First Trip to Murfreesboro Since 2008 Marks Final Road Series

Contact: Matt Hebert

Game Notes | UL Season Stats | MT Season Stats | Sun Belt Standings

THE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Friday-Sunday, May 11-13, 2012
Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Site: Reese-Smith, Jr. Field (2,100)
Times: 6:00 p.m. (Fri) | 4:00 p.m. (Sat) | 1:00 p.m. (Sun)
Opponent: Middle Tennessee (26-23, 12-12 Sun Belt)
Radio: Sports Radio ESPN 1420 AM (Sunday) & News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Television: None
Internet Broadcast Links: ESPN 1420-AM and 96.5 KPEL-FM
Live Stats/Video: www.GoBlueRaiders.com

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Jordan Nicholson (UL) vs. LHP Jordan Cooper (MT)
Saturday: LHP Chris Griffitt (UL) vs. LHP Johnathan Frebis (MT)
Sunday: RHP Austin Robichaux (UL) vs. RHP Hunter Adkins (MT)

Hello Stranger: For the first time since the 2008 season, the Ragin' Cajuns baseball team visits Reese-Smith, Jr. Field in Murfreesboro, Tenn., for a Sun Belt series with Middle Tennessee. The Cajuns and Blue Raiders square off Friday-Sunday, May 11-13 in a series which might determine the Cajuns' Sun Belt Tournament fate.

The Upper Hand: Dating back to their last visit to Murfreesboro, the Ragin' Cajuns have won 10 of the last 11 regular season meetings with the Blue Raiders.

Where They Stand: Louisiana enters the weekend sitting in last place in the Sun Belt standings. However, the Cajuns are only three games behind Middle Tennessee for fifth place. The Cajuns can ill-afford a sweep at the hands of the Blue Raiders and likely need a series win to set themselves up for a shot at a Sun Belt Tournament berth.

Final Road Series: The MT series marks the final weekend away from M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. Louisiana returns to “The Tigue” next week to wrap up the regular season with La.-Monroe Thursday-Saturday, May 17-19.

Time to End This Streak: UL is in search of its first series victory since Easter Weekend (April 6-8) vs. Western Kentucky. The Cajuns have lost four consecutive series (FIU, South Alabama, UALR, Troy).

The Middle Tennessee Series (UL Leads 32-26): The Cajuns hold a 23-10 advantage in Sun Belt regular season play; MT holds a 10-2 edge in the SBC Tourney. The Cajuns have won nine of the 11 SBC series contested. UL is 25-20 vs. MT in the Tony Robichaux era. The Cajuns and Blue Raiders are meeting in a weekend series at Reese-Smith Field for the sixth time, overall, and first time since 2008 (UL is 10-5 at Reese-Smith in SBC regular season play). The series was revived when MT joined the Sun Belt in 2001. Series began in March 1975 and the teams met sporadically through 1983.

It's Austin's Turn: Freshman Austin Robichaux made his first career Sun Belt start last weekend vs. Troy scattering five hits over 4 2/3 innings giving the Cajuns a chance to win. His father, head coach Tony Robichaux, has decided to reward the youngster with a spot in the weekend rotation on Sunday. 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.

Jace is at it Again: From Feb. 25 through April 20, Lafayette native Jace Conrad fielded 135 consecutive chances flawlessly. Before committing an error in the series opener at South Alabama (Apr. 20), Conrad had played 31 consecutive games without an error. He's since then re-started the streak, now on a string of 10 straight games without an error (current string of consecutive chances fielded flawlessly is 56). Conrad's 127 assists rank Top 10 in the Sun Belt Conference (tied for ninth).

Freshman Phenom: Dylan Butler's RBI on Saturday vs. Troy was his 41st of the season which ties him with Les Smith (41 in 2009) for the most RBI by a Cajuns freshman since current Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy posted 48 in 2005.

Freshman Phenom, Part 2: Adding to his banner freshman campaign, Dylan Butler is a lock to become the first true freshman to lead the Ragin' Cajuns in RBI since the program moved to Division I status in 1972. His 41 RBI are well ahead of the next nearest tally of 22 (Chase Compton) with seven (7) regular season games remaining.

Putting on a Show: Despite the record (21-26), the Ragin' Cajuns have had some competitive contests this season. UL has played 17 one-run games (9-8 record). To go a step further, 27 of the 47 games have been decided by two-runs or less (14-13 mark).

The Countdown is On: Head coach Tony Robichaux is eight wins shy of 900 career wins (presently 892-612-1 in his 26th season as a Division I head coach). With an end of the season hot streak and Sun Belt Tournament appearance, he could reach the mark this season.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

First Trip to Murfreesboro Since 2008 Marks Final Road Series

Next Event

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics