2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team

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.

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
2021 Sun Belt Conference baseball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
East Division
South Alabama  x‍‍‡‍y 15–9 .62536–22 .621
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍ 14–10 .58334–23 .596
Troy  ‍‍‍ 13–11 .54227–26 .509
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍ 11–10 .52421–31 .404
Georgia State  ‍‍‍ 12–12 .50018–37 .327
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍ 9–12 .42927–24 .529
West Division
Louisiana  x‍‍‍ 13–11 .54232–23 .582
UT Arlington  ‍‍‍ 13–11 .54227–30 .474
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍ 11–13 .45826–26 .500
Little Rock  ‍‍‍ 11–13 .45821–30 .412
Arkansas State  ‍‍‍ 10–14 .41719–30 .388
Texas State  ‍‍‍ 9–15 .37521–36 .368
x – Division champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 7, 2021[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball

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)
1Texas State65 (6)
2UT Arlington58 (4)
3Louisiana52 (2)
4Little Rock33
5Louisiana–Monroe27
6Arkansas State13

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
BoldLouisiana 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. 19at TulaneGreer Field at Turchin Stadium • New Orleans, LAL 2-3 (10 inn.)Price (1-0)Wilson (0-1)NoneESPN+3391-0
Feb. 20at TulaneGreer Field at Turchin Stadium • New Orleans, LAW 9-8 (10 inn)Dixon (1-0)Campbell (0-1)Talley (1)ESPN+3621-1
Feb. 21at TulaneGreer Field at Turchin Stadium • New Orleans, LAW 9-7 (12 inn)Burk (1-0)Price (1-1)NoneESPN+3692-1
Feb. 23Louisiana TechM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 2-0Arrighetti (1-0)Whorff (0-1)Talley (2)ESPN+7953-1
Feb. 24No. 11 LSUM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 2-11Hellmers (1-0)Cooke (0-2)NoneESPN+1,1833-2
Feb. 26RiceM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 7-3Durke (1-0)Holcomb (0-1)NoneESPN+8904-2
Feb. 27RiceM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 5-3Nelson (1-0)Brogdon (0-1)Arrighetti (1)ESPN+9115-2
Feb. 28RiceM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 6-3Robinson (1-0)Deskins (0-1)Schultz (1)ESPN+7616-2
March (8-9)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Mar. 2at Louisiana TechJ. C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park • Ruston, LAW 7-2Cooke (1-2)Griffen (0-1)None3877-2
Mar. 3at McNeese StateJoe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LAL 3-4Duplechain (1-0)Moriarty (0-1)Reeves (1)4027-3
Mar. 5Houston BaptistM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 5-2Durke (2-0)Zarella (0-2)NoneESPN+7378-3
Mar. 6Houston BaptistM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 4-1Arrighetti (2-0)Coats (0-2)Schultz (2)ESPN+6109-3
Mar. 7Houston BaptistM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 4-6 (11 inns)Reitmeyer (1-1)Angel (0-1)Burch (1)ESPN+7359-4
Mar. 10at No. 3 Mississippi StateDudy Noble Field, Polk–DeMent Stadium • Starkville, MSL 0-4Harding (2-1)Perrin (0-1)NoneSECN+2,9769-5
Mar. 12at Southern MissPete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MSL 4-13Stanley (2-1)Durke (2-1)NoneCUSA.TV9-6
Mar. 13at Southern MissPete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MSL 0-1Powell (2-0)Arrighetti (2-1)Ramsey (4)CUSA.TV9-7
Mar. 14at Southern MissPete Taylor Park • Hattiesburg, MSL 3-6 (11 inns)Hall (1-1)Schultz (0-1)NoneCUSA.TV9-8
Mar. 16at NichollsBen Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LAW 9-8Cooke (2-2)Theriot (2-2)Bradford (1)73310-8
Mar. 19No. 15 TCUM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 7-2Arrighetti (3-1)Smith (3-1)NoneESPN+91811-8
Mar. 20No. 15 TCUM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 4-13Krob (2-0)Durke (2-2)NoneESPN+90211-9
Mar. 21No. 15 TCUM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 1-5Ray (1-1)Robinson (1-1)Green (3)ESPN+89411-10
Mar. 26Coastal CarolinaM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 9-2Arrighetti (4-1)VanScoter (2-1)NoneESPN+1,00412-101-0
Mar. 27Coastal CarolinaM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 3-5Parker (2-1)Menard (0-1)Barrow (1)ESPN+82812-111-1
Mar. 28Coastal CarolinaM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 5-3Perrin (1-1)Hopwood (4-1)Cooke (1)ESPN+73013-112-1
