For decades, Louisiana and Southern Miss have clashed on the diamond, but now the rivalry has a name fitting of its grit and Gulf South roots: The Battle for the Paddle. And this weekend, the stakes are as high as they’ve ever been.

The Ragin’ Cajuns (25-24, 15-9 SBC) travel to Hattiesburg to face the No. 21-ranked Golden Eagles (35-13, 18-6 SBC) at Pete Taylor Park in a three-game Sun Belt Conference showdown that could decide seeding for the upcoming SBC Tournament.

A Rivalry Rooted in Respect—and Postseason Implications

The series sits deadlocked at 32-32 all-time, a testament to the parity and fire each team brings year in and year out. With Louisiana owning the 2024 regular-season SBC title and USM grabbing the last two tournament championships, these programs are no strangers to high-stakes baseball—and the recent renaming of the rivalry adds a paddle-shaped edge to the tension.

Key Matchups & Players to Watch

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

• Conor Higgs, the slugging outfielder, is tied for second in the Sun Belt with 16 home runs and is chasing history, just two shy of Jonathan Lucroy’s single-season mark of 18.
• Luke Yuhasz has been red-hot, carrying an 11-game hitting streak with a staggering .419/.767/.479 slash line over that stretch.
• Jose Torres, a finalist for the Tony Gwynn Trophy, has been the rock behind the plate and a veteran leader for a young pitching staff.

Pitching Rotation:

• Friday: Chase Morgan (4-1, 3.60 ERA, 54 K)
• Saturday: Andrew Herrmann (3-3, 4.08 ERA, 47 K)
• Sunday: JR Tollett (5-4, 3.29 ERA, 54 K), who earlier this year tossed a complete-game shutout against James Madison.

Louisiana leads the SBC in stolen bases (88) and must capitalize on that edge to pressure a solid USM defense (.970 fielding percentage).

Southern Miss Golden Eagles

• Nick Monistere is the Cajuns' mirror image of Higgs, also tied with 16 homers and leading a lineup that has 80 bombs on the season—tops in the Sun Belt.
• JB Middleton, a two-time SBC Pitcher of the Week, is expected to appear at some point this weekend out of the bullpen or rotation.
• The Eagles boast the best batting average in the league (.299) and one of the top pitching staffs (4.13 ERA, 1.31 WHIP).

USM’s lineup is deep, experienced, and patient, drawing more walks than Louisiana and striking out less.

Keys to Victory for Louisiana

1. Limit the Long Ball: USM leads the league in home runs, so keeping the ball in the yard—especially in the hitter-friendly Pete Taylor Park—is critical. Morgan and Herrmann must hit their spots early and avoid falling behind in counts.
2. Create Chaos on the Basepaths: The Cajuns’ speed is a unique weapon. Aggressive baserunning and hit-and-run execution could disrupt USM’s rhythm, especially against their strike-throwing pitching staff.
3. Get to the Bullpen Early: USM’s starters are strong, but Louisiana has a chance if it can grind out at-bats and force the Eagles into their bullpen before the seventh.
4. Power Surge Continues: Louisiana hit eight homers last weekend—tying their total from all of March. Higgs, Yuhasz, and Stelly need to stay hot.

The Atmosphere

Pete Taylor Park will be rocking. With USM on a nine-game winning streak and Louisiana riding a three-game sweep at Georgia State, both teams have momentum. The series promises intense energy, passionate fans, and maybe even a few chirps across the field—a true Southern baseball showdown.

The first pitch of the Battle for the Paddle is tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The winner won’t just take a series—they’ll take a paddle and a shot at postseason glory.

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