Louisiana and FIU to Settle Tie in SBC Standings in Miami

Contact: Matt Hebert

Game Notes (PDF)

THE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Friday-Sunday, April 26-28, 2013
Location: Miami, Fla.
Site: FIU Baseball Stadium (2,000)
Times: 5:00 p.m. CDT (Fri) | 3:00 p.m. CDT (Sat) | 9:00 a.m. CDT (Sun)
Opponent: FIU (22-17, 10-8 Sun Belt)
Radio: News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM (Friday and Sunday)
Internet Broadcast Link: 96.5 KPEL-FM and ESPN 1420-AM
Live Stats: www.RaginCajuns.com
Social Media: Twitter = @ULRaginCajuns, Facebook = facebook.com/ragincajunsathletics

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Austin Robichaux (UL) vs. LHP Tyler Alexander (FIU)
Saturday: LHP Ryan Wilson (UL) vs. RHP Mike Franco (FAU)
Sunday: LHP Cody Boutte (UL) vs. RHP Alex Seibold (FAU)

PLAY BALL
The Ragin' Cajuns baseball team and FIU Panthers are set to break a fifth-place tie in the Sun Belt standings when the teams meet in Miami for a three-game Sun Belt series Friday-Sunday, April 26-28 at FIU Baseball Stadium. It's a pivotal series for both clubs as one team will climb closer to the top of the SBC standings while the other will fall back and have to make up ground in the season's final three weekends.

WINNING THE WEEKEND
Louisiana has claimed the weekend series from the opposition in eight of the 10 series. With the FAU series win, UL has now won three straight series after dropping back-to-back sets to Middle Tennessee and WKU.

FINE TUNED HITTING MACHINE
As a team, the Cajuns have collected double digit hits in 10 of the last 15 games and 24 games overall. UL is hitting .333 and slugging .530 as a collective unit since April 1.

RISING TO THE TOP
The Cajuns have taken over the Sun Belt lead in overall batting average (.315) and conference-only average (.324).

THE TURNAROUND
After ranking near the bottom in most offensive categories in 2012, the Cajuns have climbed the ladder in 2013. After 10 weeks of play Louisiana ranked Top 3 in the Sun Belt Conference in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, RBI, doubles, triples, home runs and total bases.

TOP-TO-BOTTOM PRODUCTION
All but one of the Cajuns nine hitters in the starting lineup has contributed 20-plus RBI. Tyler Girouard is tops with 33 RBI and he's followed closely by Michael Strentz (30), Caleb Adams (28), Seth Harrison (26) and Dex Kjerstad (26).

BUTLER'S BOUNCE BACK
Dylan Butler finished 6-for-9 in the McNeese-SLU games combined upping his April batting average to .485 (16-of-33). The recent hot streak has helped him reclaim a spot in the starting lineup. Butler entered April with a .220 average.

CONRAD SHIFTS TO FIRST
Dylan Butler's re-insertion into the lineup has caused the Cajuns to adjust the lineup defensively to accommodate his hot bat. Jace Conrad has moved to first base and started there the past three games in place of Chase Compton.

THE FIU SERIES (FIU leads 26-24)
It's the fourth time in the past five seasons the Cajuns and Panthers meet in Miami. FIU has won the past five season series (2008-2012) winning 2-of-3 each time. UL's last series win came in 2007 in Miami. The Panthers have won 12 of the last 18 meeting resulting in their current 26-24 series lead. Series began when FIU joined the Sun Belt in 1999. This is the 10th series held at FIU Stadium. The Golden Panthers hold a 15-12 edge in their home park.

QUICK RESET
Louisiana completed season sweeps of McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana during midweek action. Home runs from Dex Kjerstad and Seth Harrison propelled UL to a seven-run sixth inning that erased an early deficit and led the squad to an 11-9 victory over McNeese on Tuesday in Lake Charles. Kjerstad gave Louisiana its first lead of the game with a grand slam that lifted the Cajuns into a 6-5 lead. On Wednesday, Michael Strentz posted a game-high four RBI, the final two coming off a tie-breaking home run in the seventh inning, leading the Ragin' Cajuns to a 6-3 victory over Southeastern Louisiana at “The Tigue”.

