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.
Posteason
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
All Conference First Team
Connor Cooke (LA)
Hayden Arnold (LR)
Carlos Tavera (UTA)
Nick Jones (GASO)
Drake Osborn (LA)
Robbie Young (APP)
Luke Drumheller (APP)
Drew Frederic (TROY)
Ben Klutts (ARST)
Mason McWhorter (GASO)
Logan Cerny (TROY)
Ethan Wilson (USA)
Cameron Jones (GSU)
Ben Fitzgerald (LA)
All Conference Second Team
JoJo Booker (USA)
Tyler Tuthill (APP)
Jeremy Lee (USA)
Aaron Barkley (LR)
BT Riopelle (CCU)
Dylan Paul (UTA)
Travis Washburn (ULM)
Eric Brown (CCU)
Grant Schulz (ULM)
Tyler Duncan (ARST)
Parker Chavers (CCU)
Josh Smith (GSU)
Andrew Miller (UTA)
Noah Ledford (GASO)
References: [7]
Rankings
^ Collegiate Baseball ranks 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* 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
Venues People Seasons College World Series appearances in italics