The 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team represented the University of Louisiana at Lafayette during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Ragin' Cajuns played their home games at M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park and were led by second–year head coach Matt Deggs. They were members of the Sun Belt Conference.
Previous season On March 12, 2020, the Sun Belt Conference announced the indefinite suspension of all spring athletics, including baseball, due to the increasing risk of the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 13, Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order banning gatherings of over 250 people until as early as April 18, thus ending all possible future 2020 home or in-state games until that time if the season were to continue. Soon after, the Sun Belt cancelled all season and postseason play.
Preseason
Signing-day recruits
Pitchers Bo Bonds Suwannee, Florida Chipola College Cole Elkins Fort Wayne, Indiana Homestead HS Adam Guth Lake Charles, Louisiana Barbe HS Antoine Harris Chalmette, Louisiana Mississippi Gulf Coast CC Tommy Ray Quincy, Illinois John A. Logan Tony Rossi Sanford, Florida State College of Florida Dylan Theut Fulshear, Texas Blinn College Peyton Zabel Pierre, South Dakota Iowa Western CC Hitters Jack Clark Whitehouse, Texas Whitehouse HS Kyle DeBarge Lake Charles, Louisiana Barbe HS Clint Lasiter Benton, Louisiana Benton HS Mason Zambo Baton Rouge, Louisiana Catholic HS
Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 15, 2021 and the Cajuns were picked to finish third in the West Division and fourth overall in the conference.
Coaches poll (West) 1 Texas State 65 (6) 2 UT Arlington 58 (4) 3 Louisiana 52 (2) 4 Little Rock 33 5 Louisiana–Monroe 27 6 Arkansas State 13
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team & Honors Aaron Funk (LR, Pitcher) Jordan Jackson (GASO, Pitcher) Conor Angel (LA, Pitcher) Wyatt Divis (UTA, Pitcher) Lance Johnson (TROY, Pitcher) Caleb Bartolero (TROY, Catcher) William Sullivan (TROY, 1st Base) Luke Drumheller (APP, 2nd Base) Drew Frederic (TROY, Shortstop) Cooper Weiss (CCU, 3rd Base) Ethan Wilson (USA, Outfielder) Parker Chavers (CCU, Outfielder) Rigsby Mosley (TROY, Outfielder) Eilan Merejo (GSU, Designated Hitter) Andrew Beesly (ULM, Utility)
Roster 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns roster Pitchers 2 Connor Cooke – Sophomore 15 Jacob Schultz – Junior 16 Austin Bradford – Senior 17 Conor Angel – Junior 27 Austin Perrin – Junior 30 David Christie – Freshman 31 Conner Wyly – Sophomore 32 Spencer Arrighetti – Sophomore 34 Hayden Durke – Freshman 35 Blake Marshall – Sophomore 37 Dane Dixon – Redshirt Junior 38 Jason Nelson – Junior 40 Will Moriarty – Redshirt Sophomore 41 Chipper Menard – Freshman 45 Jack Burk – Senior 49 Peyton Havard – Freshman 51 Jeff Wilson – Junior 53 Carter Robinson – Junior Catchers 6 Nick Hagedorn – Junior 11 Julian Brock – Freshman 13 Drake Osborn – Senior
Infielders 1 Brett Borgogno – Junior 5 Sam Bianco – Freshman 7 Kevin Fitzgerald – Sophomore 9 Bobby Lada – Sophomore 12 Sam Riola – Sophomore 18 Anthony Catalano – Sophomore 19 Clayton Dean – Freshman 24 Josh Cofield – Sophomore 26 Jonathan Brandon – Redshirt Junior Outfielders 4 Brennan Breaux – Senior 10 Alex Hannie – Redshirt Sophomore 14 Jamey Richey – Sophomore 20 Tyler Robertson – Sophomore 21 Connor Kimple – Junior 22 Carson Roccaforte – Freshman 33 Conor Higgs – Freshman
Utility 8 Ben Fitzgerald – Junior 44 CJ Willis – Sophomore
Coaching staff 2021 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns coaching staffMatt Deggs – Head coach & Pitching Coach – 2nd year Anthony Babineaux – Associate head coach and Director of Player and Program Development– 27th year Jeremy Talbot – Assistant head coach – 7th year Jake Wells – Assistant head coach, Batting coach – 3rd year B. J. Ryan – Volunteer assistant Coach – 2nd year Chris Domingue – Academic & Camp coordinator – 18th year James Lang – Assistant director of Athletic Performance for Olympic Sports – 2nd year Joey Bearb – Clubhouse Manager Carter Munchrath – Clubhouse Manager Zackary Crain – Clubhouse Manager Aidan Serio – Clubhouse Manager Austin Belaire – Field Manager Victoria Stringer – Student assistant
Schedule and results Legend Louisiana win Louisiana loss Postponement/Cancelation/SuspensionsBoldLouisiana team member