Louisiana Set To Face Host Georgia Southern To Open SBC Tournament

THE SUN BELT TOURNAMENT
Dates: Wednesday-Sunday, May 24-28, 2017
Location: Statesboro, Ga.
Site: J.I. Clements Stadium (3,000)
Bracket Opponents: Coastal Carolina (37-18-1), Georgia Southern (36-20), TBA
First Round Game: May 24 vs. Georgia Southern | 6:30 p.m. CT
Radio: News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM (Wed), TBA (Thu-Sun)
TV: Sun Belt Network/ESPN3 (Wed-Sun)
Live Stats/Video: www.SunBeltSports.org

PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Wednesday - LHP Gunner Leger (LA) vs. LHP Evan Challenger (GS)

STATESBORO, Ga. – The fourth-seeded Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team is set to open the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the Cajuns will face the host and fifth-seeded Georgia Southern Eagles on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. CT at J.I. Clements Stadium.

The winner of the contest between the Cajuns (35-20-1) and the Eagles (36-20) will face the winner of No. 18 Coastal Carolina (37-18-1) and the lowest remaining seed from the preliminary round on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The two losing teams are slated to meet on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. CT.

Wednesday's contest against Georgia Southern will be broadcast on News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM with Jay Walker and Jeff Schneider on the call. The rest of the radio schedule will be announced after the completion of each game.

All of the games from the Sun Belt Conference Tournament will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Matt Stewart and John Gregory providing commentary.

Louisiana is riding a four-game win streak into the tournament and has won seven of its last eight contests. The Ragin' Cajuns have won a record three straight Sun Belt Conference Tournaments and have reached the championship game in four straight years since 2013 going 16-2 during that span.

Junior left-hander Gunner Leger (10-2, 2.03 ERA) will make the start for the Cajuns against Georgia Southern. Leger was named the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year and ranks fourth in the nation in wins. The Eagles will counter with senior left-hander Evan Challenger (2-5, 4.48 ERA).

The Cajuns are hitting .267 with 92 doubles, 20 triples and 39 home runs. Junior Steven Sensley paces the club offensively hitting .319 with 11 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs and 46 RBI. Sensley, an All-Sun Belt second team selection, is riding a 25-game on base streak and has driven in 27 runs during that span.

The Ragin' Cajuns and Georgia Southern are tied in the all-time series at 5-all with the Eagles taking two of three games from the Cajuns this season at Russo Park. Louisiana is 3-1 against Georgia Southern away from Lafayette, La.

The Eagles have lost four of their last six games coming into the tournament after losing two of three contests at Georgia State last weekend. Georgia Southern salvaged the final game of the series with a 13-3 victory after dropping the first two games to the Panthers 9-7 and 7-6.

Offensively, the Eagles have a .276 average with 82 doubles, five triples and 40 home runs. Steven Curry is one of two players hitting over .300 on the season with a .318 average including 10 doubles and 19 RBI. Ryan Cleveland has a team-best 14 home runs and 48 RBI while hitting .271 on the year.

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 Set To Face Host Georgia Southern To Open SBC Tournament

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Gunner Leger

Steven Sensley

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics