2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team

2020 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Division	West Division
Record	8–9 (0–0 SBC)
Head coach	Matt Deggs (1st season)
Assistant coaches	Anthony Babineaux Jeremy Talbert Jake Wells
Home stadium	M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park
Seasons ←  2019 2021  →

2020 Sun Belt Conference baseball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
East Division
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			11	–	5		.688
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			11	–	5		.688
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			11	–	6		.647
Georgia State  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			9	–	7		.563
Troy  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			9	–	8		.529
South Alabama  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			8	–	10		.444
West Division
Texas State  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			14	–	4		.778
UT Arlington  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			12	–	4		.750
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			12	–	5		.706
Little Rock  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			9	–	8		.529
Louisiana  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			8	–	9		.471
Arkansas State  ‍‍‍	0	–	0		–			7	–	9		.438
x – Division champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of March 12, 2020 [1] Rankings from D1Baseball

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)
SBC Tournament (0–0) Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 20 Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL Championship Series most likely to be suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic

Schedule Source: ^[6]

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

References

1. "Sun Belt Conference baseball standings, teams, and schedules". D1Baseball. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
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 Inks 11 During Signing Period". Ragin' Cajuns Athletics. University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
5. "Ragin' Cajuns Picked Second in the West, Cantrelle Earns Preseason Honor". RaginCajuns.Com. Ragin' Cajuns Athletics. Retrieved March 18, 2020.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
6. "Louisiana Releases 2020 Baseball Schedule" (Press release). UL Department of Athletics. August 7, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.