2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team explained
| Mode: | baseball |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Next Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns |
| Conference: | Sun Belt Conference |
| Division: | West Division |
| Short Conf: | SBC |
| Record: | 8–9 |
| Conf Record: | 0–0 |
| Head Coach: | Matt Deggs |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Asst Coach1: | Anthony Babineaux |
| Asst Coach2: | Jeremy Talbert |
| Asst Coach3: | Jake Wells |
| Stadium: | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park |
The 2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the 2020 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 first year head coach Matt Deggs.
This season was also their first with new head coach Matt Deggs. This came after Head Coach Tony Robichaux’s death on July 3, 2019 after suffering from a massive heart attack. Deggs had previously served as Assistant under Robichaux from 2012 to 2014. He had also served as head coach at Sam Houston State from 2015 to 2019 and Texarkana College from 1998 to 2002 and stints as assistant at Northwestern State, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.
On March 12, the Sun Belt Conference announced the indefinite suspension of all spring athletics, including baseball, due to the increasing risk of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] 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.[2] Soon after, the Sun Belt cancelled all season and postseason play.
Preseason
Signing Day Recruits
[3]
| Pitchers |
|---|
| Spencer Arrighetti | Katy, Texas | Navarro JC |
| Chad Brown | McKinney, Texas | McKinney Boyd HS |
| Hayden Durke | Abbeville, Louisiana | North Vermillion HS |
| Peyton Havard | Orange, Texas | Bridge City HS |
| Blake Marshall | Mandeville, Louisiana | Hinds JC |
| Chipper Menard | New Iberia, Louisiana | New Iberia Senior HS |
| Hitters |
|---|
| Sam Bianco | Oxford, Mississippi | Oxford HS |
| Clayton Dean | Tomball, Texas | Cypress Community Christian |
| Conor Higgs | Texas City, Texas | Texas City HS |
| Bobby Lada | Richmond, Texas | Bossier Parish CC |
| Carson Roccaforte | Port Neches, Texas | Port Neches–Groves HS | |
Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll
The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll will be released sometime around January 30, 2020 and the Cajuns were picked to finish second in the West Division and second overall in the conference.[4]
| Coaches poll (West) |
| 1 | UT Arlington | 58 (3) |
| 2 | Louisiana | 57 (5) |
| 3 | Texas State | 55 (3) |
| 4 | Little Rock | 39 (1) |
| 5 | Louisiana–Monroe | 25 |
| 6 | Arkansas State | 18 |
|
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team & Honors
- Drake Nightengale (USA, Sr, Pitcher)
- Zach McCambley (CCU, Jr, Pitcher)
- Levi Thomas (TROY, Jr, Pitcher)
- Andrew Papp (APP, Sr, Pitcher)
- Jack Jumper (ARST, Sr, Pitcher)
- Kale Emshoff (LR, RS-Jr, Catcher)
- Kaleb DeLatorre (USA, Sr, First Base)
- Luke Drumheller (APP, So, Second Base)
- Hayden Cantrelle (LA, Jr, Shortstop)
- Garrett Scott (LR, RS-Sr, Third Base)
- Mason McWhorter (GASO, Sr, Outfielder)
- Ethan Wilson (USA, So, Outfielder)
- Rigsby Mosley (TROY, Jr, Outfielder)
- Will Hollis (TXST, Sr, Designated Hitter)
- Andrew Beesley (ULM, Sr, Utility)
Roster
Coaching staff
Schedule and results
| Legend |
|---|
| | Louisiana win |
| | Louisiana loss |
| | Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Louisiana team member | |
| 2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball game log |
|---|
| Regular season (8-9) |
|---|
| February (3-8) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
|---|
| Feb. 14 | | No. 24 | | L 2-3 | Shaffer (1-0) | Angel (0-1) | Warren (1) | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 5,472 | 0-1 | | | Feb. 15 | | No. 24 | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | L 1-2 | Fincher (1-0) | Moriarty (0-1) | Crigger (1) | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 5,109 | 0-2 | | | Feb. 15 | Louisiana Tech | No. 24 | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | L 0-10 | Whorff (1-0) | Schultz (0-1) | None | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 4,881 | 0-3 | | | Feb. 18 | at Southeastern Louisiana | | | W 9-6 | Young (1-0) | Dugas (0-1) | Cooke (1) | Southeastern Network | 1,321 | 1-3 | | | Feb. 19 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | L 6-9 | Janetta (1-0) | Batty (0-1) | Gillies (2) | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 4,540 | 1-4 | | | Feb. 21 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | W 2-0 | Angel (1-1) | Gerard (0-1) | Cooke (2) | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 4,740 | 2-4 | | | Feb. 22 | Virginia Tech | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | L 2-3 | Simonelli (1-1) | Moriarty (0-2) | Alford (1) | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 5,009 | 2-5 | | | Feb. 23 | Virginia Tech | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | L 0-3 | Seymour (2-0) | Robinson (0-1) | Starliper (1) | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 4,707 | 2-6 | | | Feb. 26 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | L 8-10 | David (2-0) | Schultz (0-2) | Swanson (2) | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 4,608 | 2-7 | | | Feb. 28 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | L 4-5 (11 inn) | Lusk (2-0) | Cooke (0-1) | None | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 4,690 | 2-8 | | | Feb. 29 | Sam Houston State | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | W 1-0 | Young (2-0) | Robinson (1-1) | None | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 4,762 | 3-8 | | |