Mar. 29Coastal CarolinaM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 7-0Burk (2-0)Green (0-1)None41814-11
April (8-8)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Apr. 1at Louisiana–MonroeWarhawk Field • Monroe, LAW 9-5Arrighetti (5-1)Barnes (1-2)NoneESPN+69415-113-1
Apr. 2at Louisiana–MonroeWarhawk Field • Monroe, LAW 5-2Cooke (3-2)Barlow (3-3)Talley (4)ESPN+67616-114-1
Apr. 3at Louisiana–MonroeWarhawk Field • Monroe, LAW 11-9Christie (1-0)Lindsay (1-2)NoneESPN+61717-115-1
Apr. 6NichollsM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 3-2Menard (1-1)Kilcrease (2-3)Durke (1)81518-11
Apr. 9Arkansas StateM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 10-3Arrighetti (6-1)Jeans (1-1)Talley (5)ESPN+90019-116-1
Apr. 10Arkansas StateM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 9-0Cooke (4-2)Nash (1-3)NoneESPN+85120-117-1
Apr. 11Arkansas StateM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 11-16Jumper (1-2)Christie (1-1)Stone (3)78220-127-2
Apr. 18at South AlabamaEddie Stanky Field • Mobile, ALL 1-4Lee (3-2)Arrighetti (6-2)Smith (2)ESPN+81120-137-3
Apr. 19at South AlabamaEddie Stanky Field • Mobile, ALL 2-3Boyd (2-1)Talley (0-1)Samaniego (5)ESPN+20-147-4
Apr. 19at South AlabamaEddie Stanky Field • Mobile, ALL 2-8Booker (4-0)Durke (2-3)NoneESPN+64820-157-5
Apr. 21McNeese StateM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 4-3Burk (4-0)Abraham (2-1)Schultz (3)ESPN+64321-15
Apr. 23at Little RockGary Hogan Field • Little Rock, ARL 2-8Arnold (6-3)Arrighetti (6-3)Barkley (6)ESPN+25621-167-6
Apr. 24at Little RockGary Hogan Field • Little Rock, ARL 3-4 (10 inns)Delgadillo (2-0)Nelson (1-1)NoneESPN+49021-177-7
Apr. 25at Little RockGary Hogan Field • Little Rock, ARW 7-4Dixon (2-0)Wallner (0-1)Talley (5)ESPN+39022-178-7
Apr. 27Louisiana–MonroeM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 6-7Longsworth (1-2)Christie (1-2)Wepf (3)56722-18
Apr. 30Texas StateM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 3-9Leigh (4-5)Arrighetti (6-4)NoneESPN+88722-198-8
May (8–3)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
May 1Texas StateM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 9-0Cooke (5-2)Wood (2-4)None82623-199-8
May 2Texas StateM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 2-6Wofford (3-1)Perrin (1-2)None42623-209-9
May 7North AlabamaM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 11-1Arrighetti (7-4)Davidson (2-6)NoneESPN+56324-20
May 8North AlabamaM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 5-2Cooke (6-2)Best (1-9)Menard (1)ESPN+53925-20
May 9North AlabamaM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 13-3Burk (4-0)Haberstock (1-4)NoneESPN+46126-20
May 11SouthernM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAGame cancelled
May 14at UT ArlingtonClay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TXW 4-3 (15 inns)Marshall (1-0)Brooks (0-2)Dixon (1)ESPN+31427-2010-9
May 15at UT ArlingtonClay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TXL 2-6Bullard (7-3)Cooke (6-3)King (3)ESPN+31427-2110-10
May 16UT ArlingtonClay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TXW 7-4Marshall (2-0)Logan (1-2)Talley (7)ESPN+31428-2111-10
May 18at New OrleansMaestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LAGame cancelled
May 20TroyM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAL 5-6Gainous (9-4)Arrighetti (7-5)Oates (8)ESPN+46028-2211-11
May 21TroyM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 3-2Cooke (7-3)Ortiz (6-5)Talley (8)ESPN+95829-2212-11
May 22TroyM. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LAW 2-1Dixon (3-0)Witcher (5-4)Schultz (4)1,22730-2213-11
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 26vs. (6W) Texas State(1W)Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, ALW 12-6Burk (5-0)Sundgren (0-4)NoneESPN+31-221-0
May 26vs. (4E) Appalachian State(1W)Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, ALW 7-2Talley (1-1)Tuthill (4-6)Arrighetti (2)ESPN+32-222-0
May 29vs. (2E) Georgia Southern(1W)Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, ALL 2-3 (11 inns)Thompson (7-1)Arrighetti (8-6)NoneESPN+32-232-1
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 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
  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.
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