BATON ROUGE — Top-ranked LSU (11-0) seeks to extend its win streak to 12 games at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday as the Tigers play host to Louisiana-Monroe (5-4) in Alex Box Stadium.
The game will be carried by the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network. The Baton Rouge affiliate is WDGL 98.1 FM. Live video, audio and stats of the game may be accessed in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
LSU extended its season-opening win streak to 11 games last week as the Tigers posted two wins over Pepperdine and two wins over Brown in Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers are 11-0 for the first time since 1997, when LSU won its first 19 games of the season en route to the school’s fourth national championship.
LSU has won 17 straight home games dating back to last season, and the Tigers have won 26 of their last 27 games overall. LSU has a 93-20 mark since April 22, 2008.
LSU is 4-0 in one-run games this season after posting a 12-3 mark in one-run games in 2009.
“We are showing the poise necessary to do what it takes to win, and that ‘s the sign of a mature ball club,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “However, we know we have a lot of work to do in order to reach the goals we’ve set for this season. This will be a very challenging five-game week for us beginning with ULM on Tuesday night.”
Tuesday’s game is the first of five contests this week for LSU, which travels to Shreveport, La. to face Northwestern State at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The Tigers play host to Kansas in a three-game weekend series beginning Friday in Alex Box Stadium.
ULM enters Tuesday’s game on a three-game win streak after the Warhawks posted a three-game sweep over Mississippi Valley State last weekend in Monroe.
LSU freshman right-hander Michael Reed (0-0) will make his first collegiate start on the mound against ULM. Reed, a product of Houston, has worked 4.2 relief innings this season, recording three walks and one strikeout.
ULM coach Jeff Schexnaider will counter with senior right-hander Corey Brown (0-1).
LSU junior outfielder Leon Landry hit .538 (7-for-13) in the Tigers’ four victories last week with two triples, four RBI, five runs and a .588 on-base percentage. Landry became the 11th player in LSU history to hit two triples in a single game Sunday when he collected a pair of three-baggers versus Brown. Landry is batting .368 on the season with two doubles, two triples, 11 runs, 10 RBI and six stolen bases.
Junior catcher Micah Gibbs enjoyed another excellent weekend at the plate, batting .538 (7-for-13) in four games with one double, five RBI and three runs. Gibbs is the Tigers’ leading hitter this season, batting .436 (17-for-39) with three doubles, two homers, seven runs and 12 RBI.
Sophomore Tyler Hanover also had a very productive week, hitting .438 (7-for-16) in LSU’s four victories with one double, one homer, three RBI and five runs.
Sophomore right-hander Matty Ott earned his fifth save of the season Saturday versus Pepperdine, increasing his career total to 21. Ott is in second place on the all-time LSU saves list, trailing only Rick Greene, who had 29 saves for the Tigers from 1990-92.
ULM is led at the plate by senior third baseman Nick Wade, who is hitting .364 with three doubles, two homers and 10 RBI. The Warhawks are hitting .287 as a team with seven homers and 12 steals in nine games.
Tuesday’s contest marks the first meeting between LSU and ULM since March 1, 2006, when the Tigers posted an 8-5 victory over the Warhawks in the original Alex Box Stadium.
LSU has won 10 straight games against ULM, and the Tigers lead the series between the schools, 37-8. The Warhawks’ last win over the Tigers came in 2001 in Baton Rouge, a 7-6, 11-inning decision.
UL-Monroe Warhawks (5-4) at # 1 LSU Fighting Tigers (11-0)
DATE
Tuesday, March 9
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. (10,150)
RANKINGS
LSU – No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball; No. 1 by NCBWA; No. 1 by USA Today/ESPN; No. 2 by Baseball America
ULM – unranked
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates
The Baton Rouge affiliate is WDGL 98.1 FM
INTERNET
www.LSUsports.net/live – live video, audio and stats for all LSU games
TV
None
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads, 37-8
Last Meeting: March 1, 2006 at Baton Rouge (LSU 8, ULM 5)
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU – Fr. RHP Michael Reed (0-0, 7.71 ERA, 4.2 IP, 3 BB, 1 SO)
ULM – Sr. RHP Corey Brown (0-1, 9.64 ERA, 9.1 IP, 5 BB, 8 SO)