As the Sun Belt Conference regular season winds down, Louisiana Baseball finds itself in a pressure-packed position. The Ragin’ Cajuns (25-27, 15-12 SBC) will host Arkansas State (24-26, 12-15 SBC) this Thursday through Saturday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park in a series that could define their postseason path. The Cajuns are battling for a top-four seed in next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Montgomery, and with several teams clustered in the standings, every game counts.

High Stakes at The Tigue

Louisiana enters the weekend in a tie for fourth with Old Dominion, and a series win or sweep would lock up a favorable seed and potentially provide momentum heading into the conference tournament. Arkansas State, while slightly further down the standings, remains in contention and would love nothing more than to play spoiler.

This series also marks Senior Weekend for the Cajuns, with standout contributors like Andrew Herrmann, Conor Higgs, Dylan Theut, Jose Torres, and Matthew Holzhammer being recognized for their contributions to the program.

Key Players to Watch

Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns

• Conor Higgs: The redshirt senior is finishing one of the best offensive seasons in school history, hitting .345 with 16 home runs and a 1.161 OPS. He’s within striking distance of tying or surpassing Jonathan Lucroy on the career and single-season home run charts.
• JR Tollett: Louisiana’s most consistent arm this season with a 5-4 record and 3.29 ERA. His complete-game shutout of James Madison highlighted his ability to dominate.
• Lee Amedee: A steady presence at third base with 18 doubles on the year and a recent four-hit performance that sparked the offense.

Arkansas State Red Wolves

• Jack Hibbard: The Red Wolves' ace was SBC Pitcher of the Week earlier this season and anchors a staff that has the third-best ERA in conference play.
• Team Defense: Arkansas State’s .970 fielding percentage is among the top five in the Sun Belt, meaning Louisiana can’t afford to give away outs or run into rallies carelessly.

Three Keys to a Cajuns Series Victory

1. Pitching Consistency from the Starters
   With three strong options—Chase Morgan, Andrew Herrmann, and JR Tollett—Louisiana needs quality starts to take pressure off a bullpen that’s been good but overworked. Tollett, in particular, must set the tone Saturday.
2. Keep the Power Bats Hot
   Louisiana is 15-11 when hitting a home run in a game. With Higgs and Luke Yuhasz showing off big-time power recently, hitting the long ball could be a decisive edge, especially against a solid Red Wolves staff.
3. Minimize Mistakes
   Arkansas State thrives on playing clean, fundamental baseball. The Cajuns must match that discipline. In their last series against Southern Miss, defensive miscues and mental lapses proved costly. Louisiana’s .963 fielding percentage is last in the Sun Belt and must improve this weekend.

Final Word

There’s no margin for error now. The Cajuns have shown flashes of brilliance this season but have also struggled with consistency. With postseason seeding on the line, playing to their identity—aggressive, gritty, and with purpose—will be crucial. Arkansas State has everything to gain and nothing to lose, which makes them a dangerous foe.

But with senior leaders playing their final home series and the opportunity to cement their place in the Sun Belt’s top tier, expect the Cajuns to come out swinging.

It all starts Thursday night at The Tigue.