2025 Baseball Preview: The James Madison Series

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team opens a nine-game homestand beginning on Friday when it hosts James Madison in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.

With rain in the forecast for Friday and Saturday in the Lafayette area, the start times for the series' first two games were adjusted. First pitch in Friday's opener is scheduled for 1 p.m. with Saturday's contest starting at 4 p.m.

The final game of the series will start at 11:30 a.m. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+ with fans able to listen to the game in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.

The series with JMU (9-16, 4-2 Sun Belt) will be part of Louisiana Salutes, honoring all active military personnel and veterans. All active military and veterans attending the three-game series can get access to discounted tickets through VetTix.

Saturday's game will feature one free popcorn and one free beer at any concession stand with military ID for all active duty military and veterans, courtesy of Sodexo and the UL Student Veterans Organization.

Sunday's game is Kid's Day with Anthem Buddies able to stand with the Ragin' Cajuns during the National Anthem, the Junior Announcer and Kids Run the Bases Postgame.

Louisiana (11-15, 3-3 Sun Belt) returns home for its second, nine-game homestand in the past month after playing its last five on the road. The Ragin' Cajuns earned a series win last weekend at South Alabama, claiming the series finale, 9-3, behind a pair of home runs by Conor Higgs.

Higgs (.337-9-17) leads Louisiana in average, home runs and RBI and is followed in hitting by Owen Galt (.313-0-6), Caleb Stelly (.296-4-16) and Brooks Wright (.282-0-15).

Left-hander Chase Morgan (2-1, 2.50 ERA) will start on the mound in Friday's opener for Louisiana with starters for the final two games to be determined.

JMU opened SBC play claiming a three-game series against ULM before taking a pair of one-run victories last weekend at Marshall. The Dukes dropped their midweek contest on Tuesday, falling to Richmond, 12-4.

Maddux Fleck (.289-0-6), who has started in 14 games, leads JMU at the plate with Coleman Calabrese (.232-2-10) and Corey Dowdell (.226-2-11) next in hitting.

Right-hander Jackson Logar (2-2, 2.70 ERA) will start in Friday's opener with Casey Smith (1-1, 5.26 ERA) slated to pitch on Saturday. Sunday's starting pitcher is to be determined.

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball season and single-game tickets are available for purchase online at RaginCajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at (337) 482-GoUL (4685). Fans can also support the baseball student athletes, and invest in the program's future, through the Krewe Allons NIL Collective (click here).

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 27-29 PREVIEW
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (11-15, 3-3 SBC) vs. James Madison Dukes (9-16, 4-2 SBC)

DATE/TIMES (dates and times are subject to change)
Friday (March 28) – 1 p.m.
Saturday (March 29) – 4 p.m.
Sunday (March 30) – 11:30 a.m.

LOCATION/SITE
M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park (6,015) | Lafayette, La.

TICKETS
• 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.

PROMOTIONS
Friday (Sponsored by Air National Guard)
• Louisiana Salutes
• Baseball Bingo
• Military members can get access to discounted tickets for Louisiana Salutes Weekend through VetTix

Saturday (Sponsored by The Best Stop)
• Louisiana Salutes
• Best Stop Koozie Giveaway
• One free popcorn and one free beer at any concession stand with military ID for all active duty military and veterans (Courtesy of Sodexo and the UL Student Veterans Organization)
• Military members can get access to discounted tickets for Louisiana Salutes Weekend through VetTix
• Vietnam Veteran's Day acknowledgement

Sunday (Sponsored by Meritus Credit Union)
• Louisiana Salutes
• Kid's Day (Anthem Buddies, Junior Announcer & Kids Run the Bases Postgame)
• Military members can get access to discounted tickets for Louisiana Salutes Weekend through VetTix

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – 1 p.m.
LOUISIANA | LH Chase Morgan (6-3, 195, So., Cypress, Texas)
'25 Stats: 2-1, 2.50 ERA, 18.0 IP, 16 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 26 K, .225 OppBA

