2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team
American college baseball season
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 .[ 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
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.[ 5]
Coaches poll (West)
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
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
2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns roster
Pitchers
2 Connor Cooke - Sophomore
15 Jacob Schultz - Junior
16 Austin Bradford - Redshirt Junior
17 Connor Angel - Junior
20 Brock Batty - Junior
24 Caleb Armstrong - Senior
27 Austin Perrin - Junior
32 Brandon Young - Senior
37 Dane Dixon - Redshirt Junior
38 Jason Nelson - Junior
40 William Moriarty - Redshirt Sophomore
45 Jack Burk - Senior
48 David Williams - Redshirt Junior
49 Luke Cronan - Junior
50 Carter Robinson - Junior
51 Jeff Wilson - Junior
Catchers
6 Nick Hagedorn - Junior
11 Julian Brock - Freshman
13 Sebastian Toro - Redshirt Junior
Infielders
1 Connor Dupuy - Redshirt Sophomore
5 Hayden Cantrelle - Junior
12 Jonathan Windham - Redshirt Sophomore
23 Brandon Talley - Junior
26 Jonathan Brandon - Redshirt Junior
44 Zeph Hoffpauir - Freshman
Outfielders
4 Brennan Breaux - Redshirt Senior
10 Alex Hannie - Redshirt Sophomore
14 Tremaine Spears - Redshirt Junior
21 Connor Kimple - Junior
33 Colton Frank - Sophomore
41 Gavin Bourgeois - Redshirt Senior
Utility
34 Ben Fitzgerald - Junior
52 Justin Greene - Junior
Coaching staff
2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns coaching staff
Matt Deggs – Head Coach & Pitching Coach – 1st year
Anthony Babineaux – Associate Head Coach and Director of Player and Program Development– 26th year
Jeremy Talbot – Assistant Head Coach – 6th year
Jake Wells – Assistant Head Coach, Batting coach – 2nd year
BJ Ryan – Volunteer Assistant Coach – 1st year
Chris Domingue – Academic & Camp Coordinator – 17th year
James Lang – assistant director of Athletic Performance for Olympic Sports – 1st 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
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
Southeastern Louisiana
No. 24
M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA
L 2-3
Shaffer (1-0)
Angel (0-1)
Warren (1)
Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network
5,472
0-1
Feb. 15
Louisiana Tech
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
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA
W 9-6
Young (1-0)
Dugas (0-1)
Cooke (1)
Southeastern Network
1,321
1-3
Feb. 19
Tulane
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
Virginia Tech
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
Northwestern State
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
Sam Houston State
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 Rice
Reckling Park • Houston, TX
W 11-2
Robinson (1-1)
Larzabal (0-1)
None
1,943
5-8
Diamond Invitational
Mar. 6
vs. Samford
Admiral Fetterman Field • Pensacola, FL
L 4-12
Strickland (3-0)
Angel (1-2)
None
1,000
5-9
Mar. 7
vs. Michigan State
Admiral Fetterman Field • Pensacola, FL
W 6-3
Young (3-0)
Christopherson (1-1)
Talley (1)
1,114
6-9
Mar. 8
vs. Troy
Admiral Fetterman Field • Pensacola, FL
W 8-4
Moriarty (1-2)
Ellis (0-1)
None
919
7-9
Mar. 10
at McNeese State
Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA
W 7-0
Robinson
Strahan
None
1,088
8-9
Mar. 13
Coastal Carolina
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
Lamar
M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA
Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Mar. 18
Nicholls
M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA
Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Mar. 20
at Appalachian State
Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium • Boone, NC
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
at Georgia State
Georgia State Baseball Complex • Atlanta, GA
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
Greer Field at Turchin Stadium • New Orleans, LA
Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Apr. 3
UT Arlington
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
at LSU
Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field • Baton Rouge, LA
Season suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic
Apr. 9
at Texas State
Bobcat Ballpark • San Marcos, TX
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
Houston
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
Little Rock
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
at South Alabama
Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL
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
Ruston HS Baseball Stadium • Ruston, LA
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
Georgia Southern
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 Arkansas State
Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR
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
Louisiana–Monroe
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: [ 6]
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.
References
^ "Sun Belt Conference baseball standings, teams, and schedules" . D1Baseball. Retrieved April 12, 2020 .
^ Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Statement on Spring Sports Competitions" . sunbeltsports.org .
^ "Louisiana schools closed until April 13, halts public gatherings over 250 people" . KLFY .
^ "Louisiana Baseball Inks 11 During Signing Period" . Ragin' Cajuns Athletics . University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Retrieved December 25, 2019 .
^ "Ragin' Cajuns Picked Second in the West, Cantrelle Earns Preseason Honor" . RaginCajuns.Com . Ragin' Cajuns Athletics. Retrieved March 18, 2020 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Louisiana Releases 2020 Baseball Schedule" (Press release). UL Department of Athletics. August 7, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019 .
Venues People Seasons College World Series appearances in italics