Cajuns Face Northwestern State in Season's First Midweek Game

Contact: Matt Hebert

Game Notes

THE MIDWEEK GAME
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013
Location: Lafayette, La.
Site: M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field (3,755)
Time: 6 p.m
Opponent: Northwestern State (3-0)
Radio: SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM (KPEL)
Internet Broadcast Link: ESPN1420.com
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com

PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
RHP Cord Cockrell (UL) vs. RHP Zach Krebs (NSU)

PLAY BALL
The Ragin' Cajuns take in their first midweek game of the 2013 season on Wednesday, Feb. 20 hosting Northwestern State at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. in a contest that serves as the fifth (5th) game of a season-opening, 14-game homestand.

QUICK RESET
The Cajuns began their 42nd season as a Division I program (moved to DI in 1972) and the 19th season of the Tony Robichaux era last weekend (Feb. 15-17) by taking three-of-four meetings from Central Michigan. A seven-spot in the sixth inning helped the Cajuns put away the Chippewas in a 12-6 triumph in the opener. UL gave Cody Boutte a three-run lead after two innings in Saturday's twinbill opener, then strong pitching from Nick Zaunbrecher and Matt Hicks finished off the 5-3 win. In Saturday's nightcap, Ryan Leonards' walk-off single capped off a four-run rally by the Cajuns in the ninth inning after CMU had scored three in the top of the inning for a 4-1 advantage. On Sunday, CMU took advantage of a Cajuns error in the first inning and plated five runs (four unearned), then starter Rick Dodridge limited UL to one run and scattered six hits over his six innings of work.

ROBICHAUX NEARING NO. 900
Head coach Tony Robichaux is three (3) wins shy of 900 career wins (presently 897-617-1 in his 27th season as a Division I head coach).

THE NSU SERIES (Louisiana leads 77-48)
For the 11th straight season the Ragin' Cajuns and Demons meet for a home-and-home, midweek series. After a three-year hiatus from 2000-02, the UL has won 16 of the 25 meetings held since the series resumed in 2003. Louisiana holds a 22-16 edge in the Robichaux Era. UL has won nine of the past 13 meetings dating back to 2007. Louisiana is 16-6 vs. the Demons at “The Tigue” in the Robichaux Era and has won the past seven meetings held at the facility.

BACK IN ACTION
Opening night starter Chase Traffica pitched against outside competition for the first time since a relief appearance against FIU on May 28, 2011 in the Sun Belt Tournament held in Monroe. Traffica missed all of 2012 with Tommy John surgery. The opening night contest also saw the return of catcher Michael Strentz who missed all but seven games in 2012 with Tommy John surgery

PLENTY OF OPTIONS
A total of 16 Cajuns made at least one plate appearance in the CMU series.

BACK TO HIS OLD TRICKS
Jace Conrad played error free at second base through 17 chances (4 putouts, 13 assists) in the CMU series. The Lafayette native also reached base all games in the series.

A STEADY HAND
Freshman Blake Trahan took over at shortstop and started the first three games of the opening weekend. He fielded all 13 chances (6 PO, 7 A) without committing an error.Having the day off on Sunday, Trahan was able to finish the season-opening weekend with a three-game hitting streak.

HOMESTAND TIDBITS
The season-opening 14-game homestand is the longest homestand for the Cajuns since the 1994 season began with a 13-game homestand (Feb. 18-March 6, 1994). The school record for longest homestand is 29 games, set at the start of the 1989 season.

COACHES SHUFFLE PLACES
With the promotion of Anthony Babineaux to associate head coach, he moves into the dugout to serve as Tony Robichaux's bench coach. Full-time assistant coach Matt Deggs, in charge of the offense, moves into the third base box (coached first base in 2012). And, newly hired volunteer assistant Lance Harvell will coach at first base.

NEW FACES, NEW BEGINNINGS
The Cajuns roster is filled with several newcomers as the team attempts to create a new “identity” to put last season behind them. In all, the team's official roster – which is made up of 32 players – features 17 new players.

PLENTY EXPERIENCE TO DRAW UPON
UL's top four hitters from 2012 return – Chase Compton (64 hits), Jace Conrad (57 hits), Ryan Leonards (54 hits) and Dylan Butler (50 hits).

PROVEN RESULTS
This is UL's first full season under Matt Deggs' hitting system. Deggs enjoyed paramount success at Texas A&M, with his offense producing 299 home runs and over 2,700 hits while driving in over 1,600 runs the final four years (2007-10). Deggs utilizes an aggressive offensive attack that he describes as a “Pack Mentality” approach that helped Texas A&M capture back to back Big 12 Titles in 2007 and 2008.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Cajuns Face Northwestern State in Season's First Midweek Game

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