BATON ROUGE — Fifth-ranked LSU (14-4, 0-0) opens Southeastern Conference play this weekend as the Tigers travel to Athens to face No. 17 Georgia (10-6, 0-0) at Foley Field. The series matches two of the four SEC teams — along with South Carolina and Arkansas — that advanced to the 2004 College World Series.
Game 1 of the LSU-UGA series is set for 6 p.m. CST Friday, Game 2 begins at 3 p.m. CST Saturday and Game 3 starts at Noon CST Sunday.
The game on Friday can be heard statewide on the LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge). The radio station for Saturday’s game will be determined by LSU’s participation in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Sunday’s baseball game will be broadcast in Baton Rouge only on WTGE 107.3 FM., as the LSU women’s basketball NCAA Tournament game will be carried on the full network (98.1 FM in Baton Rouge).
All three games can also be heard on the LSU Athletics web site, www.LSUsports.net.
LSU coach Smoke Laval said his club has performed well during its pre-conference schedule. The Tigers enter this weekend’s play having won 11 consecutive regular-season series, dating back to last year.
“We are right where we expected to be,” he explained. “The injury bug hit us a bit early, but we’re all right. We have a long way to go and a short time to do it. Competing in the SEC will be more difficult than ever, because the league is as balanced as it’s ever been.
Laval will send senior left-hander Lane Mestepey (4-1, 1.89 ERA) to the mound in Friday’s series opener. Mestepey moved into a tie for second place on the all-time LSU wins list, as he earned his 33rd victory last Friday over Arizona State. Mestepey is five wins shy of tying Scott Schultz (38 wins, 1992-95) as the Tigers’ career victories leader.
Georgia coach David Perno is expected to counter with junior right-hander Mitchell Boggs (1-1, 1.38 ERA), who will be making his first start this season and the second start of his career.
LSU center fielder Ryan Patterson enjoyed an incredible weekend in the Tigers’ victories last weekend over Arizona State and Western Illinois, batting .563 (7-for-12) in three games with four homers, eight runs and seven RBI. Patterson was 3-for-4 with two homers and two RBI in Saturday’s win over WIU; on Sunday against ASU, he belted two more homers and drove in four runs. The senior from Rowlett, Texas, lifted his cumulative average to .403 (27-for-67) with seven doubles, six homers and 16 RBI.
Senior second baseman Clay Harris also was extremely productive at the plate last weekend, batting .667 (8-for-12) with two doubles, one triple, one homer and five RBI. As a team, the Tigers batted .380 (41-for-108) in three games with eight doubles, three triples, nine homers and 36 runs, raising their cumulative average from .293 to .308.
Georgia sophomore first baseman Josh Morris batted .462 (6-for-13) with two home runs and 10 RBI and a 1.077 slugging percentage in five games last week. Morris leads the SEC with an .826 slugging percentage. Senior shortstop Josh Smith returned to the leadoff spot in the order last week and batted .500 (8-for-16) with seven runs scored, six walks and was hit twice for a .667 on-base percentage. Georgia’s leading hitter, senior Justin Niefer , missed the Louisville series last weekend after cutting his hand during practice at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville. The injury required stitches and he is listed as day-to-day this week.
LSU leads the overall series with Georgia, 48-14-1. The teams split four meetings last season, as the Tigers won two of three games verus UGA in Baton Rouge before the Bulldogs posted a 1-0 victory at the SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala.
SERIES FACTS
# 5 LSU Fighting Tigers (14-4, 0-0) at # 17 Georgia Bulldogs (10-6, 0-0)
DATES/TIMES:
Friday, March 18 — 6 p.m. CST; Saturday, March 19 — 3 p.m. CST; Sunday, March 20 — Noon CST
STADIUM:
Foley Field (3,291)
RANKINGS:
LSU (# 5 ESPN/Sports Weekly, # 5 Baseball America, # 5 Collegiate Baseball)
UGA (#17 Collegiate Baseball, # 18 ESPN/Sports Weekly, # 21 Baseball America)
RADIO:
Friday and Saturday statewide on LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
Sunday in Baton Rouge only on WDGL 98.1 FM
INTERNET:
Radio broadcast and live stats of all three games at www.LSUsports.net
TV:
Friday on Comcast Sports Southeast (no Louisiana affiliates)
Saturday — No TV
Sunday statewide on Jumbo Sports Network (Cable Ch. 10 in Baton Rouge)
SERIES RECORD:
LSU leads, 48-14-1
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LSU — Sr. LHP Lane Mestepey (4-1, 1.89 ERA, 33.1 IP, 4 BB, 24 SO)
UGA — Jr. RHP Mitchell Boggs (1-1, 1.38 ERA, 13.0 IP, 1 BB, 13 SO)
Game 2
LSU — So. LHP Clay Dirks (4-0, 2.55 ERA, 24.2 IP, 8 BB, 22 SO)
UGA — Jr. RHP Michael Hyle (1-0, 2.79 ERA, 19.1 IP, 7 BB, 18 SO)
Game 3
LSU — Jr. LHP Greg Smith (4-1, 2.97 ERA, 30.1 IP, 11 BB, 31 SO)
UGA — Sr. RHP Sean Ruthven (1-1, 4.11 ERA, 15.1 IP, 10 BB, 14 SO)