BATON ROUGE — No. 27 LSU (34-18) travels to New Orleans Tuesday to take on Tulane (30-22) at 6:30 p.m. in Turchin Stadium.
The game will be televised by Cox Sports Television, and it can be heard on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network. Live audio and stats may be accessed in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
LSU is ranked No. 27 in this week’s National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll.
Tuesday’s game marks the final non-conference game of the regular season for LSU. The Tigers conclude the regular season by playing host to SEC rival Mississippi State Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Alex Box Stadium.
LSU is in a four-way tie for seventh place in the Southeastern Conference standings. The top eight league teams qualify for the conference tournament, which begins May 26 in Hoover, Ala.
“There are still four games left in the regular season, but it feels like the playoffs have started now,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We have to play well this week, beginning with the game at Tulane, in order to extend our season. It’s a huge week for us, and I know our players are excited about this challenge.”
Mainieri said junior right-hander Daniel Bradshaw (5-0, 4.79 ERA) will start Tuesday’s game on the mound for the Tigers. Tulane coach Rick Jones will counter with freshman right-hander Kyle McKenzie (1-1, 12.34 ERA).
LSU catcher Micah Gibbs leads the Tigers with a .418 batting average and 82 hits on the year. Gibbs has collected 13 doubles, three triples, seven homer and 51 RBI
Centerfielder Leon Landry is hitting .342 with 10 doubles, six triples, five homers and 42 RBI for the Tigers, while sophomore rightfielder Mikie Mahtook is batting .338 with 18 doubles, four triples, 12 homers and 41 RBI.
First baseman Blake Dean is hitting .333 with 15 doubles, 10 homers and a team-high 62 RBI.
LSU is batting .318 as a team with 63 homers and 72 stolen bases, while Tulane is hitting .310 as a team with 50 homers and 27 stolen bases.
The Green Wave is led by infielder Rob Segedin, who is batting .436 with 27 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 53 RBI. Freshman catcher/infielder Blake Crohan is hitting .343 with 14 doubles, seven homers and 37 RBI.
LSU leads the overall series with Tulane, 162-124-3, including a 10-4 win over the Green Wave last month in Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers have won four of their five meetings with Tulane over the past three seasons.
LSU Fighting Tigers (34-18) at Tulane Green Wave (30-22)
GAME DATE/TIME
Tuesday, May 18 – 6:30 p.m.
STADIUM
Turchin Stadium in New Orleans, La.
RANKINGS
LSU – No. 27 by NCBWA
TU – unranked
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates/flagship station is WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge
INTERNET
www.LSUsports.net – live audio and stats
TV
Cox Sports Televsion
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads, 162-124-3, in a series that began in 1893.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU – Jr. RHP Daniel Bradshaw (5-0, 4.79 ERA, 35.2 IP, 10 BB, 23 SO)
TU – Fr. RHP Kyle McKenzie (1-1, 12.34 ERA, 11.2 IP, 11 BB, 10 SO)