BATON ROUGE — LSU (23-18-1) begins a five-game homestand Wednesday night when the Tigers play host to Southern (21-13) at 6:30 p.m. in Alex Box Stadium.
Tickets are available online at www.LSUsports.net or by contacting the LSU Athletics Ticket Office at 225.578.2184 or 800.960.8587. Tickets may also be purchased at the Alex Box Stadium box office beginning at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The LSU-Southern game will be broadcast on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network (WDGL-FM 98.1 in Baton Rouge). The audio broadcast and streaming video are available in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net. Live stats are also available at www.LSUsports.net.
LSU posted a 2-1 SEC series victory at No. 15 Mississippi State last weekend, marking the Tigers’ third series victory in the past four weeks. LSU has recorded consecutive series victories over Top 15 teams, defeating Mississippi State last weekend and No. 13 Ole Miss on April 13-15.
LSU, which returns to conference action this weekend at home versus Tennessee, is in fourth place in the SEC Western Division with an 8-9-1 mark.
Southern, under the direction of coach Roger Cador, has won seven of its last 10 games, and the Jaguars are in second place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division with a 14-7 record.
“I have tremendous respect for the program Roger Cador has established at Southern,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “They have set a standard of excellence, and they are having a very good season again this year. They have outstanding, talented players, and we will need a great effort to have a chance to win.
“I feel like our players are performing with a lot of confidence right now, and that we have improved a great deal over the past few months. I said before the season that I thought our team would be much better in April than in February, and that certainly is the case with our club.”
Mainieri said freshman right-hander Matt Jackson (0-0, 2.74 ERA) will start Wednesday’s game on the mound for the Tigers. Jackson, who will make his third start of the season, has allowed just a .222 opponent batting average in 23 innings of work this season.
LSU sophomore second baseman Nicholas Pontiff drove in five runs in the Mississippi State series as he delivered key hits in the Tigers’ two victories. In Saturday’s 6-5 win, Pontiff launched a two-run homer in the sixth inning to tie the game at 5-5 ? it was the first homer of the year for Pontiff and just the second of his career.
In Sunday’s 3-1 victory at MSU, Pontiff delivered the game-winning hit — a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie.
Junior shortstop Michael Hollander enjoyed a productive weekend at Mississippi State, batting .455 (5-for-11) with two doubles, one triple, one homer, two RBI and two runs. Hollander provided the game-winning hit in Saturday’s 6-5 victory, as his two-out double scored third baseman Chris Jackson from first base. Hollander also played flawlessly at shortstop, handling 15 chances without an error.
Junior rightfielder Jason Lewis, making just his ninth and 10th starts this season, hit .571 (4-for-7) in the Mississippi State series with two doubles and two runs scored.
Freshman designated hitter Blake Dean, LSU’s leading hitter with a .333 average, saw his hitting streak end at 20 games on Saturday at MSU. Dean’s streak was the longest by an LSU player since Cedrick Harris recorded a 21-game streak in 2000.
The Tigers hold a 40-2 series advantage over Southern, including a 3-2 victory over the Jaguars last season in Alex Box Stadium. Southern’s wins over LSU have both come in this decade in Alex Box Stadium ? the Jaguars defeated the Tigers in 2001 (11-6) and in 2005 (9-5).
GAME FACTS
Southern Jaguars (21-13) at LSU Fighting Tigers (23-18-1)
DATE/TIME
Wednesday, April 25 ? 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 children ages 12 and under may stand on the field with the Tigers during the National Anthem
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL-FM 98.1 in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET
Streaming video, audio broadcast and live stats in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net
TV
None
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads, 40-2
PITCHING MATCHUPS
LSU ? Fr. RHP Matt Jackson (0-0, 2.74 ERA, 23.0 IP, 6 BB, 12 SO)
SU ? TBA