Louisiana Opens SBC West Play Against Arkansas State

THE WEEKEND SERIES
Dates: Thursday-Saturday, April 13-15, 2017
Location: Lafayette, La.
Site: M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park (4,650)
Times: 6:00 p.m. (Thu) | 6:00 p.m. (Fri) | 1:00 p.m. (Sat)
Opponent: Arkansas State (19-14, 7-5 Sun Belt)
Radio: News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM
Television: None
Live Stats/Video: www.RaginCajuns.com

STARTING PITCHERS
Thursday: LHP Gunner Leger (LA) vs. RHP Bradey Welsh (ASU)
Friday: RHP Nick Lee (LA) vs. RHP Peyton Culbertson (ASU)
Saturday: LHP Hogan Harris (LA) vs. RHP Tyler Mitzel (ASU)

LAFAYETTE, La. – After facing four straight opponents from the east division in Sun Belt Conference play, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team will face its first west division opponent this weekend as the Cajuns host Arkansas State in a three-game series at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park starting Thursday at 6 p.m.

Game two of the series is slated for Friday at 6 p.m., while the two teams close out the weekend on Saturday at 1 p.m.

All three games can be heard live on News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM with Jay Walker on the call. Live video and stats are available on RaginCajuns.com with Dan McDonald providing play-by-play for the free video stream.

Louisiana (18-14-1, 7-4-1 Sun Belt) comes into the series a half game back of UT Arlington in the west division standings after splitting its series at Coastal Carolina last weekend. The Cajuns are unbeaten in their last 16 weekend series dating back to the 2016 season.

Junior left-hander Gunner Leger (6-1, 1.09 ERA), who was recently named to the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list, will take the mound for the Ragin' Cajuns on Thursday. Louisiana has won seven straight contests with Leger on the mound including four shutouts.

Sophomore right-hander Nick Lee (4-3, 5.54 ERA) will make the start on Friday night for the Cajuns. Lee has taken the loss in three of his last four starts after starting the season 4-0.

The Ragin' Cajuns will close out the series with sophomore lefty Hogan Harris (3-0, 2.51 ERA) on the bump. The Cajuns are 5-0-1 in games started by Harris this year.

Arkansas State (19-14, 7-5 Sun Belt) will counter with a trio of right-handers in the series. Sophomore Bradey Welsh (1-0, 5.59 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season on Thursday, while Sophomore Peyton Culbertson (3-3, 6.39 ERA) is slated to make the start on Friday. Junior Tyler Mitzel (1-2, 6.00 ERA) will take the mound in the series finale for A-State.

Louisiana ranks fifth in the Sun Belt offensively hitting .272 with 52 doubles, 11 triples and 18 home runs. Senior Ishmael Edwards is on an eight-game hit streak with a team-best .333 average, while catcher Handsome Monica has gotten hot at the plate riding a seven-game hit streak.

The Ragin' Cajuns hold a 79-39 all-time series edge over Arkansas State having won four of five meetings last season including a pair of wins at the SBC Tournament. Louisiana has won 11 of the last 14 contest against the Red Wolves and is 47-28 with head coach Tony Robichaux at the helm including a 26-13 record at home.

The Red Wolves have won four straight games coming into the series after sweeping Georgia State and then picking up an 11-4 victory at Memphis in the midweek. A-State has won five of its last six conference games to move into third place in the west division standings, a half game back of the Cajuns.

Offensively, Arkansas State ranks ninth in the SBC in average hitting .258 with 57 doubles, 10 triples and 25 home runs. Joe Schrimpf ranks sixth in the Sun Belt hitting .352 with six doubles, a triple, five homers and 30 RBI. Garrett Rucker is the only other member of the Red Wolves squad hitting over .300 on the season with a .308 average, five doubles, four triples, three home runs and a team-best 34 RBI.

For the latest updates on Ragin' Cajuns baseball, follow Ragin' Cajuns baseball on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Louisiana Opens SBC West Play Against Arkansas State

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Players Mentioned

Ishmael Edwards

Hogan Harris

Nick Lee

Gunner Leger

Handsome Monica

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