JMU | RH Jackson Logar (6-0, 215, So., Medford, N.J.)
'25 Stats: 2-2, 2.70 ERA, 30.0 IP, 24 H, 13 R, 9 ER, 14 BB, 30 K, .216 OppBA

SATURDAY – 4 p.m.
LOUISIANA | TBA

JMU | RH Casey Smith (6-4, 195, Sr., Morgantown, W.Va.)
'25 Stats: 1-1, 5.26 ERA, 25.2 IP, 28 H, 17 R, 15 ER, 8 BB, 18 K, .283 OppBA

SUNDAY – 11:30 a.m.
LOUISIANA | TBA

JMU | TBA

RANKINGS
Louisiana – Unranked
James Madison – Unranked

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)

TV/STREAMING (ESPN+)
Talent – Dan McDonald (pxp); Brennan Breaux (color – Friday); Eric Mouton (color – Saturday/Sunday)

LIVE STATS
CajunStats.com

SERIES RECORD
Overall – James Madison leads, 4-0
In Lafayette – First meeting
In Harrisonburg – JMU leads, 3-0
Neutral Site – Louisiana leads, 1-0
Last 10 – JMU, 4-0
Streak – JMU +4

ON DECK
• Louisiana opens its second, nine-game homestand of the 2025 season on Friday when it welcomes James Madison for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.
• The Ragin' Cajuns will host JMU for the first time with both teams meeting for the third consecutive season.
• JMU earned a three-game sweep over the visiting Ragin' Cajuns in the initial meeting between the schools in 2023 before rallying for a 10-9 win over Louisiana in the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Championships
• The Ragin' Cajuns previous nine-game homestand was from March 5-16 where it hosted nationally-ranked Dallas Baptist and Troy in three-game series and UNC Wilmington, Southern and McNeese in midweek contests.
• Louisiana's overall strength of schedule is 10th nationally with its non-conference SOS ranked 11th according to WarrenNolan.com.
• Seven players - Andrew Herrmann, Tate Hess, Matthew Holzhammer, Riley Marcotte, Matt Osteen, Dylan Theut and James Trimble - are responsible for Louisiana's seven saves recorded in 2025.
• Conor Higgs' two-homer game at South Alabama last Sunday was his second multi-homer game this season and fourth of his career.
• Higgs belted two homers at UC Irvine on March 1.
• Higgs is one of four players tied for the Sun Belt Conference lead in homers (9) entering the JMU series.
• His solo home run at Southeastern Louisiana last week also marked his 100th career run scored in a Louisiana uniform.
• Higgs has reached base safely in his last 18 games to lead the Ragin' Cajuns.
• Caleb Stelly enters the weekend series with a career-best, 11-game hit streak.
• Drew Markle returned in a pinch-running capacity against LSU after missing the previous 11 games due to injury (hand).

THE LOUISIANA/JMU SERIES
• Louisiana and James Madison meet for the third consecutive year with the Dukes holding a 4-0 record in the series.
• JMU earned a three-game sweep in the first series between the schools in 2023 before rallying for a win at the Sun Belt Conference Championships in 2024.
• The meeting with the Dukes will be the first between the schools in Lafayette.

UP NEXT
• Louisiana opens a five-game week with a pair of midweek games beginning on Tuesday (April 1) when it hosts Northwestern State at 6 p.m.
• The Ragin' Cajuns will follow the NSU game on Wednesday (April 2) against Louisiana Tech at 6 p.m.

2025 Baseball Preview: The James Madison Series

Players Mentioned

Owen Galt

Andrew Herrmann

Tate Hess

Conor Higgs

Matthew Holzhammer

Riley Marcotte

Drew Markle

Chase Morgan

Matt Osteen

Caleb Stelly

Dylan Theut

James Trimble

Brooks Wright

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