Louisiana Baseball Preview: at Rice

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Baseball team hits the road for the first time this season when it travels west to Houston to face Rice on Tuesday at Reckling Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Fans will be able to listen to all three games in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app with Jay Walker (pxp) and Anthony Babineaux (color) providing commentary.

ABOUT LOUISIANA
Louisiana (1-2) salvaged its season-opening, three-game series against Missouri State, claiming Sunday's finale in a 9-7 contest. Rigoberto Hernandez and Lee Amedee belted back-to-back home runs to lead off the fourth inning for the Ragin' Cajuns.

JR Tollett (1-0) pitched five innings and struck out eight to notch his first win of the season while Garret Carter pitched the final 1.1 innings to collect his first Division I save.

Hernandez and freshman Blaze Rodriguez, the lone Cajun to hit safely in all three games, each went 4-for-11 (.364) to lead Louisiana at the plate. Amedee had three hits for the weekend – all extra base hits, which included a double and triple.

True freshman Sawyer Pruitt (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his first collegiate start for Louisiana after pitching a pair of scoreless innings against MoState on Saturday.

After facing Rice, Louisiana will return home for its next nine games, beginning with a three-game series on Friday against Big 10 member Maryland.

ABOUT RICE
Rice (2-1) won a season-opening series for the first time since 2019 after taking two of three games from Big 10 member Northwestern, and have won five of the last seven series since David Pierce took over as head coach in 2025.

JC Davis hit .636 in the opening series (7-for-11) with a double, three home runs and four RBI. He hit just three home runs in 86 games and 277 at-bats in two seasons at Weatherford College before transferring to Rice this season.

Davis and Cole Green (.300, 3-for-10) each hit safely in each of the first three games for the Owls.

Right-hander Jackson Blank will make his first appearance of the season with the midweek start for Rice.

SEASON, SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE
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.

FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
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 4 PREVIEW
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (1-2) at Rice Owls (2-1)

TIMES (dates and times are subject to change)
Tuesday – 6:35 p.m.

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

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS
LOUISIANA | RH Sawyer Pruitt (6-7, 240, Fr., Watson, La.)
'26 Stats – 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

RICE | RH Jackson Blank (6-2, 208, Jr., Magnolia, Texas)
'26 Stats – First appearance

RANKINGS
Louisiana – None
Rice – None

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)

LIVE STATS
CajunStats.Statbroadcast.com

SERIES RECORD
Overall – Rice leads, 20-18
In Lafayette – Louisiana leads, 6-4
In Houston – Rice leads, 12-7
Neutral Sites – Louisiana leads, 5-4
Last 10 – Louisiana, 7-3
Streak – Louisiana +1

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Players Mentioned

Lee Amedee

Garret Carter

Rigoberto Hernandez

Sawyer Pruitt

Blaze Rodriguez

JR Tollett

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