BATON ROUGE – No. 15 LSU opens the 2011 regular season with a three-game series versus Wake Forest beginning at 7 p.m. Friday in Alex Box Stadium.
Game 2 of the series starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, and first pitch for Game 3 is Noon Sunday.
Friday’s game will be televised by Cox Sports Television, and live video, audio and stats of all three games may be accessed in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net/live. All three games can be heard on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network.
LSU is ranked No. 15 in the Collegiate Baseball and USA Today/ESPN polls and is the preseason favorite to win the SEC Western Division. The Tigers feature 16 returning lettermen from their 2010 squad and 18 newcomers that comprised the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.
“Obviously it is an exciting time for us,” said fifth-year LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We are just a day away from opening day, and it’s going to be electric. The big tiger in the sky has taken care of us with the weather and it’s going to be a gorgeous weekend. They’re telling me they are selling standing room tickets for all three games already so we should have some wonderful crowds and an electric atmosphere.
“I feel great about our team. I feel a lot better about our team today than I did four or five weeks ago. We started practicing officially on Jan. 28, before that we had done some individual workouts. Having gone through all of fall practice with so many new guys there were so many questions and so many answers that were needed. I think we’ve already answered a lot of those. I just feel like this team is really coming together; I feel great about some of the things we’ve found out.”
Junior outfielder Mikie Mahtook, junior shortstop Austin Nola and junior second baseman Tyler Hanover are two-year starters that form the core of LSU’s veteran leadership. Other Tigers returning that made significant contributions in 2010 include junior outfielder Trey Watkins, junior utility player Grant Dozar, sophomore outfielder Mason Katz and sophomore infielders Alex Edward and Beau Didier.
The pitching staff is led by junior all-America right-hander Matty Ott, who has 27 career saves, just two shy of the all-time LSU saves record of 29 held by Rick Greene (1990-92).
Ott is joined by an excellent group of hurlers that includes senior right-handers Ben Alsup and Daniel Bradshaw, sophomore left-hander Chris Cotton, sophomore right-hander Michael Reed and redshirt freshman left-hander Forrest Garrett.
“Our pitching was outstanding throughout our intrasquad games, and it’s evident we have several talented arms,” Mainieri said. “I believe the pitchers have made great strides during practice, and we’re looking forward to seeing that development continue this season.”
The LSU veterans are complemented by a talented class of 18 newcomers, including seven players that were selected in the 2010 Major League Draft. The Tigers’ incoming class was voted No. 1 in the nation in the annual Collegiate Baseball recruiting survey.
“We have a tremendous class of new players that will significantly impact our program,” Mainieri said. “I think our fans will really enjoy watching these young men perform throughout their careers.”
Wake Forest is led by second-year coach Tom Walter, who directed the Deacons to an 18-37 mark in 2010. Wake Forest won six of its final eight games, including two wins over College World Series participant Clemson.
Walter, who served as coach at the University of New Orleans for five seasons (2005-09), made headlines around the country earlier this month when he donated one of his kidneys to Wake Forest freshman outfielder Kevin Jordan.
“Tom is an excellent coach and an even greater human being,” Mainieri said. “What an incredibly selfless person he is to donate a kidney to one of his players, Kevin Jordan. I know our fans will give Tom a tremendous ovation when he’s introduced prior to Friday’s game.
“On the baseball front, Tom knows what it takes to win because he developed a tremendous program at UNO. He’s an outstanding coach and a great competitor, and there is no doubt in my mind that he’s going to have an outstanding ball club coming into Baton Rouge this weekend. It’s certainly going to be the toughest opening series we’ve had since I’ve been at LSU.”
Wake Forest Demon Deacons (0-0) at #15 LSU Fighting Tigers (0-0)
GAME DATES/TIMES
Friday, February 18 – 7 p.m.; Saturday, February 19 – 2 p.m.; Sunday, February 20 – Noon
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. (10,150)
RANKINGS
LSU – No. 15 by Collegiate Baseball; No. 15 by ESPN/USA Today; No. 22 by Baseball America
WAKE – unranked
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates/flagship station is WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge
INTERNET
www.LSUsports.net/live and www.LSUsports.net/HDbaseball – live audio, video and stats for all three games
TV
Friday – Cox Sports Television
SERIES RECORD
First Meeting
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LSU – Sr. RHP Ben Alsup (2010 stats: 5-1, 3.88 ERA, 48.2 IP, 16 BB, 33 SO)
WAKE – Jr. LHP Austin Stadler (2010 stats: 3-4, 5.26 ERA, 78.2 IP, 32 BB, 70 SO)
Game 2
LSU – Fr. RHP Kevin Gausman (first collegiate appearance)
WAKE – So. LHP Tim Cooney (2010 stats: 4-6, 5.49 ERA, 80.1 IP, 24 BB, 54 SO)
Game 3
LSU – TBA
WAKE – Jr. LHP Zach White (2010 stats: 2-1, 6.35 ERA, 34.0 IP, 18 BB, 25 So)
or So. RHP Justin Van Grouw (2010 stats: 1-4, 5.18 ERA, 40.0 IP, 16 BB, 31 SO)