Red Wolves Head to Russo to Face Cajuns

The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are ready to be home.

After a road trip that saw the Cajuns get their flight home canceled, have a bus ride from Charleston, SC to Jacksonville, FL to Metairie and a hard fought contest with #8 LSU, the Cajuns will host Arkansas State in a three game series beginning Thursday night at M. L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.

Game times are 6:00 pm Thursday and Friday and 1:00 pm Saturday.  The team will be off on Easter Sunday.

Louisiana (18-14-1, 7-4-1 Sun Belt) will be playing a West Division opponent for the first time this year.  They'll face an Arkansas State team (19-14, 7-5) that has won four straight and eight of its last ten.

Gunner Leger, who was named to the 40-man Golden Spikes Award List this week, will get the Thursday start for the Cajuns.  Leger leads the Sun Belt in wins with a 6-1 record and a league leading 1.07 ERA.  Leger has allowed just two runs at Russo Park this season, good for an 0.65 ERA.

His mound opponent will be RHP Bradey Welsh (1-0, 5.59).  Welsh will be making his fourth start of the season, but his first appearance in a Sun Belt game this year.

Friday, the Cajuns will start RHP Nick Lee (4-3, 5.54), who will be looking to get back on track after three straight losses.  His mound opponent will be RHP Peyton Culbertson (3-3, 6.39).

Saturday, LHP Hogan Harris (3-0, 2.51) gets the start for Louisiana, while the Red Wolves counter with RHP Tyler Mitzel (1-2,  6.00).

The bullpens could play a big part in the series.  Cajuns' junior Wyatt Marks (1-1, 3 saves) is among the nation's leaders in opposing batting average (.134) and strikeouts per nine innings.  Dylan Moore is second in the Sun Belt with seven saves.

Arkansas State counters with the duo of Tanner Kirby and Tyler Zuber, who have combined for a 7-0 record and six saves.

All three games can be heard this weekend on 96.5 KPEL-FM.