2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team

2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball
Sun Belt Conference West Division champions
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record32–23 (13–11 SBC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Anthony Babineaux
  • Jeremy Talbert
  • Jake Wells
Home stadiumM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Sun Belt Conference baseball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East Division
South Alabama  x‍‍‡‍y 15 – 9   .625 36 – 22   .621
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍ 14 – 10   .583 34 – 23   .596
Troy  ‍‍‍ 13 – 11   .542 27 – 26   .509
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍ 11 – 10   .524 21 – 31   .404
Georgia State  ‍‍‍ 12 – 12   .500 18 – 37   .327
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍ 9 – 12   .429 27 – 24   .529
West Division
Louisiana  x‍‍‍ 13 – 11   .542 32 – 23   .582
UT Arlington  ‍‍‍ 13 – 11   .542 27 – 30   .474
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍ 11 – 13   .458 26 – 26   .500
Little Rock  ‍‍‍ 11 – 13   .458 21 – 30   .412
Arkansas State  ‍‍‍ 10 – 14   .417 19 – 30   .388
Texas State  ‍‍‍ 9 – 15   .375 21 – 36   .368
x – Division champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 7, 2021[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball


The 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park and were led by second–year head coach Matt Deggs. They were members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Previous season

On March 12, 2020, the Sun Belt Conference announced the indefinite suspension of all spring athletics, including baseball, due to the increasing risk of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On March 13, Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order banning gatherings of over 250 people until as early as April 18, thus ending all possible future 2020 home or in-state games until that time if the season were to continue.[3] Soon after, the Sun Belt cancelled all season and postseason play.

Preseason

Signing-day recruits

[4]

Player Hometown Previous Team
Pitchers
Bo Bonds Suwannee, Florida Chipola College
Cole Elkins Fort Wayne, Indiana Homestead HS
Adam Guth Lake Charles, Louisiana Barbe HS
Antoine Harris Chalmette, Louisiana Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
Tommy Ray Quincy, Illinois John A. Logan
Tony Rossi Sanford, Florida State College of Florida
Dylan Theut Fulshear, Texas Blinn College
Peyton Zabel Pierre, South Dakota Iowa Western CC
Hitters
Jack Clark Whitehouse, Texas Whitehouse HS
Kyle DeBarge Lake Charles, Louisiana Barbe HS
Clint Lasiter Benton, Louisiana Benton HS
Mason Zambo Baton Rouge, Louisiana Catholic HS

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 15, 2021 and the Cajuns were picked to finish third in the West Division and fourth overall in the conference.[5]

Coaches poll (West)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Texas State 65 (6)
2 UT Arlington 58 (4)
3 Louisiana 52 (2)
4 Little Rock 33
5 Louisiana–Monroe 27
6 Arkansas State 13

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team & Honors

  • Aaron Funk (LR, Pitcher)
  • Jordan Jackson (GASO, Pitcher)
  • Conor Angel (LA, Pitcher)
  • Wyatt Divis (UTA, Pitcher)
  • Lance Johnson (TROY, Pitcher)
  • Caleb Bartolero (TROY, Catcher)
  • William Sullivan (TROY, 1st Base)
  • Luke Drumheller (APP, 2nd Base)
  • Drew Frederic (TROY, Shortstop)
  • Cooper Weiss (CCU, 3rd Base)
  • Ethan Wilson (USA, Outfielder)
  • Parker Chavers (CCU, Outfielder)
  • Rigsby Mosley (TROY, Outfielder)
  • Eilan Merejo (GSU, Designated Hitter)
  • Andrew Beesly (ULM, Utility)

Roster

2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns roster
 

Pitchers

  • 2 Connor Cooke – Sophomore
  • 15 Jacob Schultz – Junior
  • 16 Austin Bradford – Senior
  • 17 Conor Angel – Junior
  • 27 Austin Perrin – Junior
  • 30 David Christie – Freshman
  • 31 Conner Wyly – Sophomore
  • 32 Spencer Arrighetti – Sophomore
  • 34 Hayden Durke – Freshman
  • 35 Blake Marshall – Sophomore
  • 37 Dane Dixon – Redshirt Junior
  • 38 Jason Nelson – Junior
  • 40 Will Moriarty – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 41 Chipper Menard – Freshman
  • 45 Jack Burk – Senior
  • 49 Peyton Havard – Freshman
  • 51 Jeff Wilson – Junior
  • 53 Carter Robinson – Junior
  

