Cajuns Close Regular Season Against ULM

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns still have not qualified for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, beginning next Tuesday in Conway, SC.

But they can change that status with just one win this weekend.

The Cajuns (25-28, 13-14 Sun Belt) head to Monroe to face in state rival ULM (23-27, 11-15) in the final three game series of the regular season.  Game times are 6:00 pm Thursday and Friday, 2:00 pm Sunday.  All three games can be heard on NewsTalk 96.5 KPEL-FM with air time 30 minutes before the first pitch.

The Cajuns lead the all time series 91-52 and have won the last 25 meetings between the two teams, dating back to 2012.  Head coach Tony Robichaux is 51-18 against the Warhawks, 27-10 in Monroe.

Louisiana currently stands eighth in the conference standings, 1.5 games ahead of the Warhawks.  ULM is tenth, one-half game ahead of Arkansas State for the tenth and final spot in the Sun Belt Tournament.

Coach Mike Federico has announced his rotation for the weekend.  Senior Trey Jeans, who has been the Warhawks' game one starter throughout the season, will get the ball on Thursday.  The lefty is 3-8 with a 4.34 ERA but has allowed just 52 hits in 64.2 innings. Ty Barnes (4-3 5.15) has been a Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week this season.  Kayleb Sanderson (3-3, 5.80) will get the Saturday start.

Senior third baseman Chad Bell (.323-15-43)  is the hottest of the Warhawks.  He carries a 16-game hitting streak into the weekend, with seven of his home runs coming during that stretch.  Andrew Beasley (.346-3-31) is in the top five in the league in hitting and has stolen 17 bases, while Trent Tinglestad (.331-5-36) is among the league leaders with a .454 on base percentage.

Head coach Tony Robichaux has listed his rotation as TBA.  Junior Jack Burk left last Friday's game after five innings with a tender elbow and his status is in question for the weekend.  Burk is the Sun Belt's ERA leader in league games.  Burk Brandon Young and Grant Cox got the starts last weekend for the Cajuns.

Todd Lott (.343-7-42) leads the Cajuns in hitting and is batting .394 in conference play.  Orynn Veillon (.302-9-37) carries a 17-game hitting streak into the weekend, while first baseman Daniel Lahare (.273-2-18) is hitting nearly .500 during an eleven game hitting streak.

The Cajuns need one win OR an Arkansas State loss this weekend to clinch a spot in the tournament.  Louisiana can finish as high as sixth, depending on their success and results of other games.  The top six teams get a first round bye and begin play on Wednesday.