Cajuns Return To Sun Belt Play, Host South Alabama

THE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Friday-Sunday, March 31-April 2, 2017
Location: Lafayette, La.
Site: M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park (4,650)
Times: 6:00 p.m. (Fri) | 6:00 p.m. (Sat) | 1:00 p.m. (Sun)
Opponent: South Alabama (15-10, 5-1 Sun Belt)
Radio: News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM
Television: None
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com

STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: LHP Gunner Leger (LA) vs. RHP Randy Bell (USA)
Saturday: RHP Nick Lee (LA) vs. LHP Thomas Huston (USA)
Sunday: LHP Hogan Harris (LA) vs. RHP Tyler Carr (USA)

LAFAYETTE, La. – The 21st-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team returns to Sun Belt Conference play this weekend as the squad hosts South Alabama in a three-game series at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park starting Friday at 6 p.m.

Game two of the series is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, while the series finale will get underway at 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three games of the series can be heard on News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM with Jay Walker on the call. Fans can also watch the free live stream of each game on RaginCajuns.com with Dan McDonald calling the action.

The Ragin' Cajuns (14-11, 4-2 Sun Belt) are coming off of a 1-2 week in the midweek after dropping a pair of contest at Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday. Louisiana has won five straight weekend series this year and 14 straight overall including 10 in league play dating back to the 2016 season.

Junior left-hander Gunner Leger (4-1, 1.23 ERA) will look to bounce back from a tough outing at Troy a week ago in the series opener on Friday. Leger leads the team with four quality starts on the year and has allowed just one run on seven hits in three outings at Russo Park this year.

Sophomore right-hander Nick Lee (4-2, 4.40 ERA) is slated to make the start on Saturday, while left-hander Hogan Harris (2-0, 0.84 ERA) will take the bump for the Cajuns on Sunday. Harris has notched a victory in two of his last three starts and has allowed just two earned runs in 21.1 innings with 30 strikeouts.

South Alabama (15-10, 5-1 Sun Belt) will start senior right-hander Randy Bell (1-2, 3.00 ERA) on Friday. Bell tossed seven shutout innings a week ago against Georgia State in a 7-0 victory.

Senior left-hander Thomas Huston (2-1, 2.78 ERA) has been tabbed to make the start Saturday for the Jags, while junior right-hander Tyler Carr (2-0, 3.91 ERA) will close out the series on the mound for South Alabama.

Offensively, Louisiana is hitting .262 led by freshman Todd Lott with a .314 average and 10 RBI. Junior Steven Sensley had a 19-game on base streak come to an end at Southeastern La. on Wednesday. Sensley has raised his average to .306 on the year with four doubles, a triple, two homers and 12 RBI.

The Ragin' Cajuns trail South Alabama 61-45 in the all-time series despite having won ten of the last 13 meetings. Louisiana won two of three from USA a year ago in Mobile, Ala. bouncing back from a 3-2 loss in the series opener to win 5-4 in 11 innings and then 6-3 in the rubber match to claim the series.

The Cajuns hold a 42-40 edge in the series against the Jaguars since head coach Tony Robichaux took the helm in 1995 including a 22-18 mark at home. Louisiana has won four of the last six meetings in Lafayette, La. against South Alabama.

The Jaguars had a six-game win streak snapped on Tuesday falling 4-2 at No. 23 Southern Miss. South Alabama has won five straight games in league play after sweeping Georgia State last weekend at home. The East Division leaders outscored the Panthers 42-15 in the series.

South Alabama leads the Sun Belt (.300) in both hitting and fielding (.980). The Jags are averaging 8.6 runs per game and have 44 doubles, three triples and 25 home runs on the year.

Sophomore Travis Swaggerty paces South Alabama offensively with a league-best .410 average through 25 games. Swaggerty has been named SBC Player of the Week twice already this season and has driven in 27 runs on five doubles, a triple and four home runs.

For the latest updates on Cajuns baseball, follow Ragin' Cajuns baseball on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.

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Cajuns Return To Sun Belt Play, Host South Alabama

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Players Mentioned

Hogan Harris

Nick Lee

Gunner Leger

Todd Lott

Steven Sensley

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