LAFAYETTE – In his first career start on the road in Sun Belt Conference play, freshman Austin Robichaux fired a complete game, three-hit shutout of Middle Tennessee leading Louisiana to its first series victory since Easter weekend, snapping a string of four consecutive series losses.

On Monday, the youngest son of head coach Tony Robichaux was rewarded for his efforts as he was named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week.

Robichaux is the first Cajuns freshman named SBC Pitcher of the Week since Danny Farquhar on May 8, 2006.

It’s the first weekly honor for Robichaux, a true freshman from Notre Dame High School in Crowley, and the fourth of the 2012 season for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Chase Compton was named SBC Player of the Week on Feb. 27, Jordan Nicholson was named SBC Pitcher of the Week on March 19 and Jordan Harrison picked up SBC Pitcher of the Week honors on April 9.

Robichaux’s selection marked the third pitcher of the week honor for UL this season, the most for the program since 2008 when Hunter Moody was a three-time recipient.

“I thought Austin did a good job pitching on the road, it’s not always easy to pitch on the road,” head coach Tony Robichaux said. “Especially under the conditions we were in. We had dropped game one of the series and we’re at the point where every loss now puts us in a position in which we might not make our conference tournament.

“It was a big start that came in the back end of a doubleheader, which are always hard to sweep. He performed well and his defense played well behind him. There were some balls hit that some guys made some good plays to help him…because it’s never just about you.”

Robichaux scattered three hits and struck out six in the seven-inning triumph over Middle Tennessee which kept the Cajuns in the running for a Sun Belt Tournament berth.

After a two-out single by Ryan Ford in the third inning, Robichaux closed out the dominant performance by retiring 13 of the final 14 Blue Raiders he faced.

After Ford’s single in the third inning, he retired 12 straight batters before MT picked up a two-out single in the seventh inning. Robichaux did not allow the Blue Raiders’ leadoff batter to reach in any of the seven innings and promptly recorded an out each of the three times a runner got on base.

“The thing that made me proud was that he pitched according to our pitching system,” head coach Tony Robichaux mentioned. ”He stayed away from the three-run inning, didn’t walk hitters and gave us a chance to win.

“You’re only as good as your last start. I told him it’s great to be noticed and rewarded for his effort. But now he has to realize that this Saturday’s start is going to take on a life of its own. You look at pitchers in the big leagues who throw no-hitters and all of a sudden the next time out the bar is set higher.”

Robichaux is the first Cajuns freshman to start and pitch a shutout (combined or complete game) since Farquhar combined for a shutout of La.-Monroe on April 11, 2006.

ALL-TIME RAGIN’ CAJUNS SUN BELT PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS (joined league in 1992)
2012: Jordan Nicholson (3/19); Jordan Harrison (4/9); Austin Robichaux (5/14)
2011: Taylor Hubbell (3/1); Jordan Nicholson (5/9)
2010: Zach Osborne (3/22); Zach Osborne (4/12)
2009: Zach Osborne (4/6); Zach Osborne (4/27)
2008: Hunter Moody (2/26); Hunter Moody (3/2); Hunter Moody (3/24)
2006: Hunter Moody (2/23); Hunter Moody (3/14); Jason Fernandez (4/3); Buddy Glass (4/10); Jason Fernandez (4/17); Danny Farquhar (5/8)
2005: Kevin Ardoin (2/14); Kevin Ardoin (4/18)
2004: Kevin Ardoin (3/2); Kevin Ardoin (4/12)
2003: Kevin Ardoin (4/14); Jordy Templet (4/21); Andy Gros (5/5)
2002: Justin Gabriel (4/1); Andy Gros (4/22); Kraig Schambough (5/6)
2001: Eric Templet (4/16)
2000: Scott Dohmann (3/13); Eric Templet (5/1)
1999: Phil Devey (3/8); Alan Ochsner (4/12); Scott Dohmann (5/3)
1998: Phil Devey (3/9)
1997: Chad Bailey (3/24); Trey Poland (4/21)
1996: Chad Bailey (4/15)
1995: Jason Sheppard (3/27)
1992: Javi DeJesus (3/30); Scott Fishback (4/20); Javi DeJesus (5/11)
 
 

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