The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team has had anything but a smooth 2026 season.
It started before the games ever arrived. Chase Morgan, the frontline ace that the program worked hard to get back for this season, was injured and out for the year before it ever got going.
Then, just weeks before the season began, returning catcher and leader Jose Torres suffered a knee injury. He has been reduced to an emergency catcher this season.
In addition to that, they entered the season with something no coach would likely want to do on a team expected to compete: true freshmen at catcher and shortstop.
THE RECAP: A SEASON IN THREE PHASES
Despite that, the team began the season hot. They began 16-5, finding different ways to win ballgames. The offense wasn’t elite, but they had a reliable pitching staff, they were solid defensively, and they just found ways to win. All that winning even came with a spot in the D1Baseball Top 25 rankings.
That was phase one. Louisiana entered phase two of their season, and it was the grimmest of all. The freshmen, the ones that had helped carry the load, seemingly all hit the rookie wall. The pitching staff became more unsettled, with roles switching around and leads being blown. All in all, the Cajuns went 3-10 over their next 13 games, beginning with a sweep at the hands of Texas State, and ending with a Friday night loss to Southern Miss when the season was at risk of getting away.
Enter phase three. Instead of folding, the Cajuns stayed together. A gritty Saturday afternoon win was spearheaded by a complete game effort from veteran lefty Andrew Herrmann. Whatever happened on that Saturday at The Tigue, it sparked something.
Louisiana would go on to win that series, and all but one they played the rest of the Sun Belt slate. Then, they won five games in Montgomery in the conference tournament to finish the year on a 20-9 run and comfortably got into the Regionals as an at-large team.
THE STARKVILLE REGIONAL: PHASE 4?
That catches us up. Now, let’s look ahead. In a lot of ways, Louisiana would love for this Regional to be a continuation of phase three, because that one was so kind to them.
However, we know the postseason resets some things. What you have done all season earned you this opportunity, but it doesn’t lend you any favors once you’re here.
The field is the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Cincinnati Bearcats, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, and Lipscomb Bisons, seeded in that order.
THE SCOUTING REPORT
The Bulldogs are perennial powers, and have one of, if not the best, homefield advantages in the sport. There will be 11,000 plus fans in the stands for every game they’re apart of in this Regional. In addition to one of the best lineups in the country, they have a legitimate ace in Tomas Valincius. Plus, they are working Ryan McPherson back into the fold, who might have been the ace in front of Valincius if he was healthy all year. This is the Bulldogs’ tournament until someone takes it from them.
The Bearcats may lack brand recognition in baseball but make no mistake: this team is loaded. They play small ball a la the Cajuns, but they have two mashers in the middle of the lineup. Quinton Coats has 28 homers, and Jack Natili has 16. Pitch to the middle of their order at your own risk. Their starting rotation has been up and down, but Nathan Taylor is legit and he is likely the first arm the Cajuns will see to start this tournament.
Forget about the Bisons at your own risk. They are the four-seed, and yes, they got smoked against Mississippi State in a three-game series this season. However, those games were played from March 5th-7th. That was three phases ago, and much like the Cajuns, things have changed. The lineup can score, and the backend of their bullpen is lights out. If you see Kaleb Kantola enter the game and you’re trailing, it might already be too late.
THE BLUEPRINT
So, how can the Cajuns win this Regional? Let’s put together the blueprint and see how closely they can follow it.
- Brasch shoves
Cody Brasch has developed into a legitimate Friday night ace. He likely gets the ball against Cincinnati on Friday, and you need him to outduel Taylor. Some extra run support would be great, but Brasch needs to get deep into this game and put UL into the winner’s bracket. - The lineup keeps rolling
Those little freshmen are all grown up, it seems. Brown, Rodriguez, and Noah Lewis will need help from the veteran group of Lee Amedee, Steven Spalitta, and others. The power of Donovan LaSalle needs to show up, and this team will likely have to score off of multiple frontline MLB prospect caliber arms. - Stay on the topside of the bracket
It seems obvious, right? The winner’s bracket is better to be in, duh. This time, though, it feels critical. I already mentioned Mississippi State’s ace in the hole in McPherson. If you find a way to put a loss on them in the first two games, they go into survival mode. Coach Brian O’Connor has to throw his best arms in fear that their season could end. The Cajuns likely don’t have the bullets in the bullpen to go all the way through the loser’s bracket. Therefore, you throw all of your best arms early in this tournament in an effort to get ahead of the eight-ball. - Somebody unexpected
Lastly, the Cajuns are simply going to need someone we are not talking about to step up. Regionals are long, and they are difficult to navigate as a pitching staff. Brasch, Herrmann, Ty Roman, Parker Smith, Hayden Pearson, and Tyler Papenbrock, and your everyday lineup all have to show up. Still, you need more. Maybe it’s Garret Carter’s time? Could it be a big outing from JR Tollett? Perhaps there’s a big pinch-hit opportunity for Trip Dobson? In a tournament like this, SOMEONE we don’t expect it from has to turn themselves into a stud for the weekend.
Regardless, it’ll be a blast to watch it all play out. Here’s to hoping Mother Nature is interested in watching baseball like we are this weekend.
