Play Ball! Louisiana Opens 2023 Season at Rice

HOUSTON – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team opens its 110^th season of intercollegiate baseball on Friday when it opens a three-game series against Conference USA member Rice at Reckling Park.

First pitch for Friday's opener is set for 6:30 p.m. with the teams resuming the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1. All three games will be streamed live on CUSA.tv and can be heard in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.

Louisiana, the defending Sun Belt Conference Tournament champions, finished 37-23 after reaching the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2016. The Ragin' Cajuns return six position starters from the 2022 squad, led by Preseason All-SBC selections Carson Roccaforte (.374-16-68) and Julian Brock (.303-7-35).

Rice (17-39), under second-year coach Jose Cruz, Jr., was picked to finish eighth in the CUSA Preseason Poll and will host Louisiana in a three-game series for the first time since the 1993 season.

GAMES 1-3 PREVIEW
Louisiana (37-23 in 2022) at Rice (17-39 in 2022)

DATES/TIMES (time is subject to change)
February 17 – 6:30 p.m.
February 18 – 2 p.m.
February 19 – 1 p.m.

LOCATION/SITE
Reckling Park (6,193) | Houston, Texas

PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – 6:30 p.m.
LOUISIANA | RH Jake Hammond (6-3, 230, Sr., Monroe, La.)
'22 Stats: 3-1, 3.77 ERA, 1 Sv., 31.0 IP, 19 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 16 BB, 36 K, .183 OppBA

RICE | RH Parker Smith (6-4, 230, So., Houston, Texas)
'22 Stats: 2-3, 4.19 ERA, 43.0 IP, 49 H, 32 R, 20 ER, 12 BB, 23 K, .292 OppBA

SATURDAY - 2 p.m.
LOUISIANA | RH Blake McGehee (5-11, 190, r-Fr., Tioga, La.)
'22 Stats: Redshirt season at Ole Miss

RICE | TBA

SUNDAY - 1 p.m.
LOUISIANA | RH Jackson Nezuh (6-1, 180, Jr., St. Cloud, Fla.)
'22 Stats (at Florida State): 1-0, 8.22 ERA, 15.1 IP, 18 H, 18 R, 15 ER, 12 BB, 15 K

RICE | TBA

RANKINGS
Louisiana – Receiving Votes (NCBWA, Collegiate Baseball)
Rice – Receiving Votes (USA Today Coaches Poll)

RADIO/TV/LIVE STATISTICS
Radio – KPEL-FM (96.5)
Talent – Dan McDonald (pxp), Anthony Babineaux (analyst)

Video Streaming – CUSA.tv
Talent – J.P. Heath (pxp)

Live Stats – CajunStats.com

SERIES RECORD
Overall : Rice leads, 17-15
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 5-2
In Houston: Rice leads, 11-5
Neutral Sites: Louisiana leads, 5-4
Last 10: Louisiana, 9-1

Single-game tickets are available by visiting the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome or purchasing by visiting Account Manager. For more information call the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome at (337) 265-2104.

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.

Play Ball! Louisiana Opens 2023 Season at Rice

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Players Mentioned

Julian Brock

Jake Hammond

Blake McGehee

Jackson Nezuh

Carson Roccaforte

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