BATON ROUGE — No. 8 LSU (10-1) plays host to Louisiana-Monroe (0-9) at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Alex Box Stadium as the Tigers seek to extend their eight-game win streak.
The eight-game streak represents LSU’s longest since the 2004 squad won nine games in a row.
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast statewide on the LSU Sports Radio Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge). The game will also be televised live by Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge).
The audio broadcast, streaming video and live stats are also available in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net. Due to the Cox broadcast, live streaming video will be blacked out in the state of Louisiana.
LSU coach Smoke Laval said freshman right-hander Louis Coleman (2-0) is scheduled to start Wednesday’s game on the mound for the Tigers. Coleman has been impressive in his two previous collegiate starts, posting victories over Centenary and Southeastern Louisiana.
ULM coach Brad Holland is expected to counter with junior right-hander A.J. Ford (0-1) who will make his first start this season after making five relief appearances for the Indians.
Laval hopes the Tigers continue to perform as they did last weekend versus Temple, collecting 35 hits and 27 runs in the three-game sweep.
“I was pleased with the way we swung the bats last weekend with a lot of quality at-bats and hard-hit balls,” Laval explained. “I also thought our pitchers did a nice job of filling up the strike zone, and we played good defense. That needs to continue this week, as we’ll face strong challenges from ULM and Houston.”
The Tigers open a three-game series with Houston at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Alex Box Stadium.
LSU leads the overall series with ULM, 36-8, and the Tigers have won the last nine meetings, including a 9-6 victory last season in Baton Rouge. Laval, the head coach at ULM from 1994-2000, has an 8-0 mark against his former club. Holland, who worked under Laval at ULM, became the Indians’ head coach after Laval departed for LSU.
LSU senior outfielder Bruce Sprowl was named SEC Player of the Week Monday by the league office. Sprowl batted .533 (8-for-15) in the Tigers’ four victories last week, collecting two doubles, two triples, six RBI and three runs. He also walked twice, contributed a sacrifice fly and posted a .556 on-base percentage.
Sprowl was 6-for-10 in the Temple series with two doubles, two triples and five RBI. He is LSU’s leading hitter this season, batting .429 (18-for-42) on the year with three doubles, two triples, eight RBI and 11 runs.
Sophomore shortstop Michael Hollander also helped lead the Tigers to the sweep of Temple last weekend by hitting .500 (5-for-10) with one triple, four RBI and two runs. Hollander has been exceptional on defense this season with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 11 games (37 chances).
After recording just 22 sacrifice bunts in 62 games last season, LSU has already sacrificed 14 times in 11 games this year. The Tigers already have eight triples in 11 games this season after recording just 14 triples in 62 games last year.
LSU’s pitching performance last weekend was highlighted by the effort of junior left-hander Clay Dirks, who pitched a brilliant five-hitter to defeat Temple last Friday. Dirks threw 107 pitches and limited the Owls to one run on five hits with two walks and a career-best 12 strikeouts. The 12 Ks represented the most by an LSU pitcher since March 15, 2002 when Bo Pettit recorded 12 strikeouts against Vanderbilt.
Dirks is 2-0 this season with a 1.00 ERA, as he has allowed just two earned runs in 18 innings with four walks and 26 strikeouts.
Junior right-hander Derik Olvey lowered his ERA to 0.39 after his third consecutive quality outing — he fired eight shutout innings last Saturday against Temple, allowing just five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Olvey is 3-0 this season with two walks and 15 Ks in 23.1 innings for work.
GAME FACTS
Louisiana-Monroe Indians (0-9) at #8 LSU Fighting Tigers (10-1)
DATE/TIME
Wednesday, March 1 — 6:30 p.m. CST
STADIUM:
Alex Box Stadium (7,760) in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS:
LSU (# 8 Collegiate Baseball, # 10 USA Today/ESPN, # 17 Baseball America)
Louisiana-Monroe (unranked)
TICKETS:
$8 adults, $5 children ages 3-12 — available at Alex Box Stadium two hours prior to first pitch; tickets may also be purchased and printed at www.LSUsports.net
SPECIAL EVENTS/PROMOTIONS:
Children age 12 and under may stand on the field with the Tigers during the National Anthem
RADIO:
statewide on LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET:
audio broadcast, streaming video and live stats of all three games in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net
TV:
Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge)
SERIES RECORD:
LSU leads, 36-8 (first meeting in 1959)
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU — Fr. RHP Louis Coleman (2-0, 3.09 ERA, 11.2 IP, 3 BB, 14 SO)
ULM — Jr. RHP A.J. Ford (0-1, 15.43 ERA, 7.0 IP, 8 BB, 7 SO)