BATON ROUGE — LSU’s quest for a sixth national championship continues this weekend when it plays host to an NCAA Super Regional series versus Texas A&M at Alex Box Stadium.
The winner of the best two-of-three series advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
The Tigers (44-17) and the Aggies (42-20) open the series at 6 p.m. CDT Saturday (ESPN2). Game 2 will be played at 5 p.m. CDT Sunday (ESPN2), and Game 3 (if necessary) will be played at a time to be announced on Monday (ESPN or ESPN2).
LSU is attempting to reach the College World Series for the 13th time in its history. The Tigers have made previous Omaha appearances in 1986, ’87, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’97, ’98, 2000 and 2003. LSU won the CWS title in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000.
LSU is playing host this weekend to its third NCAA Super Regional in Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers swept two games from UCLA in 2000 and won two of three games versus Baylor in 2003 to advance to the CWS.
LSU has also played in three Super Regionals on the road, where the Tigers lost the series each time. LSU was defeated in Super Regionals at Alabama in 1999, vs. Tulane at Zephyr Field in Metairie, La., in 2001 and at Rice in 2002. The Tigers’ cumulative Super Regional record is 5-7 (4-1 at home, 1-6 on the road).
LSU is one of only three schools — the others are Miami (Fla.) and Florida State — to participate in all six NCAA Super Regionals since the current tournament format was adopted in 1999. Stanford also played in the previous five Super Regionals, but the Cardinal were eliminated in regional play this season by Long Beach State.
LSU coach Smoke Laval will send senior right-hander Nate Bumstead (10-3, 3.51 ERA) to the mound Saturday, while Texas A&M coach Mark Johnson will counter with freshman left-hander Jason Meyer (8-2, 2.45 ERA), a first-team all-Big 12 selection.
Even though the two foes haven’t met on the diamond since 1995, the LSU-Texas A&M rivalry has created some great moments, not just on the football field.
The Aggies lead the all-time baseball series, 15-10-1, since the first game between the two in 1907. The Tigers have won eight out of the last 11 meetings, however, and LSU owns a 4-0 record versus the Aggies in NCAA postseason games.
LSU and A&M last met in 1995 when the Tigers defeated the Aggies 7-6 in 11 innings in the Winn Dixie Showdown at the Louisiana Superdome.
The two teams last met in postseason play during the 1993 College World Series. LSU stormed back to beat A&M, 13-8, scoring seven runs in the final three innings, highlighted by All-American second baseman Todd Walker’s grand slam.
LSU defeated Texas A&M, 7-1, in the 1991 NCAA South Regional in Baton Rouge en route to its first national championship.
The most memorable games between the teams took place during the 1989 postseason when LSU had to defeat A&M twice in the NCAA Central Regional in College Station to reach the College World Series. The Tigers defeated the Aggies by scores of 13-5 and 5-4 (11 innings) to advance to Omaha.
GAME FACTS — NCAA BATON ROUGE SUPER REGIONAL (Game 1)
#14 Texas A&M (42-20) at #8 LSU (44-17)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, June 12 – 6 p.m.
STADIUM: Alex Box Stadium – Baton Rouge, La. (7,760)
RANKINGS: LSU (#8 ESPN/Sports Weekly, #8 Collegiate Baseball, #10 Baseball America); Texas A&M (#14 ESPN/Sports Weekly, #15 Collegiate Baseball, #19 Baseball America)
RADIO: LSU Sports Network, including flagship WDGL-FM 98.1 in Baton Rouge; www.LSUsports.net
INTERNET: www.ncaasports.com
TV: ESPN2 (Cable Ch. 36 in Baton Rouge)
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU – Sr. RHP Nate Bumstead (10-3, 3.51 ERA, 89.2 IP, 17 BB, 51 SO)
Texas A&M – Fr. LHP Jason Meyer (8-2, 2.45 ERA, 102.2 IP, 26 BB, 119 SO)