Louisiana Baseball Weekend Update Friday-Sunday, March 30-April 1, 2012 at Florida Atlantic
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Louisiana Baseball Weekend Update Friday-Sunday, March 30-April 1, 2012 at Florida Atlantic FAU Stadium (2,000) | Boca Raton, Fla. | 5:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 12 p.m. (CDT) Sun Belt Champions (1992, 1994, 1997, 2005, 2007, 2010) NCAA Regionals (1988, 1990-92, 1997-2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010) NCAA Super Regionals (1999, 2000) College World Series (2000) PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS LOUISIANA FLORIDA ATLANTIC Sr., RHP Jordan Nicholson FRIDAY Sr., RHP Ryan Garton (3-1, 3.22 ERA) (4-2, 2.09 ERA) Jr., LHP Chris Griffitt SATURDAY TBA (3-2, 4.33 ERA) TBA SUNDAY Fr., LHP Austin Gomber (2-1, 2.45 ERA) It’s Been Awhile Since We’ve Seen You: The Ragin’ Cajuns are in Boca Raton, Fla., for a Sun Belt series with Florida Atlantic for the first time since the 2008 season. STATISTICAL COMPARISON The Owls visited “The Tigue” each of the previous three seasons. In fact, it’s just the second trip CATEGORY LOUISIANA FAU for the Cajuns to Boca Raton since FAU joined the Sun Belt in 2007. Overall Record 13-11 16-10 No Stranger to Florida: Louisiana has made at least one trip to the Sunshine Sun Belt Record 3-3 5-1 State each year since 2006. The Cajuns visited FIU each of the past three seasons (2009-11). Batting Average .273 .283 Halfway Home: The FAU series wraps up Week 7 of the 2012 season, bringing an At Bats 803 882 end to the first half of the season. The second half begins next week with a midweek tilt Runs Scored 132 154 against Southeastern Louisiana at “The Tigue” (April 3). Hits 219 250 Golden Opportunity: The Cajuns currently sit in the middle of the pack in the Sun Doubles 48 35 Belt standings, meanwhile FAU is in first place. This weekend’s series gives UL a chance to Triples 8 2 climb near the top of the league standings heading into back-to-back series at “The Tigue” Home Runs 9 24 (WKU April 6-8 and FIU April 13-15). Total Bases 310 361 Quick Reset: UL opened its current four-game road swing on Wednesday at Alex Box RBI 117 138 Stadium in Baton Rouge against No. 15 LSU. Two home runs provided all but one of the SB-SBA 32-of-45 18-of-28 Tigers runs and 10 different pitchers combined to hold the Cajuns to three hits. After a one hour, 17 minute rain delay, the Cajuns’ bullpen was able to hold the Tigers in their tracks when Slugging Percentage .386 .409 play resumed, holding LSU to one hit the over the final 5 2/3 innings. The offense never got On-Base Percentage .359 .373 untracked and UL was shutout for the first time this season. Walks 102 117 The FAU Series (UL leads 8-6): Series began with FAU’s entry into the Sun Hit by Pitch 12 17 Belt in 2007. Louisiana swept the first-ever series back in 2007 at “The Tigue”. Prior to last Strikeouts (Batting) 165 180 season’s Cajuns sweep at “The Tigue”, FAU had won six of eight meetings to claim their Innings Pitched 215.0 231.0 first series lead at 6-5. Neither team has scored double figures. Eight (8) of the 14 all-time Runs Allowed 117 132 meetings have been decided by three runs or less. This weekend’s set is just the second Team ERA 3.77 4.25 series at FAU Stadium (Owls hold a 2-1 edge claiming a series in March 2008). Strikeouts (Pitching) 154 210 Nicholson Delivers Again: Jordan Nicholson turned in his fifth quality start Saves 6 7 (six innings, three earned runs or less) of the season last Friday vs. Arkansas State. The senior Errors 34 30 righty from Ruston, La., has pitched at least six complete innings in five of his six starts. Fielding Percentage .965 .969 Run Producing Machine: True freshman Dylan Butler has posted at least one Double Plays 14 22 RBI in 11 of the last 14 games. He sports a team-high 29 RBI, which ranks third in the Sun Belt trailing only UALR’s Sean Bignall (38) and Troy’s Boone Shear (32). Special Company: Dylan Butler is one of only six (6) players in the Sun Belt Louisiana: Tony Robichaux (621-420-1 at UL, 18th) Conference averaging over one RBI per game (1.21 per game). At his present pace, the (884-597-1 overall, 26th) freshman from Belle Chasse, La., might challenge the Cajuns single-season RBI record of FAU: John McCormak (115-85 at FAU, 4th) 75 set by Greg Blevins in 1990. Butler is currently on pace for 67 RBI by regular season’s (115-85 overall, 4th) end, which would be good enough for Top 5 in school history. Bowman Bagging Bases: Brian Bowman needs two (2) stolen bases to tie his personal, single-season best of 17 set in 2010. Bowman ranks second in the Sun Belt with 15 On Deck for Louisiana swipes in 16 attempts. He trails league leader Michael Faulkner (20) by five stolen bases. TUESDAY, APRIL 3 Pitching Prowess: Louisiana pitching has held the opposition to single digits in Opponent: Southeastern Louisiana runs in 23 of 24 games. Site: Lafayette, La. | M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field Prime Time Performers: Night and day games have provided a stark contrast Game Time: 6 p.m. for the Ragin’ Cajuns – UL is 10-2 in night games and only 3-9 in day games. The Countdown Continues: Head coach Tony Robichaux is 16 wins shy of FRIDAY-SUNDAY, APRIL 6-8 900 career wins (presently 884-597-1 in his 26th season as a Division I head coach). Opponent: Western Kentucky Welcome Back Adam: Adam Todd, who played seven games in 2010, has Site: Lafayette, La. | M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field rejoined the squad after sitting out the 2011 season. A catcher by trade, he’ll serve as a Game Times: 6 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 1 p.m. backup to Chris Sinclair who was the lone catcher after Michael Strentz’s season-ending surgery. Louisiana Quality Starts Date Opponent Time (CT) (At least 6 IP, 3 earned runs or less) 2/18 vs. Wichita State# W, 1-0 Date IP H ER K 2/19 vs. Santa Clara# L, 5-8 Jordan Nicholson (2/19 vs. Santa Clara) 6.0 4 2 6 2/20 at Texas State# L, 5-9 2/22 at Southeastern La. L, 5-6 Jordan Nicholson (2/25 vs. Towson) 6.0 2 0 4 2/24 TOWSON W, 6-5 (11) Jordan Nicholson (3/9 vs. Southern Miss) 6.0 6 3 5 2/25 TOWSON (MyKLAF) W, 11-1 Jordan Harrison (3/10 vs. Southern Miss) 6.0 7 3 4 2/26 TOWSON W, 6-2 Jordan Nicholson (3/16 at La.-Monroe) 9.0 4 0 6 2/28 ALCORN STATE W, 6-4 Jordan Nicholson (3/23 vs. Arkansas State) 6.0 6 2 5 3/2 vs. Gonzaga$ L, 1-6 3/3 vs. Kansas$ W, 8-6 3/4 at Texas-San Antonio$ L, 2-5 3/6 HOUSTON W, 3-1 3/7 at McNeese State W, 14-8 3/9 SOUTHERN MISS W, 12-5 3/10 SOUTHERN MISS (MyKLAF) L, 3-4 (11) 3/11 SOUTHERN MISS L, 3-11 3/13 SOUTHERN W, 6-5 3/16 at La.-Monroe* W, 5-0 ` 3/17 at La.-Monroe* W, 5-3 (10) 3/18 at La.-Monroe* L, 5-7 3/20 TULANE (MyKLAF) ppd. weather 3/21 at Northwestern State ppd. weather 3/23 ARKANSAS STATE* W, 9-2 3/24 ARKANSAS STATE* (MyKLAF) L, 4-6 3/25 ARKANSAS STATE* L, 7-8 Weekend Series Tracker 3/28 at #15 LSU L, 0-5 Series G1 G2 G3 Result 3/30 at Florida Atlantic* 5:30 PM (CT) 3/31 at Florida Atlantic* 3:00 PM (CT) Towson (Feb. 24-26) W, 6-5 (11) W, 11-1 W, 6-2 3-0 (W) Southern Miss (March 9-11) W, 12-5 L, 3-4 (11) L, 3-11 1-2 (L) 4/1 at Florida Atlantic* 12:00 PM (CT) La.-Monroe (March 16-18) W, 5-0 W, 5-3 (10) L, 5-7 2-1 (W) 4/3 SOUTHEASTERN LA 6:00 PM Arkansas State (March 23-25) W, 9-2 L, 4-6 L, 7-8 1-2 (L) 4/6 WESTERN KY* 6:00 PM Florida Atlantic (March 30-April 1) 4/7 WESTERN KY* (MyKLAF) 6:00 PM Western Kentucky (April 6-8) 4/8 WESTERN KY* 1:00 PM FIU (April 13-15) 4/10 at Southern 6:00 PM South Alabama (April 20-22) 4/13 FIU* 6:00 PM UALR (April 27-29) 4/14 FIU* (MyKLAF) 6:00 PM Troy (May 4-6) 4/15 FIU* (Sun Belt Network) 12:00 PM Middle Tennessee (May 11-13) 4/17 at Northwestern State 6:30 PM La.-Monroe (May 17-19) 4/18 NORTHWESTERN STATE 6:00 PM 4/20 at South Alabama* 6:30 PM 10 or More Run Games (3 Total; 3-0 record) 4/21 at South Alabama* 6:30 PM Game Runs Scored Result 4/22 at South Alabama* 1:00 PM Feb. 25 vs. Towson 11 W, 11-1 4/25 MCNEESE STATE 6:00 PM March 7 at McNeese State 14 W, 14-8 4/27 at UALR* 6:00 PM 4/28 at UALR * 4:00 PM March 9 vs.