University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Thursday, May 19
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

vs

Little Rock

Baseball Celebration

Louisiana Closes Out Regular Season Hosting Little Rock

5/18/2022 4:27:00 PM | Baseball

Final SBC series between the schools set for Thursday-Friday-Saturday schedule

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team closes out the regular season beginning on Thursday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park when it plays host to Little Rock in the final Sun Belt Conference series between the schools.
 
First pitch for Thursday's opener and Friday's contest is scheduled for 6 p.m. The series finale is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+ and can be heard in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5), the Varsity Network and the #GeauxCajuns app.
 
Louisiana (31-20, 17-10 SBC) looks to build momentum into next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Montgomery, Ala., as it faces Little Rock (23-24, 10-16 SBC) for the final time as a conference member. The Trojans, playing their 31st and final season in the SBC, will move to the Ohio Valley Conference beginning this summer.
 
Prior to Saturday's finale, Louisiana will honor its senior class – Jonathan Brandon, Austin Garrett, Connor Kimple, Austin Perrin, Jacob Schultz, Brandon Talley and Jeff Wilson. The Ragin' Cajuns will also honor their graduating members – pitcher Drew Shifflet and former Ragin' Cajuns great and 12-year MLB veteran Jonathan Lucroy.

Talley (3-3, 4.16 ERA) will take the mound in Thursday's opener for Louisiana with Schultz (3-3, 4.06 ERA) starting on Friday and Wilson (4-3, 4.21 ERA) earning the start in Saturday's Senior Day game.

Carson Roccaforte (.370-16-63), who had his 14-game hitting streak snapped in Tuesday's 6-1 win over Nicholls, enters the weekend as the team leader in average, home runs and RBI and looks to become Louisiana's first team Triple Crown winner since Steven Sensley (.314-11-46) in 2017. The sophomore looks to extend his consecutive streak of reaching base to 30 gamesa after drawing a pair of walks against the Colonels. Heath Hood (.329-4-29), Connor Kimple (.328-9-35), Julian Brock (.318-6-30) and Tyler Robertson (.315-2-25) are next in hitting for the Ragin' Cajuns.
 
Little Rock earned a 9-6 win at in-state rival Central Arkansas on Tuesday after dropping two of three games last weekend at home to Georgia Southern. The Trojans' win over UCA in Conway was its third in 16 road games this season and the first since taking two of three at Troy last month.
 
Canyon McWilliams (.382-10-48) and Noah Dickerson (.355-10-42) are Little Rock's top hitters with Tyler Williams (.302-4-26) leading the team with 19 stolen bases. Jordan Hussein (.321-0-22) is the fourth hitter for Little Rock averaging above .300 on the season with Nathan Lyons (.297-0-19) and Eldrige Figueroa (.278-1-16) following in the lineup.
 
The Trojans will send right-hander Hayden Arnold (4-6, 3.44 ERA) to the mound in Thursday's opener with Hoss Brewer (3-2, 6.10 ERA) slated to pitch on Friday with Saturday's starter to be determined.
 
GAMES 52-54 PREVIEW
Louisiana (31-20, 17-10 SBC) vs. Little Rock (23-24, 10-16 SBC)
 
DATES/TIMES
Thursday, May 19 – 6 p.m.
Friday, May 20 – 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 21 – 4 p.m.
 
LOCATION/SITE
M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park (6,015) | Lafayette, La.
 
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday
Louisiana – LH Brandon Talley (3-3, 4.16 ERA)
Little Rock – RH Hayden Arnold (4-6, 3.44 ERA)
 
Friday
Louisiana – RH Jacob Schultz (3-3, 4.06 ERA)
Little Rock – RH Hoss Brewer (3-2, 6.10 ERA)
 
Saturday
Louisiana – RH Jeff Wilson (4-3, 4.21 ERA)
Little Rock – TBA
 
RANKINGS
Louisiana – Unranked
Little Rock – Unranked
 
RADIO/TV/LIVE STATISTICS
Radio – KPEL-FM (96.5)
Streaming – ESPN+
Live Stats – CajunStats.com
 
SERIES RECORD
Louisiana leads, 61-24
 
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.
 

Players Mentioned

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