Cajuns Host Georgia State on Senior Weekend

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns have six games remaining in their battle to qualify for the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament, and that quest begins Friday night when Louisiana (22-28, 10-14 Sun Belt) plays host to Georgia State (14-35, 5-19) at M. L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.

Game times this weekend are 6:30 pm Friday, 4:00 pm Saturday and 11:00 am Sunday, weather permitting.

There are special festivities planned for the weekend.  Friday, those who have completed their academic requirements will graduate at home plate.  Saturday, the seven Cajun seniors (Gunner Leger, Daniel Lahare, Handsome Monica, Orynn Veillon, Grant Cox, Hunter Kasuls and Kole McKinnon) will be honored prior to the contest.  The mothers of the Cajun players will throw out the first pitches to their sons in what has become a Mothers' Day tradition.

The Cajuns lead the all-time series 10-2 and are 6-0 against the Panthers at the "Tigue."

Both teams have struggled to find consistent pitching.  But both have dependable Friday night arms.  Hunter Gaddis, the preseason Pitcher of the Year in the Sun Belt, has had a hard luck season (1-6, 5.45 ERA) but is a quality pitcher.  Gaddis carried a one hit shutout into the eighth inning of his last start against Texas State, but was charged with the loss.  It was the third time this season the GSU bullpen was unable to hold a lead going into the eighth.  Gaddis has allowed only six earned runs in his last three starts.

Meanwhile, Jack Burk (2-2, 3.18) has moved into the Friday role and pitched the Cajuns to their first Sun Belt Friday victory, combining with Austin Perrin to shut out Coastal Carolina, 10-0.

Georgia State will send lefty Tyler Koch (0-3, 7,04) to the hill on Saturday, facing the Cajuns' Brandon Young (2-5, 5.06).  Both teams are TBA for game three of the series.

Panthers' outfielder Brandon Bell (.326-1-19) has been a solid two way player for the Panthers.  The preseason all-conference utility player doubles as the GSU closer and leads the team in saves with four.  Jake Corso (.333) and Griffen Cheney (.305) are the other Panthers hitting over .300.

All three games can be heard on News/Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM with the pre game show beginning 30 minutes before the first pitch.