University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Friday, March 31
Lafayette, La.
6 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Appalachian State
Ragin' Cajuns Host Mountaineers For Louisiana Salutes
3/30/2023 2:51:00 PM | Baseball
LAFAYETTE – The Sun Belt Conference co-leading Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team returns home for a three-game series beginning on Friday when it plays host to Appalachian State at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.
The series will start on Friday with a 6 p.m. contest before resuming on Saturday at 4 p.m., with Sunday's finale scheduled for 1 p.m.
All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans in the Lafayette area can listen to all three games on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app. Live stats will be available at CajunStats.com.
The weekend is recognized as Louisiana Salutes, which honors all active military personnel and veterans, during the three-game. All active military and veterans can purchase discounted tickets to each of the games. Game times are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
For the App State series, buy discounted tickets for military members located in the first and third-base bleacher sections for $6 at www.ragincajuns.com/lasalutes or at the Cajundome Box Office.
All students who show one "A" on their report card can purchase tickets for $6 to Friday's game. Rally towels, courtesy of Louisiana 811, will be available during Saturday's contest.
Sunday's finale features the traditional Family Day with kids able to stand with the Ragin' Cajuns in front of the third base dugout during the National Anthem, and Run the Bases during post-game.
Pictures with the Easter Bunny and a Postgame Easter Egg Hunt will also be available to kids for Sunday's game.
Louisiana (18-7, 5-1 Sun Belt), which has won 12 of its last 15 games, claimed a three-game series last weekend at South Alabama after earning a doubleheader sweep. The Ragin' Cajuns won the opening game 22-5 before claiming the nightcap, 10-6.
Three players – Heath Hood, Julian Brock and Kyle DeBarge – are eclipsing the .350 mark at the plate for Louisiana with Hood (.402-2-21) leading the team in hits (37) and stolen bases (19). Brock, who was named the SBC Player of the Week on Monday, is hitting .377 on the season with team-highs in both home runs (7) and RBI (34). DeBarge, second on the team in home runs (4), is next in hitting at .352 with 20 RBI and a team-high 28 runs scored.
Ben Robichaux (.333-0-0), Carson Roccaforte (.311-1-20), CJ Willis (.302-0-10) and John Taylor (.286-2-15) are next in hitting for the Ragin' Cajuns, who are fourth nationally in both stolen bases per game (3.32) and stolen bases (83).
Louisiana will send right-hander Jake Hammond (2-1, 3.41 ERA) to the mound in Friday's opener with App State (13-10, 4-2 Sun Belt) countering with right-hander Xander Hamilton (4-1, 4.81). Jackson Nezuh (4-0, 7.71 ERA) will earn the start on Saturday for the Ragin' Cajuns with right-hander Bradley Wilson (1-2, 10.38 ERA) slated to start for the Mountaineers.
Starters for both teams in Sunday's finale are to be determined.
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.
GAMES 26-28 PREVIEW
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (18-7, 5-1 Sun Belt) vs. App State Mountaineers (13-10, 4-2 Sun Belt)
DATE/TIMES (dates and times are subject to change)
Friday, March 31 – 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 1 – 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 2 – 1 p.m.
LOCATION/SITE
M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park (6,015) | Lafayette, La.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
• Louisiana Salutes (all weekend)
• Bring Your "A" Game (Friday)
• Rally Towels, presented by Louisiana 811 (Saturday)
• Family Day (Sunday) – includes Anthem Buddies, Run the Bases Postgame, Pictures with the Easter Bunny, Postgame Easter Egg Hunt
PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – 6 p.m.
LOUISIANA | RH Jake Hammond (6-4, 230, Sr., Monroe, La.)
'23 Stats: 2-1, 3.41 ERA, 31.2 IP, 30 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 11 BB, 35 K, .254 OppBA
APP STATE | RH Xander Hamilton (6-3, 223, Jr., Raleigh, N.C.)
'23 Stats: 4-1, 4.81 ERA, 33.2 IP, 33 H, 18 R, 18 ER, 16 BB, 44 K, .256 OppBA
SATURDAY – 4 p.m.
LOUISIANA | RH Jackson Nezuh (6-1, 180, Jr., St. Cloud, Fla.)
'23 Stats: 4-0, 7.71 ERA, 30.1 IP, 34 H, 26 R, 26 ER, 10 BB, 37 K, .281 OppBA
APP STATE | RH Bradley Wilson (6-4, 197, r-So., Lillington, N.C.)
'23 Stats: 1-2, 10.38 ERA, 21.2 IP, 32 H, 30 R, 25 ER, 16 BB, 20 K, .348 OppBA
SUNDAY – 1 p.m.
LOUISIANA | TBA
APP STATE | TBA
RANKINGS
Louisiana – Receiving Votes (NCBWA)
App State – Not ranked
RADIO/TV/LIVE STATISTICS
RADIO (Pregame Show starts 30 minutes prior to first pitch)
Station – KPEL-FM (96.5)/The Varsity Network App
Talent – Jay Walker (pxp); Brad Topham (color)
STREAMING (ESPN+)
Talent – Dan McDonald (pxp); Brennan Breaux (color – Friday); Scott Brazda (color – Saturday); Eric Mouton (color – Sunday)
LIVE STATS
CajunStats.com
SERIES RECORD
Overall: Louisiana leads, 13-7
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 5-4
In Boone: Louisiana leads, 6-3
Neutral Sites: Louisiana leads, 2-0
Last 10: Louisiana, 7-3
Streak: App State +1
WHAT'S ON DECK
After facing App State in its third SBC series of the season, Louisiana will host in-state opponent Tulane in a midweek contest on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Louisiana will resume SBC play with a Thursday-Saturday series (April 6-8) against Marshall at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, W.Va. Game times are set for 6 p.m. ET (Thursday-Friday) and 1 p.m. ET (Saturday).
