14th Ranked Cajuns Open 2014 Slate Against Eastern Illinois

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Contact: Jeff Schneider

LAFAYETTE, La. – After waiting 255 days, the 14th-ranked Ragin' Cajuns baseball team will return to action as Louisiana opens the season at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field on Friday at 6 p.m. in the first of four games against Eastern Illinois.

The Cajuns and Panthers are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon before closing out the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Junior Austin Robichaux is set to open the series for the Ragin' Cajuns and will be matched up with sophomore right-hander Jake Johansmeier. Newcomers Carson Baranik and Greg Milhorn will make their debuts on the mound Saturday for the Cajuns, while senior Cody Boutte will make the start on Sunday to close out the weekend.

Since 1972, Louisiana is 29-13 in season openers and has won 14 of its last 16 season openers. Under Tony Robichaux, the Ragin' Cajuns are 15-4 in season openers. Last season, Louisiana opened the year with a 12-6 win over Central Michigan at the "Tigue".

M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field enters is 37th year of service (1978-present) to the Cajuns baseball program. The Ragin' Cajuns all-time record in the facility stands at 795-311-2.

The Cajuns finished 43-20 a season ago and reached the championship game of the Baton Rouge Regional. The squad was picked the favorite to win the Sun Belt Conference this season and boasts both the Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year in Caleb Adams and the Preseason Pitcher of the Year in Austin Robichaux.

This is the second meeting between EIU and Louisiana. The previous meeting took place on March 20, 1976 with the Panthers claiming a 10-7 victory in New Orleans.

The Panthers return 20 letterwinners from a year ago, including six position starters and eight pitchers. The Panthers also return all four starting pitchers and bring back starting pitchers Troy Barton and Christian Slazinik who missed the entire 2013 season with injuries. Both players were members of the 2012 pitching staff that led the Ohio Valley Conference in earned run average.

There are still both season tickets and individual game tickets available for the series this weekend. Call (337) 265-2357 for more information.

Fans unable to be in attendance can follow the contest live on Ragin' Cajuns either through live stats or the live stream.

THE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Friday-Sunday, Feb. 14-16, 2014
Location: Lafayette, La.
Site: M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field (3,755)
Times: 6:00 p.m. (Fri) | Noon DH (Sat) | 1:00 p.m. (Sun)
Opponent: Eastern Illinois (22-27, 11-17 OVC in 2013)
Radio: News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
Television: None
Internet Broadcast Links: ESPN 1420-AM
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: RHP Austin Robichaux (UL) vs. RHP Jake Johansmeier (EIU)
Saturday G1: RHP Carson Baranik (UL) vs. RHP Matt Borens (EIU)
Saturday G2: RHP Greg Milhorn (UL) vs. LHP Christian Slazinik (EIU)
Sunday: LHP Cody Boutte (UL) vs. RHP Troy Barton (EIU)

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

14th Ranked Cajuns Open 2014 Slate Against Eastern Illinois

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