against Arkansas State Friday-Sunday, March 23-25 at “The Tigue”.
Midweek Magic: The Ragin' Cajuns look to continue their win streak in midweek contests. Louisiana has won four straight midweek games since a loss at Southeastern Louisiana (Feb. 22).
Quick Reset: The Ragin' Cajuns opened Sun Belt play last weekend in Monroe and claimed 2-of-3 from the Warhawks. It marked the first series victory during the opening weekend of league play since 2007. Jordan Nicholson's four-hit, complete game shutout was the highlight on Friday. UL won an extra innings contest on Saturday when back-to-back squeeze bunts in the 10th inning broke a 3-all tie. On Sunday, La.-Monroe erased an early 3-0 Cajuns lead with a five-run second inning and held on as the Cajuns couldn't get the timely hit to fall, despite a season-high 15 hits in a 7-5 defeat.
Run Producing Machine: True freshman Dylan Butler continued his rapid pace of driving in runs for the Ragin' Cajuns, posting at least one RBI in each game last week. The freshman right fielder has now posted at least one RBI in nine of the last 10 games, upping his season total to a team-high 25 RBI which ranks third in the Sun Belt.
Nicholson Honored: Senior pitcher Jordan Nicholson who threw a complete game, four-hit shutout in the Ragin' Cajuns baseball team's Sun Belt Conference opener at La.-Monroe last Friday was named the league's Pitcher of the Week on Monday. Nicholson began the game with 10 consecutive batters retired and finished off his masterpiece by retiring the final 10 batters he faced. Nicholson became the first Cajuns pitcher to toss a nine-inning, complete game shutout in conference play since Zach Osborne fired a one-hit shutout at Troy on April 9, 2010 at “The Tigue”.
Special Company: Dylan Butler is one of only three players in the Sun Belt Conference averaging over one RBI per game (1.25 per game). UALR's Sean Bignall (1.67 RBI per game) and Troy's Boone Shear (1.44 RBI per game) are the other two players.
The Tulane Series (UL Leads 43-40): The Cajuns hold a 43-40 lead, overall. Tulane leads 14-12 in the Tony Robichaux era. Tulane has had the most recent success, claiming five of the last seven meetings. First meeting at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field since March 26, 2003. Louisiana is 7-3 at “The Tigue” vs. Tulane under Robichaux.
The NSU Series (UL Leads 43-40): For the 10thstraight season the Ragin' Cajuns and Demons meet for a home-and-home, mid-week series. After a three-year hiatus from 2000-02, the Ragin' Cajuns have won 15 of the 24 meetings held since the series resumed in 2003. Louisiana holds a 21-16 edge in the Robichaux Era. UL has won eight of the past 12 meetings dating back to 2007. UL is 6-9 at Brown-Stroud Field under Tony Robichaux.
Prime Time Performers: Night and day games have provided a stark contrast for the Ragin' Cajuns – UL is 9-1 in night games and only 3-7 in day games.
Moving to Midweek: The return of Joe Zimmermann shifts freshman pitcher Austin Robichaux's start to the midweek. Robichaux makes his midweek debut this week against Tulane.
The Countdown Continues: Head coach Tony Robichaux is now 17 wins shy of 900 career wins (presently 883-594-1 in his 26th season as a Division I head coach).
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
