Nationally-Ranked Louisiana, Coastal Set For SBC Showdown

CONWAY, S.C. – No. 14-ranked Louisiana opens the second half of its Sun Belt Conference Baseball schedule on Friday when it faces No. 19-ranked Coastal Carolina in a three-game series at Springs Brooks Stadium.

First pitch for Friday's opener is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT. The series continues on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT and concludes on Sunday at noon CT. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+ with fans able to listen to all games in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.

Louisiana (30-9, 14-1 SBC) swept a pair of midweek games against in-state opponent Southeastern Louisiana, opening with a 15-8 win in Hammond on Tuesday before claiming an 8-1 decision at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park on Wednesday.

The Ragin' Cajuns, who have won their past five games and 21 of their last 22, swept a three-game series at home last weekend against Marshall. Louisiana limited the Thundering Herd to one run over the course of the series and marking the second time this season in holding an SBC opponent to one run.

Trey LaFleur (.402-6-23), Kyle DeBarge (.342-12-39), Conor Higgs (.325-7-20), Caleb Stelly (.305-1-23) and Duncan Pastore (.300-2-24) lead a Louisiana offense which is hitting .297 as a team to rank second among SBC schools.

Louisiana will send southpaw Andrew Herrmann (4-1, 1.91 ERA) to the mound in Friday's opener with freshman left-hander Chase Morgan (4-1, 1.90 ERA) scheduled to pitch on Saturday. The Ragin' Cajuns will wrap up the series on Sunday with right-hander Carson Fluno (2-0, 2.20 ERA) taking the mound.

Coastal Carolina (26-11, 9-6 SBC) enters the weekend ranked sixth nationally in scoring at 9.8 runs per game and leads the SBC in both batting average (.302) and home runs (61). Five regulars in the lineup average .300 or above led by Sam Antonacci (.402-2-31).

Blake Barthol (.343-14-42), Derek Bender (.338-5-40), Graham Brown (.320-9-42) and Jake Books (.317-7-31) are next in hitting for the Chanticleers.

Right-hander Riley Eikhoff (4-0, 5.44 ERA) will start in Friday's opener for CCU with freshman righty Cameron Flukey (2-1, 4.36 ERA) earning the start on Saturday. Sunday's starter is to be determined.

Tickets for Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball are available for purchase on-line at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685).

Group tickets are also available by contacting the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office by email at Tickets@louisiana.edu.

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 40-42 PREVIEW
No. 14 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (30-9, 14-1 SBC) at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (26-11, 9-6 SBC)

DATE/TIMES (dates and times are subject to change)
Friday – April 19, 5 p.m. CT
Saturday – April 20, 1 p.m. CT
Sunday – April 21, 12 p.m. CT

LOCATION/SITE
Springs Brooks Stadium (5,500) | Conway, S.C.

PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – 5 p.m. CT
LOUISIANA | LH Andew Herrmann (6-3, 215, Jr., Kennesaw, Ga.)
'24 Stats: 4-1, 1.91 ERA, 47.0 IP, 34 H, 13 R, 10 ER, 15 BB, 48 K, .207 OppBA

CCU | RH Riley Eikhoff (5-11, 184, Jr., Bristow, Va.)
'24 Stats: 4-0, 5.44 ERA, 41.1 IP, 51 H, 28 R, 25 ER, 9 BB, 31 K, .311 OppBA

SATURDAY – 1 p.m. CT
LOUISIANA | LH Chase Morgan (6-3, 195, Fr., Cypress, Texas)
'24 Stats: 4-1, 1.90 ERA, 42.2 IP, 22 H, 12 R, 9 ER, 12 BB, 39 K, .149 OppBA

CCU | RH Cameron Flukey (6-6, 200, Fr., Egg Harbor Township, N.J.)
'24 Stats: 2-1, 4.36 ERA, 33.0 IP, 27 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 18 BB, 55 K, .220 OppBA

SUNDAY – 12 p.m. CT
LOUISIANA | RH Carson Fluno (6-1, 195, Sr., Sun Prairie, Wis.)
'24 Stats: 2-0, 2.20 ERA, 32.2 IP, 18 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 14 BB, 31 K, .157 OppBA

CCU | TBA

RANKINGS
Louisiana – 14^th (D1 Baseball); 15^th (USA Today Coaches' Poll), 16^th (NCBWA, Perfect Game); 20^th (Baseball America)
Coastal Carolina – 19^th (D1Baseball, NCBWA); 20^th (USA Today Coaches' Poll), 21^st (Baseball America); 22^nd (Perfect Game)

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); Anthony Babineaux (color)

TV/STREAMING
ESPN+
Talent - TBA

LIVE STATS
CajunStats.com

SERIES RECORD
Overall: Louisiana leads, 11-7-1
Last 10: Louisiana, 6-4
Streak: Louisiana +2

LEADING OFF
• No. 14-ranked Louisiana opens the second half of its Sun Belt Conference schedule with a nationally-ranked showdown at No. 19 Coastal Carolina.
• All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+ with fans able to listen to games in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.
• Louisiana, ranked in the top-20 in all five major polls, has won 21 of its last 22 games dating back to March 16.
• Since going 0-3 at the Astros Foundation College Classic last month, Louisiana has posted a 25-3 record.
• Louisiana, currently holding a five-game lead for first place in the Sun Belt Conference standings, has won its last 14 SBC games and can tie the SBC record of 15 set by South Alabama in 2016.
• As a team, Louisiana leads the Sun Belt Conference in ERA (3.38), opposing batting average (.207), saves (15), hits allowed (257), runs allowed (151) and earned run allowed (129).
• Louisiana ranks second nationally on hits allowed per nine innings (6.74), fourth in ERA, 17^th in WHIP (1.29) and 24^th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.3).
• Louisiana's 15 triples in 2024 are the most among SBC programs and 15^th in Division I.

SERIES HISTORY VS. COASTAL CAROLINA
• Louisiana and Coastal will meet for the 20^th time beginning with Friday's contest in Conway.
• The Ragin' Cajuns hold an 11-7-1 lead in the series which dates back to 2017.
• Louisiana has won six of the last 10 meetings in the series.
• Coastal Carolina claimed the regular-season series between the schools last year in Lafayette and in a Winner's Bracket contest in last year's SBC Championships before the Ragin' Cajuns defeated the Chanticleers twice to advance to the SBC Championship Game.

WHAT'S UP NEXT
• Louisiana returns home for a lone midweek game against Houston Christian on Wednesday at 6 p.m..
• The Ragin' Cajuns will play host to SBC rival Southern Miss in a three-game series at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park (April 26-28).

Nationally-Ranked Louisiana, Coastal Set For SBC Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Kyle DeBarge

Carson Fluno

Andrew Herrmann

Conor Higgs

Trey LaFleur

Chase Morgan

Duncan Pastore

Caleb Stelly

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