Cajuns Visit Alex Box For Midweek Meeting With LSU

Contact: Matt Hebert

Game Notes

THE MIDWEEK GAME
Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Site: Alex Box Stadium (10,150)
Time: 6:30 p.m
Opponent: LSU (18-6)
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL)
Internet Broadcast Link: www.espn1420.com
Live Stats/Video: www.LSUSports.net

STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Austin Robichaux (UL) vs. RHP Joe Broussard (LSU)

Calling Baton Rouge: Louisiana makes the short trip down Interstate 10 on Wednesday, March 28 to face LSU at Alex Box Stadium. This will be the Cajuns' lone midweek game this week.

Road Trip: The LSU contest marks the first of four road games this week for the Ragin' Cajuns. Louisiana will be in Boca Raton, Fla., over the weekend to face current Sun Belt leader Florida Atlantic Friday-Sunday, March 30-April 1 in a three-game, Sun Belt series.

We Meet Again: The Ragin' Cajuns and Tigers square off at The New Alex Box Stadium for the fourth straight season. The teams have alternated victories each year since the facility opened (UL won 10-9 in 2009; LSU won 4-3 in 2010; UL won 11-5 in 2011).

Midweek Magic: Louisiana has won four straight midweek games since a loss at Southeastern Louisiana back on Feb. 22. The win streak began with a triumph over Alcorn State on Feb. 28 and continued with wins over Houston (March 6), McNeese State (March 7) and Southern (March 13).

Quick Reset: Louisiana hosted Arkansas State in the Sun Belt home opening series last weekend. A sterling relief effort by Jordan Harrison, which consisted of three innings of no-hit baseball, closed the door on ASU and Dylan Butler's three-run home run in the eighth inning highlighted a seven-run frame that catapulted UL to a 9-2 win in the opener. ASU won Saturday and Sunday to claim the series victory. A two-out triple in the sixth inning on Saturday by Michael Faulkner stretched the ASU lead to 5-2 and starting pitcher Daniel Wright retired the Cajuns in order in their half of the sixth to keep the momentum on the Red Wolves' side. On Sunday, Faulkner posted a bases-loaded single in the seventh to break a 5-5 tie. Then in the ninth inning he tallied another run-scoring single to give ASU a two-run edge which proved to be the winning tally as the Cajuns scratched for a run in the bottom of the ninth.

The LSU Series (LSU leads 46-23): This is the fifth straight season the two programs meet. After a 2002 meeting in the NCAA Regional at Baton Rouge, the teams did not meet for five years. LSU owns a 10-6 advantage in the Robichaux Era. Teams meet for just the fourth time at The New Alex Box Stadium. The Cajuns are 2-1 vs. LSU in The New Alex Box. UL and LSU met in NCAA Regional play in 1990, 1991, 1998 and 2002.

Nicholson Delivers Again: Jordan Nicholson turned in his fifth quality start (six innings, three earned runs or less) of the season on Friday vs. Arkansas State. The senior righty from Ruston, La., has pitched at least six complete innings in five of his six starts.

Run Producing Machine: True freshman Dylan Butler has posted at least one RBI in 11 of the last 13 games. He sports a team-high 29 RBI, which ranks third in the Sun Belt trailing only UALR's Sean Bignall (38) and Troy's Boone Shear (30).

Special Company: Dylan Butler is one of only six (6) players in the Sun Belt Conference averaging over one RBI per game (1.26 per game). At his present pace, the freshman from Belle Chasse, La., might challenge the Cajuns single-season RBI record of 75 set by Greg Blevins in 1990. Butler is currently on pace for 69 RBI by regular season's end, which would be good enough for Top 5 in school history.

Bowman Bagging Bases: Brian Bowman needs two (2) stolen bases to tie his personal, single-season best of 17 set in 2010. Bowman ranks second in the Sun Belt with 15 swipes in 16 attempts. He trails league leader Michael Faulkner (19) by four stolen bases.

Pitching Prowess: Louisiana pitching has held the opposition to single digits in runs in 22 of 23 games.

Prime Time Performers: Night and day games have provided a stark contrast for the Ragin' Cajuns – UL is 10-1 in night games and only 3-9 in day games.

The Countdown Continues: Head coach Tony Robichaux is 16 wins shy of 900 career wins (presently 884-596-1 in his 26th season as a Division I head coach).

Sinclair's Golden Arm: Chris Sinclair has caught nearly as many baserunners (9) attempting to steal as have been successful (14).

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Cajuns Visit Alex Box For Midweek Meeting With LSU

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