MOBILE, Ala. – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Baseball team hits the road for its first weekend trip away from home since the beginning of the 2023 season when it opens a three-game Sun Belt Conference series on Friday against rival South Alabama at Stanky Field.
First pitch for Friday’s opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. With the forecast of inclement weather in the Mobile area on Sunday, the teams will conclude the series on Saturday with a doubleheader with the opening game scheduled for a 1 p.m. start with the finale set for 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1.
All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans in the Lafayette area can listen to all three games on KPEL-FM (96.5) and worldwide on the Varsity Network app. Live stats will be available at CajunStats.com.
Louisiana (16-6, 3-0 Sun Belt) opened SBC action last weekend with a three-game sweep of Arkansas State before earning midweek victories over in-state programs Grambling and Southeastern Louisiana.
The Ragin’ Cajuns, who opened the season with 17 of their first 22 games at home, began the season claiming a three-game series at Rice on Feb. 17-19 and have played single games at McNeese and a neutral-site contest against Mississippi State at MGM Park in Biloxi, Miss.
Heath Hood (.417-1-18), Julian Brock (.358-4-26) and Kyle DeBarge (.349-3-16) are the top three hitters for Louisiana, which enters the weekend with a .292 team batting average and is sixth in the nation in stolen bases (71).
South Alabama (8-13, 0-3 Sun Belt) dropped its opening series at Georgia Southern last weekend before falling to Auburn, 5-4, on Tuesday.
Will Turner leads the Jaguars at the plate hitting .361 with a team-high 21 RBI through 21 games. Colson Lawrence is hitting .304 with a team-high six home runs for South Alabama, including a pair against Auburn.
Single-game tickets are available by visiting the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome or purchasing by visiting Account Manager [am.ticketmaster.com]. For more information call the Louisiana Athletics Box Office at the Cajundome at (337) 265-2104.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here [apps.apple.com] for iOS/Apple platforms and here [play.google.com] 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 23-25 PREVIEW
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (16-6, 3-0 Sun Belt) at South Alabama Jaguars (8-13, 0-3 Sun Belt)
DATE/TIMES (dates and times are subject to change)
Friday, March 24 – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 25 – 1 p.m. (doubleheader); Game 2 to start 30 minutes after conclusion
LOCATION/SITE
Stanky Field (3,775) | Mobile, Ala.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – 6:30 p.m.
LOUISIANA | RH Jake Hammond (6-3, 230, Sr., Monroe, La.)
’23 Stats: 2-1, 2.25 ERA, 28.0 IP, 25 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 9 BB, 33 K, .243 OppBA
SOUTH ALABAMA | LH Gehrig Conrad (5-9, 195, Fr., Wiggins, Miss.)
’23 Stats: 0-4, 3.52 ERA, 23.0 IP, 29 H, 16 R, 9 ER, 9 BB, 37 K, .293 OppBA
SATURDAY – 1 p.m. Doubleheader
Game 1
LOUISIANA | RH Jackson Nezuh (6-1, 180, Jr., St. Cloud, Fla.)
’23 Stats: 3-0, 8.39 ERA, 24.2 IP, 28 H, 23 R, 23 ER, 8 BB, 32 K, .280 OppBA
SOUTH ALABAMA | RH Jeremy Lee (5-11, 205, r-So., Valley Grande, Ala.)
’23 Stats: 0-3, 5.70 ERA, 23.2 IP, 21 H, 18 R, 15 ER, 11 BB, 29 K, .228 OppBA
Game 2 – 30 minutes after conclusion of Game 1
LOUISIANA | TBA
SOUTH ALABAMA | RH Mitchell Heer (5-11, 190, So., Acworth, Ga.)
’23 Stats: 0-1, 5.40 ERA, 10.0 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 12 K, .300 OppBA
RANKINGS
Louisiana – Not ranked
South Alabama – Not ranked
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)
STREAMING
Friday/Saturday – ESPN+
Talent – J.D. Byars (pxp)
LIVE STATS
CajunStats.com
SERIES RECORD
South Alabama leads, 69-53
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