BATON ROUGE — LSU begins an eight-game homestand Wednesday night when the Tigers play host to Northwestern State at 6:30 p.m. in Alex Box Stadium.
LSU (4-2) dropped two of three games last weekend at Stetson after opening the season nearly two weeks ago with a three-game sweep of Saint Mary’s (Calif.). Stetson captured the first two games last weekend before LSU posted an 8-4 win on Sunday.
LSU started a school-record four true freshmen in Game 1 on Friday at Stetson ? Blake Dean in left field, Jared Mitchell in center field, Sean Ochinko at first base and Ryan Schimpf at designated hitter.
Northwestern State (1-6) enters Wednesday’s contest having lost its last three games. The Demons’ lone victory this season was a 5-4 win over Centenary on Feb. 13.
The game will be broadcast on WTGE 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge only. The audio broadcast and live stats are available in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to return home and play in front of our great fans” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. “The series at Stetson didn’t unfold the way we had hoped, but I was very pleased with the way we competed on Sunday after losing the first two games. I think our players are excited about coming back to Alex Box, and I anticipate a great effort from them.”
Mainieri said sophomore right-hander Louis Coleman (1-1) will start Wednesday’s game on the mound. Coleman had a rough outing at Stetson on Saturday, as he allowed seven earned runs on nine hits in 2.1 innings with no walks and two strikeouts.
The LSU bats came alive Sunday as the Tigers pounded out a season-high 13 hits, including nine in the first four innings. LSU’s top three hitters in the lineup ? second baseman Buzzy Haydel, Mitchell and Dean ? each collected three hits in Sunday’s contest.
Haydel, starting in place of injured second baseman Chris Jackson (stomach ulcer), was 3-for-4 from the leadoff position with a walk and three runs scored.
Mitchell singled three times, drove in a run and scored once, and Dean was 3-for-4 with a triple, a walk and a run scored.
Dean was the Tigers’ leading hitter in the three-game series, batting .400 (4-for-10) with one double, one triple and two RBI. Dean, a freshman from Crestview, Fla., is also LSU’s top hitter on the year, batting .471 (8-for-17) with two doubles, one triple, one homer and seven RBI.
LSU right-hander Jared Bradford limited Stetson to just two runs on five hits in six innings on Sunday. Bradford (1-0), making his first career start, blanked Stetson through the first five innings before allowing a pair of runs in the sixth. The product of Shelton State (Ala.) Community College finished with one walk and five strikeouts.
Northwestern State, coached by former LSU player Mitch Gaspard, is led by third baseman Chase Lyles, who is hitting .333 (7-for-21) with two RBI and four runs scored. Shortstop Brandon Richey, batting .310, has one homer, four RBI and a team-high nine hits.
LSU has won its last seven meetings with Northwestern State, including last season’s 12-0 victory in Alex Box Stadium. Northwestern State’s last win in Baton Rouge came in 1999, when the Demons posted a 12-6 victory.
GAME FACTS
Northwestern State Demons (1-6) at LSU Fighting Tigers (4-2)
DATES/TIMES
Wednesday, February 21 ? 6:30 p.m.
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium (7,760) in Baton Rouge, La.
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
All kids ages 12 and under may stand on the field with Mike the Tiger during the National Anthem
RADIO
WTGE 107.3 FM in Baton Rouge only
INTERNET
Audio broadcast and live stats of all three games in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net
TV
None
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads, 45-10
PITCHING MATCHUPS
LSU ? So. RHP Louis Coleman (1-1, 8.64 ERA, 8.1 IP, 1 BB, 9 SO)
NSU ? TBA