BATON ROUGE — No. 8 LSU (14-2) faces Stetson (7-8) this weekend at Alex Box Stadium as the Tigers play their final non-conference series before beginning Southeastern Conference competition.
LSU opens SEC play at Kentucky on March 17.
Game 1 of the LSU-Stetson 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.
Friday’s game will be broadcast in Baton Rouge only on WTGE 107.3 FM. If the LSU men’s basketball team is still playing in the SEC Tournament on Saturday or Sunday, the baseball game will be carried on WTGE 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge. If the LSU men’s basketball team has been eliminated from the SEC Tournament, the baseball game will be carried on WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge.
The audio broadcast, streaming video and live stats are available in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net.
None of the three games will be televised.
Stetson, located in DeLand, Fla., is the defending Atlantic Sun Conference champion, and the Hatters participated in last season’s NCAA Regional in Gainesville, Fla. Stetson has earned an NCAA Regional berth in five of the past six seasons.
“Stetson has a tremendous program, and they are always in contention for a regional bid,” said LSU coach Smoke Laval. “This is an important weekend because it’s the last weekend before conference play starts, and we’re facing a quality Stetson club.”
Junior left-hander Clay Dirks (2-1) will take the mound for the Tigers in Friday’s contest against Stetson. Dirks will attempt to rebound from a difficult outing last week versus Houston in which he allowed three runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings with one walk and two strikeouts.
Stetson coach Pete Dunn is expected to counter Friday with junior left-hander Chris Ingoglia (3-0), who has a superb 2.19 ERA in 24.2 innings of work.
LSU will attempt this weekend to win its 11th consecutive regular-season series, dating back to last year. The Tigers’ last series loss occurred on April 8-10, 2005 versus South Carolina in Alex Box Stadium.
LSU leads the SEC in hitting with a .338 team batting average, and the Tigers are also No. 1 in the league in runs scored (118), hits (177), triples (10), RBI (105) and slugging percentage (.507).
LSU junior outfielder Steven Waguespack, who provided the game-winning sacrifice fly in Tuesday’s 4-3 victory over No. 12 Tulane, is batting a team-best .412 (21-for-51) with four doubles, one triple, one homer and eight RBI.
Senior outfielder Bruce Sprowl is hitting .371 (23-for-62) with three doubles, three triples and nine RBI, and sophomore shortstop Michael Hollander is batting .351 (20-for-57) with three doubles, two triples, two homers and a team-high 18 RBI.
Stetson, which is batting .277 as team, is paced by senior infielder Brandon Paritz (.328, 1 2B, 8 RBI), junior outfielder Adam Tindle (.314, 1 2B, 4 RBI) and sophomore catcher David Golliner (.294, 5 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI).
SERIES FACTS
Stetson Hatters (7-8) at #8 LSU Fighting Tigers (14-2)
DATES/TIMES
Friday, March 10 — 6:30 p.m. CST
Saturday, March 11 — 2 p.m. CST
Sunday, March 12 — 1 p.m. CST
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium (7,760) in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS
LSU (# 8 Collegiate Baseball, # 9 USA Today/ESPN, # 13 Baseball America)
Stetson (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
SPECIAL EVENTS/PROMOTIONS
FRIDAY
First 1,000 fans in the stadium will receive a free 2006 LSU baseball team picture
SUNDAY
Following the game, kids 12 and under can run the bases on the Alex Box Stadium field
RADIO
FRIDAY
LSU Sports Radio Network (WTGE 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge)
SATURDAY
LSU Sports Radio Network — If the LSU men’s basketball team is still playing in the SEC Tournament, the baseball game will be carried on WTGE 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge. If the LSU men’s basketball team has been eliminated from the SEC Tournament, the baseball game will be carried on WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge.
SUNDAY
LSU Sports Radio Network — If the LSU men’s basketball team is still playing in the SEC Tournament, the baseball game will be carried on WTGE 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge. If the LSU men’s basketball team has been eliminated from the SEC Tournament, the baseball game will be carried on 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
None
SERIES RECORD
First meeting
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LSU — Jr. LHP Clay Dirks (2-1, 2.11 ERA, 21.1 IP, 5 BB, 28 SO)
SU — Jr. LHP Chris Ingoglia (3-0, 2.19 ERA, 24.2 IP, 3 BB, 18 SO)
Game 2
LSU — Jr. RHP Derik Olvey (4-0, 0.30 ERA, 30.1 IP, 3 BB, 20 SO)
SU — So. RHP Corey Kluber (3-0, 1.00 ERA, 27.0 IP, 5 BB, 27 SO)
Game 3
LSU — Jr. LHP Daniel Forrer (1-0, 4.43 ERA, 20.1 IP, 12 BB, 23 SO)
SU — TBA