Leger Tabbed Pitcher Of The Year

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Junior Gunner Leger highlighted four All-Sun Belt Conference selections for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team as he was named the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year, the league office announced on Monday.

"Anytime you have a player that is picked by the peers in the conference for their hard work and effort it’s a good thing," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "This is a game that is very tough to be good and consistent in. When you are the best player in your conference it says a lot. This is an enormous honor for Gunner who has shown you what you can achieve if you’re willing to put in the hard work and effort."

Leger is the fifth Cajuns pitcher to earn SBC Pitcher of the Year honors joining Carson Baranik (2014), Hunter Moody (2006), Austin Faught (2005) and Scott Dohmann (2000).

A three-time all-conference selection, Leger ranks fourth in the nation with 10 victories becoming just the second Louisiana pitcher since 2006 to post double-digit wins in a season. The 2017 All-SBC First Team member ranks second in the Sun Belt in ERA (2.03), fifth in opponent’s batting average (.203), and eighth in innings pitched (84.1) and strikeouts (77). Leger has posted ten quality starts during the season and has limited opponents to three or less earned runs in all but one game.

The Ragin’ Cajuns had three members of the squad named to the first team for the fourth time in the last five years as Leger was joined by Wyatt Marks and Joe Robbins on the first team. Junior Steven Sensley also earned all-conference honors being tabbed to the second team.

"It’s an honor to have this group of guys recognized by the member of our conference," Robichaux added. "They’ve all had their different challenges this season, and the great thing is that they all did what they had to do to be successful. I appreciate the other coaches who took the time to vote for our players. To have your peers vote for you means a lot. This group appreciates the individual honors, but they would be the first ones to say that we still have a lot of work to do to win the conference tournament and get back to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season."

Marks was tabbed as a first team reliever after leading the country in both strikeouts per nine innings (14.97) and hits allowed per nine innings (4.47). A native of Lafayette, La., Marks ranks third in the SBC in ERA (2.31) and strikeouts (97) and has the most strikeouts by a reliever in program history. Marks’ seven saves this season ranks sixth in the conference as he’s made 29 appearances out of the bullpen this season.

Robbins earned the honor at third base and ranks fifth in the conference in triples (3) and 15th in RBI (41). On the season, Robbins is hitting .281 with 10 doubles and six home runs. Robbins has swiped nine bases in 11 attempts and is second on the team with 102 assists at third base making only six errors in 55 games.

Sensley is hitting .319 on the season and ranks fourth in the league in slugging (.585), fifth in triples (3), sixth in home runs (11) and seventh in RBI (46). The outfield selection has a .420 on base percentage and is currently riding a team-best 25-game on base streak.

Louisiana returns to action Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the Cajuns face fifth-seeded Georgia Southern at J.I. Clements Stadium.

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All-Sun Belt Baseball First Team
Alex Cunningham (Coastal Carolina, Senior, SP)
Gunner Leger (Louisiana, Junior, SP)
Andrew Crane (Troy, RS-Junior, SP)
Wyatt Marks (Louisiana, Junior, RP)
Jared Barnes (South Alabama, Junior, C)
Kevin Woodall, Jr. (Coastal Carolina, Junior, 1B)
Brandon Lockridge (Troy, Sophomore, 2B)
Drew LaBounty (South Alabama, Junior, SS)
Joe Robbins (Louisiana, Senior, 3B)
Billy Cooke (Coastal Carolina, Junior, OF)
Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama, Sophomore, OF)
Theodore Hoffman (Texas State, Junior, OF)
Omar Salinas (UTA, Junior, DH)
Anthony Herrera (ULM, Senior, UTIL)

All-Sun Belt Baseball Second Team
Andrew Beckwith (Coastal Carolina, Senior, SP)
Jakob Hernandez (UTA, Junior, SP)
Trae Patterson (UTA, Junior, SP)
Daniel James (UTA, Junior, RP)
Will Olson (UTA, Sophomore, C)
Wells Davis (South Alabama, Sophomore, 1B)
Jonathan Ortega (Texas State, Sophomore, 2B)
Jordan Gore (Coastal Carolina, Junior, SS)
Jaylen Hubbard (Texas State, Sophomore, 3B)
Cory Wood (Coastal Carolina, Freshman, OF)
Steven Sensley (Louisiana, Junior, OF)
Dylan Hardy (South Alabama, Sophomore, OF)
Tyler Martin (Georgia Southern, Sophomore, DH)
Dylan Paul (Texas State, Junior, UTIL)

Sun Belt Baseball Player of the Year
Billy Cooke (Coastal Carolina, Junior, OF)

Sun Belt Baseball Pitcher of the Year
Gunner Leger (Louisiana, Junior, SP)

Sun Belt Baseball Freshman of the Year
Cory Wood (Coastal Carolina, Freshman, OF)

Sun Belt Baseball Newcomer of the Year
Andrew Crane (Troy, RS-Junior, SP)

Sun Belt Baseball Ron Maestri Coach of the Year
Darin Thomas, UTA

— Ragin’ Cajuns —