After a weekend in Hattiesburg that left Louisiana baseball reeling, head coach Matt Deggs met with the media on Monday for his weekly press conference — and he didn’t sugarcoat the Ragin’ Cajuns’ struggles.

“Yeah, tough week,” Deggs opened. “Went up against a really good team… They might be at the top of that list. They’ve got a very complete ball club — starting pitching, bullpen, tremendous defense, and they can really swing the bats.”

The Cajuns were swept in a rain-soaked series at Southern Miss, a missed opportunity that could prove pivotal as Sun Belt standings tighten. With Old Dominion now tied with Louisiana at 15 wins, and several other teams — Texas State, Marshall, Georgia Southern, and James Madison — nipping at their heels, Deggs emphasized the urgency.

“We did not help ourselves. We were a little bit like a concierge at a hotel — ‘What do you need? What can we go get you?’” Deggs said wryly. “They didn’t need any help, but we kind of pushed it along with some miscues.”

While the weather wreaked havoc on both teams, only one seemed unaffected.

“Ugly weather, but boy, they played great in it,” Deggs said. “There’s no excuses in this business. It’s either do or you don’t, and we didn’t find a way to get it done.”

The Cajuns had a chance to salvage the finale, but couldn't hold on. Still, Deggs praised the effort: “Proud of our guys, the way they came out and scrapped and fought. But boy, oh boy, [Southern Miss] is on a 13 or 14-game win streak. They're playing real good.”

Deggs revealed that despite the somber mood on the ride home, his team responded impressively.

“Very quiet, solemn bus,” he said. “But we just went out and had one of our best practices of the year on less than a 24-hour turnaround. I’m proud of them for that.”

Injuries continue to pile up. Standout Luke Yuhasz, nicknamed “Donkey,” is undergoing an MRI for a shoulder that’s previously been repaired. “He’s playing a good brand of baseball, really starting to come into his own,” Deggs said. “Hopefully everything comes back good and he’s ready to roll.”

On the mound, Louisiana continues to monitor health concerns. While Deggs plans for Chase Morgan to start Thursday’s series opener against Arkansas State, Dylan Theut remains limited after enduring Tommy John surgery and a surgically repaired broken ankle.

“That guy’s been through the ringer,” Deggs said. “He wanted the ball yesterday, and I respect that.”

The upcoming home series against Arkansas State now looms large. Deggs repeatedly emphasized that the Red Wolves are no pushover.

“Every time we play them, it’s like a trip to the dentist — it’s going to hurt,” he said. “They’re impervious to the scoreboard. They’re going to keep playing you.”

He praised their resilience and experience, citing players like Cross Jumper, Will French, and Koehle Kerin: “They haven’t had the success they wanted, but now they see it and have an opportunity for it. I can guarantee 100% we’ll get their best shot all weekend.”

Offensively, the Cajuns showed life on Sunday, scoring six runs against a stout pitching staff. But Donkey’s potential absence forces some lineup rethinking. Drew Markle — who Deggs joked plays “second field,” a combination of center field and second base — may be moved to fill the void.

Deggs remains hopeful despite the adversity, noting improvement at the plate over the past few weeks and pointing to the team’s proven ability to thrive in tournament play. “We do have a blueprint and a roadmap to do it,” he said. “We’ve done it.”

As the Cajuns prepare for their final regular season series, they’ll also honor a senior class that has meant a great deal to the program.

“Some of these guys -  they’re like kids to me,” Deggs said. “Higgs is like a nephew… Herm and I are cut out of the same cloth. “

While a few seniors are expected to return due to COVID eligibility extensions, Deggs made it clear: “It’ll still be nice to honor those guys and send them out of here the right way.”

With their backs against the wall, Louisiana now turns to a familiar mantra: keep grinding.

“You just got to keep pressing forward,” Deggs said. “We’ve still got a chance to finish strong this weekend and get off to a good start in that tournament — and see how long we can play.”