Catchers

  • 6 Nick Hagedorn – Junior
  • 11 Julian Brock – Freshman
  • 13 Drake Osborn – Senior

Infielders

  • 1 Brett Borgogno – Junior
  • 5 Sam Bianco – Freshman
  • 7 Kevin Fitzgerald – Sophomore
  • 9 Bobby Lada – Sophomore
  • 12 Sam Riola – Sophomore
  • 18 Anthony Catalano – Sophomore
  • 19 Clayton Dean – Freshman
  • 24 Josh Cofield – Sophomore
  • 26 Jonathan Brandon – Redshirt Junior
  

Outfielders

  • 4 Brennan Breaux – Senior
  • 10 Alex Hannie – Redshirt Sophomore
  • 14 Jamey Richey – Sophomore
  • 20 Tyler Robertson – Sophomore
  • 21 Connor Kimple – Junior
  • 22 Carson Roccaforte – Freshman
  • 33 Conor Higgs – Freshman

Utility

  • 8 Ben Fitzgerald – Junior
  • 44 CJ Willis – Sophomore

Coaching staff

2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns coaching staff
  • Matt Deggs – Head coach & Pitching Coach – 2nd year
  • Anthony Babineaux – Associate head coach and Director of Player and Program Development– 27th year
  • Jeremy Talbot – Assistant head coach – 7th year
  • Jake Wells – Assistant head coach, Batting coach – 3rd year
  • B. J. Ryan – Volunteer assistant Coach – 2nd year
  • Chris Domingue – Academic & Camp coordinator – 18th year
  • James Lang – Assistant director of Athletic Performance for Olympic Sports – 2nd year
  • Joey Bearb – Clubhouse Manager
  • Carter Munchrath – Clubhouse Manager
  • Zackary Crain – Clubhouse Manager
  • Aidan Serio – Clubhouse Manager
  • Austin Belaire – Field Manager
  • Victoria Stringer – Student assistant

Schedule and results

Legend
  Louisiana win
  Louisiana loss
  Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions
Bold Louisiana team member
2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball game log
Regular season (30-22)
February (6-2)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Feb. 19 at Tulane Greer Field at Turchin Stadium • New Orleans, LA L 2-3 (10 inn.) Price (1-0) Wilson (0-1) None ESPN+ 339 1-0
Feb. 20 at Tulane Greer Field at Turchin Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 9-8 (10 inn) Dixon (1-0) Campbell (0-1) Talley (1) ESPN+ 362 1-1
Feb. 21 at Tulane Greer Field at Turchin Stadium • New Orleans, LA W 9-7 (12 inn) Burk (1-0) Price (1-1) None ESPN+ 369 2-1
Feb. 23 Louisiana Tech M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 2-0 Arrighetti (1-0) Whorff (0-1) Talley (2) ESPN+ 795 3-1
Feb. 24 No. 11 LSU M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 2-11 Hellmers (1-0) Cooke (0-2) None ESPN+ 1,183 3-2
Feb. 26 Rice M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-3 Durke (1-0) Holcomb (0-1) None ESPN+ 890 4-2
Feb. 27 Rice M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 5-3 Nelson (1-0) Brogdon (0-1) Arrighetti (1) ESPN+ 911 5-2
Feb. 28 Rice M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 6-3 Robinson (1-0) Deskins (0-1) Schultz (1) ESPN+ 761 6-2
March (8-9)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Mar. 2 at Louisiana Tech J. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park • Ruston, LA W 7-2 Cooke (1-2) Griffen (0-1) None 387 7-2
Mar. 3 at McNeese State Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA L 3-4 Duplechain (1-0) Moriarty (0-1) Reeves (1) 402 7-3
Mar. 5 Houston Baptist M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 5-2 Durke (2-0) Zarella (0-2) None ESPN+ 737 8-3
Mar. 6 Houston Baptist M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 4-1 Arrighetti (2-0) Coats (0-2) Schultz (2) ESPN+ 610 9-3
Mar. 7 Houston Baptist M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 4-6 (11 inns) Reitmeyer (1-1) Angel (0-1) Burch (1) ESPN+ 735 9-4
Mar. 10 at No. 3 Mississippi State Dudy Noble Field, Polk–DeMent Stadium • Starkville, MS L 0-4 Harding (2-1) Perrin (0-1) None SECN+ 2,976 9-5
Mar. 12 at Southern Miss Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS L 4-13 Stanley (2-1) Durke (2-1) None CUSA.TV 9-6
Mar. 13 at Southern Miss Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS L 0-1 Powell (2-0) Arrighetti (2-1) Ramsey (4) CUSA.TV 9-7
Mar. 14 at Southern Miss Pete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MS L 3-6 (11 inns) Hall (1-1) Schultz (0-1) None CUSA.TV 9-8
Mar. 16 at Nicholls Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA W 9-8 Cooke (2-2) Theriot (2-2) Bradford (1) 733 10-8
Mar. 19 No. 15 TCU M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-2 Arrighetti (3-1) Smith (3-1) None ESPN+ 918 11-8
Mar. 20 No. 15 TCU M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 4-13 Krob (2-0) Durke (2-2) None ESPN+ 902 11-9
Mar. 21 No. 15 TCU M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 1-5 Ray (1-1) Robinson (1-1) Green (3) ESPN+ 894 11-10
Mar. 26 Coastal Carolina M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-2 Arrighetti (4-1) VanScoter (2-1) None ESPN+ 1,004 12-10 1-0
Mar. 27 Coastal Carolina M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 3-5 Parker (2-1) Menard (0-1) Barrow (1) ESPN+ 828 12-11 1-1
Mar. 28 Coastal Carolina M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 5-3 Perrin (1-1) Hopwood (4-1) Cooke (1) ESPN+ 730 13-11 2-1
Mar. 29 Coastal Carolina M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 7-0 Burk (2-0) Green (0-1) None 418 14-11
April (8-8)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Apr. 1 at Louisiana–Monroe Warhawk Field • Monroe, LA W 9-5 Arrighetti (5-1) Barnes (1-2) None ESPN+ 694 15-11 3-1
Apr. 2 at Louisiana–Monroe Warhawk Field • Monroe, LA W 5-2 Cooke (3-2) Barlow (3-3) Talley (4) ESPN+ 676 16-11 4-1
Apr. 3 at Louisiana–Monroe Warhawk Field • Monroe, LA W 11-9 Christie (1-0) Lindsay (1-2) None ESPN+ 617 17-11 5-1
Apr. 6 Nicholls M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 3-2 Menard (1-1) Kilcrease (2-3) Durke (1) 815 18-11
Apr. 9 Arkansas State M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 10-3 Arrighetti (6-1) Jeans (1-1) Talley (5) ESPN+ 900 19-11 6-1
Apr. 10 Arkansas State M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-0 Cooke (4-2) Nash (1-3) None ESPN+ 851 20-11 7-1
Apr. 11 Arkansas State M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 11-16 Jumper (1-2) Christie (1-1) Stone (3) 782 20-12 7-2
Apr. 18 at South Alabama Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL L 1-4 Lee (3-2) Arrighetti (6-2) Smith (2) ESPN+ 811 20-13 7-3
Apr. 19 at South Alabama Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL L 2-3 Boyd (2-1) Talley (0-1) Samaniego (5) ESPN+ 20-14 7-4
Apr. 19 at South Alabama Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL L 2-8 Booker (4-0) Durke (2-3) None ESPN+ 648 20-15 7-5
Apr. 21 McNeese State M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 4-3 Burk (4-0) Abraham (2-1) Schultz (3) ESPN+ 643 21-15
Apr. 23 at Little Rock Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR L 2-8 Arnold (6-3) Arrighetti (6-3) Barkley (6) ESPN+ 256 21-16 7-6
Apr. 24 at Little Rock Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR L 3-4 (10 inns) Delgadillo (2-0) Nelson (1-1) None ESPN+ 490 21-17 7-7
Apr. 25 at Little Rock Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR W 7-4 Dixon (2-0) Wallner (0-1) Talley (5) ESPN+ 390 22-17 8-7
Apr. 27 Louisiana–Monroe M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 6-7 Longsworth (1-2) Christie (1-2) Wepf (3) 567 22-18
Apr. 30 Texas State M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 3-9 Leigh (4-5) Arrighetti (6-4) None ESPN+ 887 22-19 8-8
May (8–3)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
May 1 Texas State M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 9-0 Cooke (5-2) Wood (2-4) None 826 23-19 9-8
May 2 Texas State M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 2-6 Wofford (3-1) Perrin (1-2) None 426 23-20 9-9
May 7 North Alabama M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 11-1 Arrighetti (7-4) Davidson (2-6) None ESPN+ 563 24-20
May 8 North Alabama M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 5-2 Cooke (6-2) Best (1-9) Menard (1) ESPN+ 539 25-20
May 9 North Alabama M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 13-3 Burk (4-0) Haberstock (1-4) None ESPN+ 461 26-20
May 11 Southern M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA Game cancelled
May 14 at UT Arlington Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX W 4-3 (15 inns) Marshall (1-0) Brooks (0-2) Dixon (1) ESPN+ 314 27-20 10-9
May 15 at UT Arlington Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX L 2-6 Bullard (7-3) Cooke (6-3) King (3) ESPN+ 314 27-21 10-10
May 16 UT Arlington Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX W 7-4 Marshall (2-0) Logan (1-2) Talley (7) ESPN+ 314 28-21 11-10
May 18 at New Orleans Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA Game cancelled
May 20 Troy M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 5-6 Gainous (9-4) Arrighetti (7-5) Oates (8) ESPN+ 460 28-22 11-11
May 21 Troy M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 3-2 Cooke (7-3) Ortiz (6-5) Talley (8) ESPN+ 958 29-22 12-11
May 22 Troy M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA W 2-1 Dixon (3-0) Witcher (5-4) Schultz (4) 1,227 30-22 13-11
Post-season (2–1)
SBC Tournament (2–1)
Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record
May 26 vs. (6W) Texas State (1W) Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL W 12-6 Burk (5-0) Sundgren (0-4) None ESPN+ 31-22 1-0
May 26 vs. (4E) Appalachian State (1W) Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL W 7-2 Talley (1-1) Tuthill (4-6) Arrighetti (2) ESPN+ 32-22 2-0
May 29 vs. (2E) Georgia Southern (1W) Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL L 2-3 (11 inns) Thompson (7-1) Arrighetti (8-6) None ESPN+ 32-23 2-1
Schedule Source:[6]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

