LAFAYETTE (Press Release) – With postseason implications on the line, the Louisiana Baseball team will face a stiff test this weekend when it travels to Conway, South Carolina, for a pivotal Sun Belt series with Coastal Carolina. Game times are set for 5 p.m. (CDT), on Friday, 1 p.m. (CDT), on Saturday and Noon (CDT) on Sunday.
After getting swept by Texas State in their most recent series, the Ragin’ Cajuns (20-27, 8-13) have work to do to ensure a spot in the top 10 of the league standings. Louisiana has made the Sun Belt Tournament in each of the last six seasons.
Despite the seven-game skid, the bats have stayed hot with the team boasting an average of .305 (74-for-243). In that stretch, Daniel Lahare leads the way with a .417 (10-for-24) average. Hayden Cantrelle leads the team with 11 hits over the last seven contests, while Orynn Veillon added 10 hits and a team-high seven RBI.
Veillon has been the offense’s most consistent player recently with an 11-game hitting streak to his name, the second-longest streak by a Ragin’ Cajun this season. Cantrelle, meanwhile, leads the team in hits (59), runs scored (43), total bases (97), slugging percentage (.536) and stolen bases (26).
On the mound, Jack Burk (3.74 ERA, 1-2) will make his first Friday night start of the season, while Brandon Young (4.50 ERA, 2-5) will get the nod on Saturday afternoon. Sunday’s pitcher is still listed as TBA.
Coastal Carolina (26-18-1, 11-9) has struggled as of late, but is coming off a series victory over Georgia State despite dropping the finale this past Sunday. Six different Chanticleers are hitting over .300, led by Kieton Rivers’ .358. Rivers currently has 58 hits, a team-high 49 RBI and is slugging .617.
The Chanticleers will send Anthony Veneziano (4.29 ERA, 4-1) to the mound on Friday night, with both Saturday’s and Sunday’s starters listed as TBA.
Playing for just the third time since 2017, Louisiana leads all-time series over Coastal Carolina, 3-2-1. This weekend’s matchup will be just the second time the two teams have faced off in Conway, the first coming in 2017 when each team won a game and the finale finished in a tie.