LAST WEKEEND
Louisiana took the series from league leader FAU at “The Tigue”. A leadoff home run by Dex Kjerstad gave the Cajuns a lead they never let go and seven strong innings from Austin Robichaux resulted in a 5-3 win for UL in the series opener. Matt Hicks collected the save to take over sole possession of the school career record. The Owls spoiled a save opportunity by Matt Hicks on Saturday with a two-run home run in the ninth inning that led to a 5-4 victory. Louisiana scored six runs in the first at bat on Sunday and never looked back in a 12-2 run-rule victory. Cody Boutte faced one over the minimum through four complete and didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning.

REDISCOVERING THE MAGIC
The Cajuns pitching staff ERA of 2.88 in the FAU series marked the staff's lowest weekend series ERA since a 2.00 ERA during the ULM series March 15-17.

A “PACK” OF HITTERS
Louisiana's starting lineup features all nine hitters with 20-plus hits, ranging from 29 to 58 hits, and eight with a season average above .300.

HICKS STANDS ALONE
Matt Hicks' save in the FAU series opener last Friday was his 13th career save breaking a three-way tie with Kraig Schambough (2002-05) and Justin Robichaux (2007-10) for the career mark. On Tuesday at McNeese he posted his 10th save of 2013, breaking a tie with Justin Robichaux – who set the mark with nine in 2008 – for the single-season record.

THIS 'N THAT

Louisiana ranks first in the Sun Belt Conference in average (.315), slugging percentage (.483) and home runs (43).
Seth Harrison homered in four straight games April 19-23. He homered each game of the FAU series.
Louisiana's earned run average in road games in 2013 is 5.49. That's nearly two full runs higher than the M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field earned run average of 3.53.
Austin Robichaux leads the Cajuns pitching staff with six quality starts. He has worked seven complete innings in five of his past six starts.
Ten (10) saves for Matt Hicks is a new school single-season record and ranks Top 20 nationally.
Dex Kjerstad tops the Cajuns with 18 multiple-hit games. The former Texas Longhorn has produced multiple-hits in 15 of the last 23 games.
Counting his two-year junior college stint (one season at both LSU-Shreveport and LSU-Eunice), Cody Boutte has recorded 22 career victories.
The Ragin' Cajuns sport a 25-4 record when producing five runs or more.
Louisiana ranked No. 29 in the official NCAA RPI rankings that were released on April 23 (second-highest in Sun Belt).
Entering Week 11 the Ragin' Cajuns were one of only 32 Division I schools (296 total) with a team batting average above .300. UL ranked 10th with a team average of .315.
Louisiana's 43 home runs eclipse the total of 18 hit during the 2012 season (53 games); it's the first season with 40-plus home runs since 2010 (45 in 60 games).
The Ragin' Cajuns hold a +79 run differential over the opposition outscoring foes 291-212. Louisiana owns 11 victories of six-plus runs.
Louisiana has cranked out 148 extra base hits which ranks second in the Sun Belt (Troy leads with 154.
Nearly half of Dylan Butler's hits have been for extra bases (15 of 29). He went 6-for-9 during midweek this week and has posted multiple hits five of the last seven games.
Seth Harrison leads the Cajuns with seven bunt singles. The Cypress, Texas, native has hit safely in 30 of 37 games.
Dex Kjerstad leads the Cajuns with 58 base hits. He's hitting .412 (42-of-102) since March 19.
Tyler Girouard's 33 RBI are a personal single-season best. The Lafayette native ranks Top 3 in the Sun Belt Conference in average (.391) and leads Louisiana with a .700 slugging percentage.
Blake Trahan ranks fourth in hits (44) during his rookie campaign. The Kinder, La., native is perfect in stolen bases (9-of-9).
Blake Trahan has collected 114 assists and committed just 10 errors in 185 chances. His batting average has been above .300 since Feb. 20.
Ryan Leonards has hit safely 17 of last 19 games. He ranks Top 5 in the SBC in average. The junior utility player is proficient in bunts with 7 sacrifices and 5 hits.
Ryan Leonards has seven games of three hits and his 23 RBI are a personal best.
Jace Conrad has only 7 strikeouts in 153 plate appearances and ranks Top 20 in the nation as toughest to strikeout. He has reached base 33 of 39 games and scored 28 runs (4th highest on team).
Over half of Michael Strentz's hits have gone for extra bases (21 of 40). The Lafayette native leads the team with 16 doubles. He's accrued 26 free bases (11 BB/15 HBP).

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Louisiana and FIU to Settle Tie in SBC Standings in Miami

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