The series will start on Friday with a 6 p.m. contest before resuming on Saturday at 4 p.m., with Sunday's finale scheduled for 1 p.m.
All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans in the Lafayette area can listen to all three games on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app. Live stats will be available at CajunStats.com.
The weekend is recognized as Louisiana Salutes, which honors all active military personnel and veterans, during the three-game. All active military and veterans can purchase discounted tickets to each of the games. Game times are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
For the App State series, buy discounted tickets for military members located in the first and third-base bleacher sections for $6 at www.ragincajuns.com/lasalutes or at the Cajundome Box Office.
All students who show one "A" on their report card can purchase tickets for $6 to Friday's game. Rally towels, courtesy of Louisiana 811, will be available during Saturday's contest.
Sunday's finale features the traditional Family Day with kids able to stand with the Ragin' Cajuns in front of the third base dugout during the National Anthem, and Run the Bases during post-game.
Pictures with the Easter Bunny and a Postgame Easter Egg Hunt will also be available to kids for Sunday's game.
Louisiana (18-7, 5-1 Sun Belt), which has won 12 of its last 15 games, claimed a three-game series last weekend at South Alabama after earning a doubleheader sweep. The Ragin' Cajuns won the opening game 22-5 before claiming the nightcap, 10-6.
Three players – Heath Hood, Julian Brock and Kyle DeBarge – are eclipsing the .350 mark at the plate for Louisiana with Hood (.402-2-21) leading the team in hits (37) and stolen bases (19). Brock, who was named the SBC Player of the Week on Monday, is hitting .377 on the season with team-highs in both home runs (7) and RBI (34). DeBarge, second on the team in home runs (4), is next in hitting at .352 with 20 RBI and a team-high 28 runs scored.
Ben Robichaux (.333-0-0), Carson Roccaforte (.311-1-20), CJ Willis (.302-0-10) and John Taylor (.286-2-15) are next in hitting for the Ragin' Cajuns, who are fourth nationally in both stolen bases per game (3.32) and stolen bases (83).
Louisiana will send right-hander Jake Hammond (2-1, 3.41 ERA) to the mound in Friday's opener with App State (13-10, 4-2 Sun Belt) countering with right-hander Xander Hamilton (4-1, 4.81). Jackson Nezuh (4-0, 7.71 ERA) will earn the start on Saturday for the Ragin' Cajuns with right-hander Bradley Wilson (1-2, 10.38 ERA) slated to start for the Mountaineers.
Starters for both teams in Sunday's finale are to be determined.
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.
GAMES 26-28 PREVIEW
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (18-7, 5-1 Sun Belt) vs. App State Mountaineers (13-10, 4-2 Sun Belt)
DATE/TIMES (dates and times are subject to change)
Friday, March 31 – 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 1 – 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 2 – 1 p.m.
LOCATION/SITE
M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park (6,015) | Lafayette, La.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
• Louisiana Salutes (all weekend)
• Bring Your "A" Game (Friday)
• Rally Towels, presented by Louisiana 811 (Saturday)
• Family Day (Sunday) – includes Anthem Buddies, Run the Bases Postgame, Pictures with the Easter Bunny, Postgame Easter Egg Hunt
PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – 6 p.m.
LOUISIANA | RH Jake Hammond (6-4, 230, Sr., Monroe, La.)
'23 Stats: 2-1, 3.41 ERA, 31.2 IP, 30 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 11 BB, 35 K, .254 OppBA
APP STATE | RH Xander Hamilton (6-3, 223, Jr., Raleigh, N.C.)
'23 Stats: 4-1, 4.81 ERA, 33.2 IP, 33 H, 18 R, 18 ER, 16 BB, 44 K, .256 OppBA
SATURDAY – 4 p.m.
LOUISIANA | RH Jackson Nezuh (6-1, 180, Jr., St. Cloud, Fla.)
'23 Stats: 4-0, 7.71 ERA, 30.1 IP, 34 H, 26 R, 26 ER, 10 BB, 37 K, .281 OppBA
APP STATE | RH Bradley Wilson (6-4, 197, r-So., Lillington, N.C.)
'23 Stats: 1-2, 10.38 ERA, 21.2 IP, 32 H, 30 R, 25 ER, 16 BB, 20 K, .348 OppBA
SUNDAY – 1 p.m.
LOUISIANA | TBA
APP STATE | TBA
RANKINGS
Louisiana – Receiving Votes (NCBWA)
App State – Not ranked
RADIO/TV/LIVE STATISTICS
RADIO (Pregame Show starts 30 minutes prior to first pitch)
Station – KPEL-FM (96.5)/The Varsity Network App
Talent – Jay Walker (pxp); Brad Topham (color)
STREAMING (ESPN+)
Talent – Dan McDonald (pxp); Brennan Breaux (color – Friday); Scott Brazda (color – Saturday); Eric Mouton (color – Sunday)
LIVE STATS
CajunStats.com
SERIES RECORD
Overall: Louisiana leads, 13-7
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 5-4
In Boone: Louisiana leads, 6-3
Neutral Sites: Louisiana leads, 2-0
Last 10: Louisiana, 7-3
Streak: App State +1
WHAT'S ON DECK
After facing App State in its third SBC series of the season, Louisiana will host in-state opponent Tulane in a midweek contest on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Louisiana will resume SBC play with a Thursday-Saturday series (April 6-8) against Marshall at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, W.Va. Game times are set for 6 p.m. ET (Thursday-Friday) and 1 p.m. ET (Saturday).
Players Mentioned
C
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
1B/OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
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