2025 Baseball Preview: The Sun Belt Conference Championships

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team opens play in the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Championships presented by Troy University on Wednesday when it faces Marshall at Riverwalk Stadium.

First pitch is scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Matt Stewart (pxp) and Ronnie Rantz (color) providing commentary. Fans in the Lafayette area can listen to the game on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app.

The winner of Wednesday's contest between No. 5-seeded Louisiana (26-29) and No. 4-seeded Marshall (31-24) will advance to Thursday's Winner's Bracket game between the winner of top-seeded Coastal Carolina and the winner of Tuesday's late contest between No. 8 Arkansas State and No. 9 Georgia Southern.

The loser will play at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday against the loser of the Coastal Carolina-Arkansas State/Georgia Southern contest.

Led by All-Sun Belt Conference players Conor Higgs (.346-16-45) and Caleb Stelly (.314-8-31), Louisiana looks to get back to the SBC Championship game for the third time in four years. The Ragin' Cajuns claimed the 2022 title with a come-from-behind win over Georgia Southern before falling to Southern Miss in the 2023 championship.

Louisiana will send right-hander Tate Hess (6-2, 5.17 ERA) to the mound in the opener with Marshall countering with southpaw Bryce Blevins (5-5, 6.29 ERA).

Marshall makes its first appearance in the SBC Championships and enters the postseason with a six-game winning streak.

Eddie Leon is Marshall's top hitter (.301-6-34) with AJ Havrilla (.282-5-41) and Ethan Murdoch (.277-10-40). Maika Niu (.265-12-46) leads the Thundering Herd in both home runs and RBI.

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.

GAME 56 PREVIEW
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (26-29) vs. Marshall Thundering Herd (31-24)

DATE/TIMES (dates and times are subject to change)
Wednesday (May 21) – 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION/SITE
Riverwalk Stadium (7,000) | Montgomery, Ala.

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
WEDNESDAY – 7:30 p.m.
LOUISIANA | RH Tate Hess (6-2, 220, So., Singer, La.)
'25 Stats: 6-2, 5.17 ERA, 55.2 IP, 66 H, 36 R, 32 ER, 23 BB, 63 K, .278 OppBA

MARSHALL | LH Bryce Blevins (5-11, 195, Jr., Louisa, Ky.)
'25 Stats: 5-5, 6.29 ERA, 83.0 IP, 96 H, 66 R, 58 ER, 24 BB, 44 K, .294 OppBA

RANKINGS
Louisiana – Unranked
Marshall – 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); Anthony Babineaux (color)

TV/STREAMING (ESPN+)
Talent – Matt Stewart (pxp); Ronnie Rantz (color)

LIVE STATS
CajunStats.com

SERIES HISTORY
Overall – Louisiana leads, 6-0
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 3-0
In Huntington – Never met
In Charleston, W.Va. – Louisiana leads, 3-0
Neutral Sites – First meeting
Last 10 – Louisiana, 6-0
Streak – Louisiana +6

ON DECK
• Louisiana makes its 30th all-time appearance at the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Championships when it opens against No. 4-seeded Marshall on Wednesday at Riverwalk Stadium.
• The winner of Wednesday's late game will advance to face the winner of top-seeded Coastal Carolina and the lowest remaining seed on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
• The loser will face the loser of Coastal and the LRS on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.
• Louisiana is 58-47 all-time in SBC postseason play and have won five tournament titles (1998, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022) in league history.
• The Ragin' Cajuns and Thundering Herd meet for the third consecutive season with Louisiana holding a 6-0 lead.
• The meeting with No. 4-seeded Marshall will be the first between the schools in the postseason.
• Louisiana swept a three-game series in 2023 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, W.Va., before outscoring the Thundering Herd, 6-1, in a three-game sweep in Lafayette last season.
• Louisiana looks for its first win in Montgomery in four games since a 4-1 win over Coastal Carolina in the 2023 SBC Championship.
• Since moving the Sun Belt Conference Championships to Montgomery in 2021, Louisiana has posted a 9-5 record with two appearances in the Championship Game (2022-23).
• Louisiana placed two players on the All-Sun Belt Conference team as Conor Higgs (OF) was a first-team pick with Caleb Stelly (DH) a second-team selection.
• Wednesday starter Tate Hess was third among SBC pitchers in fewest runs allowed (14) during league action.

THE MARSHALL SERIES
• Louisiana and Marshall have met six times on the diamond with 2023 with the Ragin' Cajuns claiming all six meetings.
• The teams met in April 6-8, 2023 at GoMart Ballpark in Charleston, W.Va., with Louisiana earning a three-game sweep on Easter Weekend.
• Louisiana hosted Marshall last season at Russo Park with the Ragin' Cajuns outscoring the Thundering Herd, 6-1, to earn a three-game sweep on April 12-14.

WHAT'S ON TAP
• The winner of Wednesday's opening game advances to face the winner of top-seeded Coastal Carolina and the lowest remaining seed on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
• The loser will play the loser of Coastal-TBA in an elimination game on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

2025 Baseball Preview: The Sun Belt Conference Championships

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Players Mentioned

Tate Hess

Conor Higgs

Caleb Stelly

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