Cajuns host Coastal Carolina this weekend

THE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Friday-Sunday, May 4-6, 2018
Location: Lafayette, La.
Site: M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park (4,850)
Times: 6:30 p.m. (Fri) | 6:00 p.m. (Sat) | 1:00 p.m. (Sun)
Opponent: No. 15 Coastal Carolina (31-14, 17-4 SBC)
Radio: News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM
Television: Cox Sports Television (Fri)
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com
 
STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: LHP Colten Schmidt (LA) vs. RHP Zack Hopeck (CCU)
Saturday: LHP Hogan Harris (LA) vs. RHP Jason Bilous (CCU)
Sunday: TBA (LA) vs. TBA (CCU)
 
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team is set to host No. 15 Coastal Carolina in a key Sun Belt Conference series this weekend at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park starting Friday at 6:30 p.m.
 
Game two of the series between the Ragin’ Cajuns and Chanticleers is slated for Saturday at 6 p.m., while first pitch of the series finale is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
 
Friday’s game is sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes as fans will receive Ragin’ Cajuns pennants and limited edition Star Wars themed posters. Fans coming to Saturday’s contest will have the chance to win a bike courtesy of Kerry Emanis Realtor of Sam Robertson Real Estate.
 
Parking Changes
 
Due to the Car Show, general parking has been moved to the north and east sides of Cajun Field. Those looking to park in general parking should enter through Gates 3, 4 or 5.
 
Additionally, only RCAF lots A and B will be available for this weekend. Founders’ Lot passes will be allowed to park in RCAF Lots A or B. Those with parking passes should enter through Gate 1.
 
Jersey Auction
 
The Louisiana baseball team will auction off jerseys last worn during the record 2014 season when the Ragin’ Cajuns won a program and conference best 58 games. A select number of jerseys will be auctioned off through a live auction following both Friday and Saturday’s contest, while the remaining jerseys will be available through a silent auction at the game on Sunday.
 
Where to Listen/Watch
 
Friday’s contest will be broadcast live on Cox Sports Television (CST) and simulcast on ESPN3 outside of the CST viewing areas. Dan McDonald and Buzzy Haydel will call the action on CST. Games two and three of the series can be seen live on RaginCajuns.com with Cody Junot on the call Saturday and Dan McDonald providing play-by-play Sunday.
 
Fans can listen to every game of the series on News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM with Jay Walker and Brad Topham calling the action. Live stats are available on RaginCajuns.com.
 
The Series
 
Louisiana and Coastal Carolina are meeting for just the second time in program history as it’s the first time the Cajuns will host CCU. A year ago, the Ragin’ Cajuns and Chanticleers split the series. Louisiana won the opening game 1-0 before falling 9-8 in game two. The series finale ended in a 7-7 tie due to travel restrictions.
 
Scouting Louisiana
 
Louisiana (26-20, 12-9 SBC) comes into the series with a 14-4 record in the second half of the season. Three of the Ragin’ Cajuns four losses in the second half have come in extra-inning conference games.
 
The Cajuns picked up their fourth consecutive series win last weekend taking two of three games at Georgia State. Louisiana dropped a 6-5 decision in 12 innings on Friday before bouncing back to win 6-4 in 11 innings on Saturday. The Ragin’ Cajuns got a late two-run homer from junior Daniel Lahare to win the rubber match 9-7.
 
Lahare is hitting .346 with four doubles, a triple, four home runs and 14 RBI in conference play, while junior Gavin Bourgeois is coming off of a week where he drove in 12 runs in five games.
 
Senior Colten Schmidt ranks 22nd in the nation and first in the Sun Belt with a 1.69 ERA. Schmidt also ranks eighth in the nation in walks per nine innings (0.90) and ninth in WHIP (0.79).
 
Scouting Coastal Carolina
 
Coastal Carolina (31-14, 17-4 SBC) is riding a five-game win streak into the series coming off of a sweep of ULM last weekend at home. The Chanticleers have played just 14 games away from Springs Brooks Stadium this season with a 9-5 road mark.
 
Coastal features one of the nation’s top offenses as the club ranks fourth in the nation in runs averaging 8.2 runs per game. The Chants have hit 59 home runs as a team which ranks eighth nationally. Eight players on the CCU roster have driven in 25-plus runs this season.
 
Senior Kevin Woodall Jr. leads the Sun Belt and ranks third in the nation with 16 home runs. Woodall Jr. has driven in a team-best 53 runs on the year, while Parker Chavers is hitting .314 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 27 RBI.
 
Up Next
 
Louisiana will take off the midweek for a second straight week before heading to Texas State for a three-game series from May 11-13 as the squad wraps up the 2018 road slate against the Bobcats.
 
For the latest updates on Ragin’ Cajuns baseball, follow Ragin’ Cajuns baseball on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.