BATON ROUGE — Second-ranked LSU opens the 2005 season at 6:30 p.m. Friday as the Tigers play host to Nicholls State in Game 1 of a three-game series in Alex Box Stadium. Game 2 is set for 2 p.m. Saturday and Game 3 will be played at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Games 1 and 3 on Friday and Sunday can be heard statewide on the LSU Sports Network (WDGL-FM 98.1 in Baton Rouge). Game 2 on Saturday can be heard in Baton Rouge only on JAMN 107.3 FM.
All three games can also be heard on the Internet at www.LSUsports.net. None of this weekend’s games will be televised.
Fourth-year LSU coach Smoke Laval directed the 2004 squad to a 46-19 record and the Tigers’ second consecutive CWS appearance. LSU features 21 returning lettermen — including seven pitchers and six starters in the batting order.
Laval will send senior left-hander Lane Mestepey, a two-time first-team all-SEC selection, to the mound on Friday. Mestepey, who missed the 2003 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, came on strong at the end of the ’04 campaign, finishing with a 7-4 mark and a 3.51 ERA in 100 innings.
“We’re excited to get the season underway,” Mestepey said. “I think all of our guys are kind of tired facing the same pitchers over and over again, and the pitchers are tired of facing the same batters over and over again. It will be nice for us to start to face a new team in Nicholls State. We’re looking forward to it.”
Sophomore left-hander Clay Dirks (8-2, 3.43 ERA, 81.1 IP, 13 starts) will start Saturday’s contest and junior left-hander Greg Smith (2-0, 2.35 ERA, 1 save) takes the mound on Sunday.
LSU’s returning infield starters include senior second baseman Clay Harris (.297, 7 HR, 51 RBI), a 2004 second-team all-SEC selection, and junior first baseman Will Harris — Clay’s younger brother — who hit .329 with seven homers and 39 RBI.
Junior Bryan Harris, product of Santa Ana (Calif.) College who received a medical redshirt last season, will start at third base, and senior Derek Hebert (.278, 1 HR, six RBI) and true freshman Michael Hollander will platoon at shortstop to begin the season.
Last season’s starting shortstop, senior Blake Gill (.343, 5 HR, 42 RBI), underwent shoulder surgery last fall and will be limited to a DH role until March.
LSU features a pair of talented catchers in junior Matt Liuzza and senior Dustin Weaver. Liuzza (.328, 9 HR, 45 RBI) started 60 games in 2004 and sparked the Tigers in the postseason with a .417 average in the NCAA Tournament. Weaver appeared in 27 games last season and responded with a .360 batting average (18-for-50) and 12 RBI.
Senior Ryan Patterson (.341, 14 HR, 67 RBI), a 2004 second-team all-SEC choice, returns as the Tigers’ starting left fielder. Patterson was the leading hitter last summer in the prestigious Cape Cod summer league, batting .327 with six doubles, five homers, 25 RBI and five stolen bases.
Patterson will be joined in the outfield by junior center fielder Bruce Sprowl and senior right fielder Nick Stavinoha. Sprowl, who redshirted last season, started 61 games for LSU in 2003, when he hit .290 with one homer and 33 RBI. Stavinoha (.323, 8 HR, 42 RBI) moves to the outfield after serving as the Tigers’ primary DH last season.
Nicholls State returns 11 letterwinners, including five position starters from a team that ended the 2004 season with a 20-29 overall record. NSU placed 10th in the Southland Conference last season, compiling a 9-16 league record under head coach B.D. Parker. The Colonels failed to qualify for the SLC Tournament.
Parker enters his sixth season as head coach of the Colonels. In his previous five seasons, he has guided NSU to a 123-146 record. The Colonels return six pitchers to their staff this season, including senior right-hander Mark Fernandez who is slated to start the series opener on Friday night. Fernandez led the team in wins last season, compiling a 6-2 record with a 5.22 ERA in 2004.
Senior shortstop Anthony Hatch (.379, 8 HR, 33 RBI in 2004) leads a NSU offense that batted .289 as a team last season. Senior outfielder Bubba Bell is another threat at the plate as he hit .330 last season with three homers and 35 RBI.
LSU and Nicholls State meet for the 60th time on Friday night. The Tigers own a 38-21 all-time record against their in-state foe, dating back to 1968. LSU has won the last nine meetings between the two, including a 9-3 decision at Alex Box Stadium last season. Laval has compiled a 23-6 all-time record against the Colonels dating back to his coaching days at UL-Monroe. Parker is 0-3 against the Tigers.
SERIES FACTS:
Nicholls State Colonels (0-0) at #2 LSU Fighting Tigers (0-0)
DATES/TIMES:
Friday, Feb. 11 — 6:30 p.m. CST
Saturday, Feb. 12 — 2 p.m. CST
Sunday, Feb. 13 — 1 p.m. CST
STADIUM:
Alex Box Stadium (7,760)
TICKETS:
Available at www.LSUsports.net or at the Alex Box Stadium ticket office two hours prior to first pitch
RANKINGS:
LSU (#2 Baseball America, #3 ESPN/Sports Weekly, #5 Collegiate Baseball); Nicholls State (unranked)
RADIO:
Friday and Sunday statewide on LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge); Saturday in Baton Rouge only (JAMN 107.3 FM)
INTERNET:
Radio broadcast and live stats of all three games at www.LSUsports.net
TV:
None
PITCHING MATCHUPS (2004 stats in parentheses)
Game 1
LSU — Jr. LHP Lane Mestepey (7-4, 3.51 ERA, 100 IP, 28 BB, 42 SO)
NSU — Sr. RHP Mark Fernandez (6-2, 5.22 ERA, 70.2 IP, 36 BB, 67 SO)
Game 2
LSU — So. LHP Clay Dirks (8-2, 3.43 ERA, 81.1 IP, 17 BB, 66 SO)
NSU — RS Fr. LHP Justin Breaux (1-2, 4.81 ERA, 24.1 IP, 15 BB, 17 SO)
Game 3
LSU — Jr. LHP Greg Smith (2-0, 2.35 ERA, 30.2 IP, 13 BB, 35 SO)
NSU — Jr. LHP Marcus Markray (transfer from Paris (Texas) JC)