Louisiana Baseball Opens Sun Belt Play at Troy

GAMES 17-19 PREVIEW
LOUISIANA (9-7) at TROY (11-5)

DATES/TIMES
Friday – March 18, 2022 / 6 p.m.
Saturday – March 19, 2022 / 3 p.m.
Sunday – March 20, 2022 / 1 p.m.

LOCATION/SITE
Riddle-Pace Field (2,000) / Troy, Ala.

RANKINGS
Louisiana – Unranked
Troy – Unranked

LIVE RADIO/TV
Radio – KPEL-FM (96.5)
Video Streaming – ESPN+
Live Stats – CajunStats.com

ROTATION
Friday
Louisiana – RH Tommy Ray (1-1, 6.32 ERA)
Troy – RH Garrett Gainous (2-1, 3.66 ERA)

Saturday
Louisiana – LH Brandon Talley (0-1, 3.71 ERA)
Troy – RH Brady Fuller (2-1, 4.24 ERA)

Sunday
Louisiana – RH Jeff Wilson (1-0, 2.95 ERA)
Troy – RH Bay Witcher (1-1, 8.10 ERA)

Series Record: Louisiana leads, 36-21

TROY, Ala. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team officially opens its Sun Belt Conference schedule on Friday when it visits Troy for a three-game series at Riddle-Pace Field.

First pitch for Friday's opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. The series resumes on Saturday with a 3 p.m. start before Sunday's finale at 1. All three games are scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+ with fans able to listen in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and RaginCajuns.com.

Louisiana (9-7) opened its five-game roadtrip with a wild, 10-8 win at McNeese on Wednesday as the Ragin' Cajuns collected 17 hits for the second consecutive game. Will Veillon, Heath Hood and Julian Brock had three hits apiece while Louisiana used a pair of four-run innings to win its second straight game.

Carson Roccaforte (.382-3-22) leads Louisiana at the plate with Hood (.341-2-10) and Connor Kimple (.314-4-16) posting averages above .300 at the plate. Freshman Kyle DeBarge (.290-0-8), who drove in the eventual game-winner for Louisiana in Wednesday's contest, has reached base safely in his last 11 games.

Louisiana will send right-hander Tommy Ray (1-1, 6.32 ERA) to the mound in Friday's opener with Troy (11-5) countering with right-hander Garrett Gainous (2-1, 3.66 ERA). Left-hander Brandon Talley will earn the start for Louisiana in Saturday's contest with Troy sending freshman right-hander Brady Fuller Brady Fuller (2-1, 4.24 ERA) to the mound.

Jeff Wilson (1-0, 2.95 ERA) will earn the start in Sunday's finale for the Ragin' Cajuns while Troy will start right-hander Bay Witcher (1-1, 8.10 ERA).

Jesse Hall (.333-0-13) and Easton Kirk (.317-2-10) lead a balanced Troy offense which averages .275 at the plate. Donovan Whibbs (.283-1-11) and Caleb Bartolero (.275-0-6) are next in hitting for the Trojans, who have won their last five games including a three-game sweep last weekend against Big 10 member Indiana.

Louisiana leads the all-time series, 36-21, and is 14-9 overall in games played in Troy. The Trojans took two of three games in the last series in Troy in 2019 while all three games in last season's series at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park were each decided by one run.

Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.

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

Louisiana Baseball Opens Sun Belt Play at Troy

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Players Mentioned

Julian Brock

Kyle DeBarge

Heath Hood

Connor Kimple

Tommy Ray

Carson Roccaforte

Brandon Talley

Will Veillon

Jeff Wilson

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