Postseason

Conference accolades

  • Player of the Year: Mason McWhorter – GASO
  • Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Arnold – LR
  • Freshman of the Year: Garrett Gainous – TROY
  • Newcomer of the Year: Drake Osborn – LA
  • Coach of the Year: Mark Calvi – USA

References:[7]

Rankings

Main article: 2021 NCAA Division I baseball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
Coaches'[8]——*RVRV—————————
Baseball America[9]—————————————
Collegiate Baseball^[10]RV————————————
NCBWA†[11]RVRVRVRV———RVRVRV———
D1Baseball[12]—————————————

^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References

  1. ^ "Sun Belt Conference baseball standings". D1Baseball.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  2. ^ Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Statement on Spring Sports Competitions". sunbeltsports.org.
  3. ^ "Louisiana schools closed until April 13, halts public gatherings over 250 people". KLFY.
  4. ^ "Louisiana Baseball Announces 2021 Signing Class". Louisiana Athletics. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  5. ^ Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Conference Announces 2021 Baseball Preseason Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  6. ^ "Louisiana Baseball Announces 2021 Schedule". Louisiana Athletics. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "Sun Belt Announces 2021 Baseball All-Conference Teams & Postseason Awards". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "Baseball Coaches Poll". Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "College Baseball Top 25 Rankings". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "2019 Collegiate Baseball Polls - Collegiate Baseball Newspaper". baseballnews.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "NCBWA > News". sportswriters.net. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  12. ^ "College Baseball Rankings News & Analysis". d1baseball.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.