LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns return to M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park on Wednesday night for an in-state showdown with the Nicholls Colonels. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., as both teams look to build momentum before the weekend slate of conference play.

Series History

Louisiana and Nicholls share a rich baseball rivalry, with the Cajuns historically holding the upper hand. The two teams have faced off over 140 times, with Louisiana boasting a commanding lead in the all-time series. Last season, Louisiana took the lone matchup 5-1 behind dominant pitching and timely offense. Nicholls, however, is no stranger to upsets and will look to flip the script Wednesday.

Louisiana enters the contest looking to build off a recent 10-0 shutout win over Old Dominion, their most dominant victory of the season. Offensively, junior Conor Higgs leads the team with a .336 average, 12 home runs, and a .657 slugging percentage. He’s been a one-man wrecking crew in the heart of the Cajun order.

Lee Amedee (.286, 25 RBI) and Caleb Stelly (.288, 42 hits) have provided steady production, while freshman Brooks Wright has been a spark plug on the bases with 9 stolen bags in 10 tries.

On the mound, JR Tollett (4-3, 2.98 ERA) has emerged as one of the most reliable arms, while Chase Morgan (3-1, 3.35 ERA) and Dylan Theut (2.66 ERA) offer strong support. The Cajuns’ pitching staff owns a collective ERA of 5.40 and has struck out 326 batters in 367 innings.

Scouting the Colonels (15-25, 8-16 Southland)

Nicholls comes in reeling from a tough conference stretch, having dropped six of their last eight. While their record may not turn heads, the Colonels have proven to be dangerous when their offense clicks.

Karson Irvin (.325) and Carter Jenkins (.320) are the table-setters, while Chase Jans adds pop with a .318 average and 3 home runs. The Colonels are hitting .259 as a team with just 10 home runs—power isn’t their calling card, but they’re scrappy and opportunistic.

Pitching has been a challenge for Nicholls, with a team ERA of 6.24. Alec Sparks (4-3, 3.53 ERA) is the ace, but depth has been inconsistent. Opponents are hitting .263 against them and have scored 280 runs in 40 games.

Key Matchups

• Higgs vs. Nicholls’ bullpen: If Nicholls can’t keep Higgs in the yard, it could be a long night.
• Cajuns’ base stealing (63-for-87) vs. Mock/Collura catching tandem (41% caught stealing rate): Expect some fireworks on the basepaths.
• Nicholls’ defense (58 errors) vs. Louisiana’s ability to force pressure: The Colonels must clean up their fielding to stay in it.

What’s at Stake

For Louisiana, it’s a chance to get back to .500 at home and continue building postseason momentum. For Nicholls, it’s about pride and proving they can hang with one of the state’s top programs. Midweek games might not count in conference standings, but they often reveal a team’s grit.

Expect a competitive game with plenty of in-state intensity—and as always, don’t be surprised if this one goes down to the wire.