LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Baseball team returns home after a five-game roadtrip when it renews its diamond rivalry against defending Sun Belt Conference champion South Alabama beginning today at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.

The series begins today at 6 p.m. with Saturday’s contest set for 2 p.m. and Sunday’s finale at 1.

All three games can be heard in the Lafayette area on KPEL-FM (96.5) and on the #GeauxCajuns app. Saturday’s game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with live results for all three games available at CajunStats.com.

The weekend is Youth League Weekend with all youth league players who wear their team jersey able to receive a group rated ticket for $6 in the bleacher sections for all games this weekend. Tickets can be purchased at the Cajundome Ticket Office or Russo Park Ticket Office on gameday.

Each Sunday is Family Day at Russo Park. Kids will be able to go onto the field for pre-game and line up with the team for the National Anthem. After the game, kids will be allowed on the field to run the bases.

Today’s pitching matchup will see Louisiana (9-11, 0-3 Sun Belt) sending left-hander Brandon Talley (0-1, 3.32 ERA) to the mound with South Alabama (15-4, 3-0 Sun Belt) countering with right-hander Miles Smith (4-0, 1.86 ERA). Louisiana’s starter in Saturday’s game is to be determined with the Jaguars starting right-hander Matt Boswell (3-1, 3.67 ERA). Right-hander Jeff Wilson (1-1, 4.38 ERA) will start on the mound for Louisiana in Sunday’s finale with South Alabama starting right-hander JoJo Booker (2-0, 3.28 ERA).

Louisiana, who have dropped its last four games, opened its Sun Belt slate last weekend against Troy – the hottest team in the SBC with a current nine-game win streak – before falling to Nicholls, 6-5, on Wednesday.

Carson Roccaforte leads the Ragin’ Cajuns at the plate with a .377 average and ranks among the SBC leaders in RBI (24) and stolen bases (8). The sophomore hit his fourth home run of the season against Nicholls on Wednesday tying him with Connor Kimple (.313-4-18) for the team lead.

Heath Hood (.293-2-11), Kyle DeBarge (.267-1-10) and Will Veillon (.250-1-3) are next in hitting for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Louisiana enters the weekend ranked eighth nationally in triples (10) and 18th in stolen bases (41). Robertson and Max Marusak, who looks to return full time to the lineup after an injury suffered against Stanford at last month’s Karbach Round Rock Classic, have stolen six bases each for the Ragin’ Cajuns with Roccaforte, Kimple and Veillon each leading the team with a pair of triples.

South Alabama, in the midst of a five-game slate away from home, had its seven-game win streak snapped in Tuesday’s 13-12 loss to Auburn at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Ala. – the site of the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Championships. The Jaguars opened SBC play last weekend with a three-game sweep of UT Arlington, outscoring the Mavs, 35-10.

Miles Simington (.465-1-24) leads a potent Jaguar offense with Charles Middleton (.351-4-18), Will Turner (.350-1-16), Hunter Stokes (.323-0-7) and Santi Monteil (.300-5-17) all hitting above .300 on the season.

On the mound, South Alabama enters the weekend ranked No. 8 nationally in WHIP (1.12), 10th in hits allowed per nine innings (6.69) and 18th in earned run average (3.19).

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.

LOUISIANA (9-11, 0-3 Sun Belt) vs. No. 29 SOUTH ALABAMA (15-4, 3-0 Sun Belt)

DATES/TIMES:

• Friday – March 25, 2022 / 6 p.m.
• Saturday – March 26, 2022 / 2 p.m.
• Sunday – March 27, 2022 / 1 p.m.

LOCATION/SITE: M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park (6,015), Lafayette

RANKINGS:

• Louisiana – Unranked
• South Alabama – No. 29 (Collegiate Baseball)

RADIO/TV/LIVE STATISTICS:

• Radio – KPEL-FM (96.5)
• Streaming – ESPN+ (Saturday only)
• Live Stats – CajunStats.com

PROMOTIONS: All weekend – Youth League Weekend; special group rated tickets

SERIES RECORD: South Alabama leads, 67-51