BATON ROUGE — No. 16 LSU (2-1) continues its 19-game season-opening homestand at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday as the Tigers play host to Centenary (5-1) in Alex Box Stadium.
LSU opened the 2006 season last weekend by winning two of three games against North Florida.
Tuesday’s game will be broadcast statewide on the LSU Sports Radio Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge).
The audio broadcast and live streaming video are available in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net. Live statistics are also available online.
LSU coach Smoke Laval said freshman right-hander Louis Coleman will start Tuesday’s game on the mound for the Tigers. Coleman, who will make his collegiate debut, is a native of Schlater, Miss., and he was an all-state performer at Pillow Academy. He was also the 28th-round selection of the Atlanta Braves in last summer’s Major League Baseball draft.
Centenary coach Ed McCann is scheduled to counter with junior left-hander Brandon Fulenchek (2-0), who has not allowed a run this season in 10 innings of work. Fulenchek has surrendered just three hits in wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Coppin State while recording no walks and 10 strikeouts.
LSU leads the all-time series with Centenary, 26-8-1; however, the Gents posted a 6-1 victory over the Tigers last season in Shreveport, breaking a 22-game LSU win streak in the series.
LSU won a season-opening series last weekend for the seventh straight year, as the Tigers captured two of three games with North Florida. Centerfielder Jarred Bogany enjoyed a magnificent collegiate debut, leading LSU to the series victory by hitting .727 (8-for-11) with two doubles, two RBI, two runs and one stolen base. Bogany also made a spectacular catch in Game 1 to rob a UNF batter of an extra-base hit.
Bogany, who was named Monday as the SEC Freshman of the Week, was the 15th round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates in last summer’s Major League draft.
Junior right-hander Derik Olvey turned in a brilliant outing in his LSU debut, working 8.1 shutout innings to defeat North Florida last Saturday. Olvey, a transfer from Notre Dame, limited the Ospreys to no runs on four hits in 8.1 innings with no walks and five strikeouts. The Pelham, Ala., native fired 90 pitches as the Tigers posted a 4-0 win to clinch the series victory.
First baseman Steven Waguespack began the season with a sizzling weekend at the plate, as he batted .667 (8-for-12) with two doubles, two RBI, three runs and one stolen base. Like Bogany and Olvey, Waguespack — a transfer from Delgado Community College in New Orleans — was making his debut in an LSU uniform.
Another LSU newcomer, true freshman designated hitter J.T. Wise, hit .400 (4-for-10) in the series with two doubles and three RBI.
As a team, the Tigers hit .368 (39-for-106) over the weekend with nine doubles while limiting North Florida to a .222 (22-for-99) batting average. LSU successfully executed five sacrifice bunts in the three-game series; the Tigers had only 22 sacrifices in the entire 2005 season (62 games).
GAME FACTS
Centenary Gents (5-1) at #16 LSU Fighting Tigers (2-1)
DATE/TIME
Tuesday, Feb. 14 – 6:30 p.m. CST
STADIUM:
Alex Box Stadium (7,760) in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS:
LSU (#16 Collegiate Baseball, #20 Baseball America)
Centenary (unranked)
TICKETS:
$8 adults, $5 children ages 3-12 — available at Alex Box Stadium each day two hours prior to first pitch; tickets may also be purchased and printed at www.LSUsports.net
RADIO: statewide on LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET:
Live audio broadcast, streaming video and live stats of all three games in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net
TV:
none
SERIES RECORD:
LSU leads, 26-8-1 (first meeting in 1895)
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU ? Fr. RHP Louis Coleman (making collegiate debut)
Centenary ? Jr. LHP Brandon Fulenchek (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 10.0 IP, 0 BB, 10 SO)