BATON ROUGE — Seventh-ranked LSU (26-9, 6-6) returns to SEC action this weekend as the Tigers play host to Georgia (21-13, 5-7) in a three-game SEC series at Alex Box Stadium.
First pitch for Game 1 of the LSU-Georgia series is 6:30 p.m. CDT Friday, Game 2 is set for 2 p.m. CDT Saturday and Game 3 will be played at 1 p.m. CDT Sunday.
The games can be heard statewide on the LSU Sports Network (WDGL-FM 98.1 in Baton Rouge). All three games can also be heard on the internet at www.LSUsports.net.
Friday’s game will be televised statewide by Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge). There is no live television coverage of the games on Saturday and Sunday.
LSU trails first-place Ole Miss (8-4) and Arkansas (8-4) by two games in the SEC Western Division standings with 18 games remaining in the conference regular season.
The Tigers were swept in three games by Arkansas last weekend, ending their streak of five consecutive SEC series victories over the past two seasons.
Georgia is in fifth place in the SEC Eastern Division, trailing first-place Tennessee (9-3) by four games. The Bulldogs were swept last weekend by the Volunteers at Foley Field in Athens.
LSU began this week with a pair of victories over in-state foes. LSU defeated Nicholls State, 9-3, Tuesday night in Alex Box Stadium, and the Tigers posted a 9-3 win over Southeastern Louisiana Wednesday night at Zephyr Field in Metairie, La.
Georgia posted a 6-5 win over Georgia Tech Wednesday night in Atlanta.
LSU coach Smoke Laval will send sophomore left-hander Jason Determann (2-2, 2.56 ERA) to the mound Friday, while Georgia coach Dave Perno will counter with senior lefty Paul Lubrano (3-3, 4.05 ERA).
Determann will make his first career start in an SEC regular season game and his second start against a conference opponent. Determann defeated Arkansas in a starting role last season in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.
The Tigers are hitting .354 (67-for-189) in their last five games with 10 doubles, one triple, six homers and 41 runs.
Center fielder J.C. Holt leads LSU with a .396 (57-for-144) cumulative average, and right fielder Jon Zeringue is hitting .386 (51-for-132) with team highs of 10 homers and 32 RBI.
LSU leads the all-time series with Georgia, 46-13-1, and the Tigers have won the last six meetings between the schools. LSU posted series sweeps over the Bulldogs in 2002 in Baton Rouge and again last season in Athens.
The Tigers have a 23-6 all-time record versus Georgia in Alex Box Stadium. LSU has swept the Bulldogs in five of the six series played in Baton Rouge since 1990. The only Georgia series victory in that span came in 2000, when the Bulldogs won two of three games in Alex Box Stadium.
Laval is 6-0 versus Georgia during his three-year LSU career, while Perno is 0-6 against LSU during his three seasons at UGA.
SERIES FACTS
Georgia Bulldogs (21-13, 5-7) at #7 LSU Fighting Tigers (26-9, 6-6)
DATES/TIMES: April 16 – 6:30 p.m.; April 17 – 2 p.m.; April 18 – 1 p.m.
STADIUM: Alex Box Stadium (7,760)
RANKINGS: LSU (#7 Baseball America, #9 ESPN/Sports Weekly, #12 Collegiate Baseball); Georgia (unranked)
RADIO: statewide on LSU Sports Network (WDGL-FM 98.1 in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET: www.LSUsports.net
TV: Friday’s game will be televised live by Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge); No TV on Saturday or Sunday
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LSU – So. LHP Jason Determann (2-2, 2.56 ERA, 31.2 IP, 4 BB, 22 SO)
UGA – Sr. LHP Paul Lubrano (3-3, 4.05 ERA, 46.2 IP, 21 BB, 33 SO)
Game 2
LSU – Fr. LHP Clay Dirks (6-0, 2.63 ERA, 51.1 IP, 8 BB, 47 SO)
UGA – Jr. RHP Sean Ruthven (3-0, 3.41 ERA, 31.2 IP, 9 BB, 35 SO)
Game 3
LSU – Sr. RHP Nate Bumstead (5-1, 4.27 ERA, 46.1 IP, 12 BB, 24 SO)
UGA – Sr. RHP Matt Woods (1-1, 5.61 ERA, 25.2 IP, 9 BB, 14 SO) or
So. RHP Michael Hyle (2-1, 3.06 ERA, 32.1, 17 BB, 24 SO)