Cajuns, Tigers Clash in Wally Pontiff, Jr. Classic

Back on March 7th, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns defeated LSU 4-3 in 10 innings at M. L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.

Tonight, the two teams will have another go at it, this time at the Shrine on Airline in Metairie in the annual Wally Pontiff, Jr. Classic.  Game time is 7:00 and can be heard on ESPN 1420 with pregame beginning at 6:30.

The Cajuns (10-13) trail the all-time series 54-25.  Tony Robichaux is 10-20 against the Tigers as the Cajuns' head coach.  The Cajuns are coming off a 2-2 week, defeating McNeese on the road and dropping two of three at home to Troy.  LSU (16-9) dropped two out of three to Vanderbilt over the weekend.

Hogan Harris (0-1, 8.31) will get the start for the Cajuns.  Harris has pitched only 4.1 innings this season because of a strained oblique.  Coach Tony Robichaux said on his radio show Monday night that Harris would be on a pitch count.  Freshman lefty Austin Perrin would probably be up first in the pen, according to the Cajuns' skipper.

A. J. Labas (2-0, 2.25) will get the start for LSU.  Labas was the starting pitcher in the game in Lafayette, pitching three shutout innings.  The Tigers will be without the services of second baseman Brandt Broussard, who was leading the Tigers in hitting (.363-0-16).  He will be sidelined 3-5 weeks after suffering a broken thumb.

This will be the fourth straight year that the two teams play in the Pontiff Classic and the fifth overall.  LSU has won all of the previous meetings, including a 3-2 win last year.

The game begins a six game road swing for Louisiana, as the Cajuns travel to Jonesboro for a three game set against Arkansas State Thursday-Saturday.  The Cajuns will then head to Southern Miss next Tuesday and Wednesday for a midweek series before returning home.