|
| March (5-1) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
|---|
| Mar. 1 | Sam Houston State | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | W 7-5 | Talley (1-0) | Dillard (1-1) | Schultz (1) | Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network | 4,000 | 4-8 | | | Mar. 3 | at | | | W 11-2 | Robinson (1-1) | Larzabal (0-1) | None | | 1,943 | 5-8 | | | Diamond Invitational |
|---|
| Mar. 6 | vs. | | | L 4-12 | Strickland (3-0) | Angel (1-2) | None | | 1,000 | 5-9 | | | Mar. 7 | vs. | | Admiral Fetterman Field • Pensacola, FL | W 6-3 | Young (3-0) | Christopherson (1-1) | Talley (1) | | 1,114 | 6-9 | | | Mar. 8 | | | Admiral Fetterman Field • Pensacola, FL | W 8-4 | Moriarty (1-2) | Ellis (0-1) | None | | 919 | 7-9 | | |
|---|
| Mar. 10 | at | | | W 7-0 | Robinson | Strahan | None | | 1,088 | 8-9 | | | Mar. 13 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 14 | Coastal Carolina | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 15 | Coastal Carolina | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 17 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 18 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 20 | | | | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 21 | at Appalachian State | | Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium • Boone, NC | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 22 | at Appalachian State | | Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium • Boone, NC | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 24 | Louisiana Tech | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 27 | | | | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 28 | at Georgia State | | Georgia State Baseball Complex • Atlanta, GA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 29 | at Georgia State | | Georgia State Baseball Complex • Atlanta, GA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Mar. 31 | McNeese State | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
|
| April (0-0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
|---|
| Apr. 1 | at Tulane | | | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 3 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 4 | UT Arlington | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 5 | UT Arlington | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 7 | | | | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 9 | | | | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 10 | at Texas State | | Bobcat Ballpark • San Marcos, TX | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 11 | at Texas State | | Bobcat Ballpark • San Marcos, TX | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 14 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 15 | Houston | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 17 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 18 | Little Rock | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 19 | Little Rock | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 24 | | | | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 25 | at South Alabama | | Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 26 | at South Alabama | | Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | Apr. 28 | at Louisiana Tech | | | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
|
| May (0–0) |
|---|
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
|---|
| May 1 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | May 2 | Georgia Southern | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | May 3 | Georgia Southern | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | May 8 | at | | | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | May 9 | at Arkansas State | | Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | May 10 | at Arkansas State | | Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | May 14 | | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | May 15 | Louisiana–Monroe | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | | May 16 | Louisiana–Monroe | | M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA | Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
|
| Post-season (0–0) |
|---|
| |
Schedule Source:[5] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.
Notes and References
- Web site: Conference . Sun Belt . Sun Belt Statement on Spring Sports Competitions . sunbeltsports.org . en.
- Web site: Louisiana schools closed until April 13, halts public gatherings over 250 people . KLFY.
- Web site: Louisiana Baseball Inks 11 During Signing Period . Ragin' Cajuns Athletics . University of Louisiana at Lafayette . 25 December 2019.
- Web site: Ragin' Cajuns Picked Second in the West, Cantrelle Earns Preseason Honor . RaginCajuns.Com . Ragin' Cajuns Athletics . 18 March 2020 .
- Louisiana Releases 2020 Baseball Schedule. UL Department of Athletics. August 7, 2019. November 29, 2019.
