Louisiana baseball secured its second Sun Belt Conference series win of the season by bouncing back against No. 10 Southern Miss after losing the first game. Coach Matt Deggs expressed optimism about the team's potential to play at a championship level as they head into the second half of the 2026 season.
Just when you think Louisiana baseball is dead to rights, the Raginā Cajuns find a way to win. That was the case when No. 10 Southern Miss came to town for a Sun Belt Conference series.
After dropping Game 1 to the Golden Eagles, the Cajuns (21-15, 6-9) dug deep to secure their second SBC series win of the season.
āTo be able to bounce back Saturday and Sunday, I thought our team showed a lot of heart and fight, and doing so against a really good team,ā UL coach Matt Deggs said. āSo, hopefully that gives us a little boost, little jump start going into the second half of the season. Weāre more than capable of playing championship-level baseball.ā
Playing up to that standard is what Deggs and company have in mind as they look to climb the SBC rankings. This past weekend was the stepping stone the Cajuns needed with picking up both conference wins and their second and third ranked wins of the season.
Blaze Rodriguez 29, Louisianas Ragin Cajuns take on Southern Miss Baseball. Friday, April 10, 2026.
Blaze Rodriguez 29, Louisianas Ragin Cajuns take on Southern Miss Baseball. Friday, April 10, 2026.
Louisiana baseball's bullpen comes alive
In Game 2 and Game 3 against the Golden Eagles, pitching was key to the Cajunsā success. Kicking things off was senior lefty Andrew Herrmann, who was locked in from start to finish Saturday. He threw all nine innings, giving up just five hits and four runs while striking out nine batters.
Herrmannās stellar outing landed him his fourth win of the season and marked his third complete game, the most of any pitcher in Division I.
āFor Herm to give us the start that he gave us was gigantic,ā Deggs said. āWhat a performance. Not shocked by seeing that kid do stuff like that. Heās very, very, very uncommon, and heās just a throwback so I really have enjoyed getting a chance to coach him, be around him for three years.ā
Along with Herrmann, the Cajunsā Sunday relief pitchers were crucial in escaping with a 6-5 win. Sophomore Parker Smith came in to relieve Ty Roman and in 2ā innings of work, he gave up just two hits and a run. That was enough to earn the right-hander his second win of the season.
Coming through with his fifth save of the season was junior Cody Brasch, who has quickly become one of the most reliable arms in relief for the Cajuns. In three innings of work, he struck out three batters, walked one and gave up only one hit.
Starting pitcher Cody Brasch 15, Louisianas Ragin Cajuns Baseball beats the LSU Tigers 7-2 at M.L. Tigue Moore Field in Lafayette, LA. Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Starting pitcher Cody Brasch 15, Louisianas Ragin Cajuns Baseball beats the LSU Tigers 7-2 at M.L. Tigue Moore Field in Lafayette, LA. Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Offensively, it has been an up-and-down season for the Cajuns and that showed in the series. In Game 1, UL went cold, scoring just one run on five hits, something common across the Cajunsā losses this year.
Having a short memory was key for the Cajuns in the next two games. UL was able to rediscover its offense, along with capitalizing off of Southern Missā control issues on the bump. Senior Lee Amedee, junior Steven Spalitta and freshman Josh Lim had key at-bats for the Cajuns.
āItās our ability to score with two outs thatās been the difference maker as of late for this team,ā Deggs said. āFor instance, nothing going two outs, nobody on base and their catcher comes to the plate, third baseman stays back, we bunt and are able to execute the bunt and that leads to a quick score right there. To do it with two outs shows that you still have some fight to you, some heart and some grit.ā
Lim ended the weekend with five hits and a run, emerging as a reliable young slugger for the Cajuns. The only Cajun player to go yard this series was Spalitta, who hit a two-run homer in Game 2 to propel them to an 8-4 victory.
Amedee, who holds a team-high batting average, was just as reliable against the Golden Eagles. The senior first baseman ended the weekend with two hits, three RBIs and three walks. UL will look to have more bright spots offensively as it hits the road to face Troy for its next SBC series.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Raginā Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.
How did Louisiana baseball perform against Southern Miss in April 2026?
Louisiana baseball lost the first game but won the next two, securing their second Sun Belt Conference series win of the season.
What is Louisiana baseball's record after the series against Southern Miss?
After the series, Louisiana baseball's record stands at 21-15 overall and 6-9 in the Sun Belt Conference.
Who is the head coach of Louisiana baseball in 2026?
The head coach of Louisiana baseball in 2026 is Matt Deggs.
What are the expectations for Louisiana baseball in the second half of the 2026 season?
Coach Matt Deggs expects the team to build on their recent success and play at a championship level as they aim to climb the Sun Belt Conference rankings.
Related Articles
Sports
LIV Golf is still going, but its days seem numbered and probably always were
LIV Golf's future appears uncertain as reports suggest Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund may withdraw funding after investing $5 billion. Despite assurances for the 2026 season, the tour faces challenges from low ratings and strong competition from the PGA Tour.
ESPN NewsĀ·Ā·1 min read
MLBĀ·Recap
Angels' Mike Trout hits another HR to join Aaron Judge in rare Yankee Stadium history
Mike Trout's 446-foot HR joins him with Aaron Judge in Yankee Stadium lore.
Yahoo SportsĀ·Ā·1 min read
MLBĀ·Feature
Tigers projected to take a gamble on the upside of a 6'3" prep bat
Detroit Tigers projected to take a risk on a 6'3" prep bat in the MLB draft.