BATON ROUGE — Third-ranked LSU (18-4, 3-0 SEC) plays host to Auburn (17-7, 1-2) this weekend in a three-game Southeastern Conference series at Alex Box Stadium.
Game 1 of the LSU-Auburn series is set for 6:30 p.m. CST Friday, Game 2 begins at 2 p.m. CST Saturday and Game 3 starts at 1 p.m. CST Sunday.
The games can be heard statewide on the LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge).
The radio broadcast and live stats are also available on the LSU Athletics web site, www.LSUsports.net.
LSU has won seven straight games, including a 4-2 victory Wednesday over Southeastern Louisiana at Zephyr Field in Metairie, La. The Tigers began SEC play last weekend with a three-game sweep at Georgia.
Auburn defeated fourth-ranked Georgia Tech, 7-6 (11 innings), Wednesday in Atlanta. The Plainsmen opened conference action at home last weekend by dropping two of three games to Tennessee.
LSU coach Smoke Laval will send senior left-hander Lane Mestepey (5-1, 1.91 ERA) to the mound in Friday’s series opener. Mestepey moved into second place on the all-time LSU wins list last weekend with a complete-game effort at Georgia. He earned his 34th career victory by limiting the Bulldogs to two runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The complete game was the 16th of Mestepey’s career, and he is now four wins shy of the LSU all-time wins record (38) held by Scott Schultz (1992-95).
First-year Auburn coach Tom Slater is expected to counter with senior left-hander Arnold Hughey (2-2, 3.54 ERA).
LSU center fielder Ryan Patterson and second baseman Clay Harris each carry an 11-game hitting streak into Friday’s contest. Patterson is batting .488 (21-for-43) during his streak with three doubles, eight homers, 13 RBI and 21 runs. He has launched eight homers in his last six games.
Harris is hitting .413 (19-for-46) during his streak with four doubles, one triple, two homers, 12 RBI and 10 runs.
The Tigers are hitting .319 (80-for-251) as a team during their seven-game win streak with 15 doubles, three triples and 15 homers. LSU has outscored its opponents, 59-27, in its last seven outings.
LSU cumulative team batting average is .301, and the Tigers have unloaded 30 home runs.
Auburn is hitting .308 on the year with 12 homers. First baseman Karl Amonite is hitting a robust .425 with 10 doubles, five homers and 33 RBI. Second baseman Tyler Johnstone, Auburn’s lead-off hitter, is batting .422 (43-for-102) with six doubles, two triples, 16 RBI, 28 runs and 10 steals.
LSU leads the overall series with Auburn, 74-60, and the Tigers took two of three games from AU last season at Plainsman Park. LSU has won six of its last eight games with Auburn, and the Tigers have captured five of their last six SEC series with the Plainsmen. Auburn’s only series victory over LSU in the past six seasons came in 2001, when AU won two of three games in Alex Box Stadium.
LSU has an 8-3 advantage over Auburn in games played in Alex Box Stadium since 1997.
SERIES FACTS
Auburn Tigers (17-7, 1-2) at # 3 LSU Fighting Tigers (18-4, 3-0)
DATES/TIMES
Friday, March 25 — 6:30 p.m. CST
Saturday, March 26 — 2 p.m. CST
Sunday, March 27 — 1 p.m. CST
STADIUM:
Alex Box Stadium (7,760)
TICKETS:
$8 adults, $5 children ages 3-12 — available at Alex Box Stadium each day two hours prior to first pitch
RANKINGS:
LSU (# 3 ESPN/Sports Weekly, # 3 Baseball America, # 3 Collegiate Baseball)
Auburn (unranked)
RADIO:
statewide on LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET:
radio broadcast and live stats of all three games at www.LSUsports.net
TV:
none
SERIES RECORD:
LSU leads, 74-60
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LSU — Sr. LHP Lane Mestepey (5-1, 1.91 ERA, 42.1 IP, 6 BB, 27 SO)
AU — Sr. LHP Arnold Hughey (2-2, 3.54 ERA, 40.2 IP, 3 BB, 35 SO)
Game 2
LSU — So. LHP Clay Dirks (5-0, 2.93 ERA, 30.2 IP, 11 BB, 23 SO)
AU — Jr. RHP Josh Sullivan (4-1, 2.01 ERA, 44.2 IP, 6 BB, 37 SO)
Game 3
LSU — Jr. LHP Greg Smith (4-1, 2.72 ERA, 36.1 IP, 12 BB, 34 SO)
AU — So. LHP Josh Blake (2-2, 5.40 ERA, 21.2 IP, 10 BB, 8 SO)