BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU (28-17) plays host to Tulane (26-18) at 6:30 p.m. CT Tuesday in Alex Box Stadium. The contest is the Tigers’ final non-conference home game of the regular season.
The broadcast of the game can be heard on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network. Live video, audio and stats of the contest may be accessed in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
Tuesday’s game will be also be televised by Cox Sports Television.
“We always get excited to play Tulane, ” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri, “because it’s a great rivalry and they have a tremendous program. We had to come from behind late to beat them earlier this season in New Orleans, and it was a very tight game in which we had some clutch pitching and at-bats. We’re playing with confidence right now, and it’s important that we play well against Tulane and continue to shift our momentum into high gear. “
Mainieri earned his 200th win at the helm of the Tiger program when his team defeated Nicholls State, 12-3, on April 26. Mainieri owns a 203-101-2 mark at LSU in five seasons that includes one national championship, one SEC title and three SEC tournament crowns.
Mainieri said freshman right-hander Ryan Eades will start on the mound Tuesday for the Tigers, while Tulane coach Rick Jones will counter with freshman left-hander Wade Konvicka.
LSU was a perfect 4-0 last week, defeating Nicholls State before posting a three-game weekend sweep over Kentucky. The Tigers hit .340 (48-for-141) in their four wins last week with 13 doubles, three homers and 41 runs scored.
The Tigers are batting .290 as a team with 77 doubles, nine triples, 29 homers and 72 steals on the year. The LSU pitching staff has a 4.41 ERA with 321 strikeouts and a .253 opponent batting average.
The Tigers are led at the plate by junior centerfielder Mikie Mahtook, who is hitting .364 with 10 doubles, three triples, 11 homers and 43 RBI. Sophomore designated hitter Raph Rhymes is batting .345 with 12 doubles, two homers and 34 RBI, while sophomore outfielder/first baseman Mason Katz is hitting .312 with 14 doubles, two triples, four homers and 37 RBI.
Katz enjoyed a remarkable weekend series versus Kentucky, batting .727 (8-for-11) in three games with five doubles, one homer, six RBI and six runs scored. Katz’ pinch-hit, two-RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 1 on Thursday highlighted an eight-run LSU rally as the Tigers rebounded from a 5-1 deficit and posted a 9-5 victory. Katz started at first base in Game 2, going 4-for-5 at the plate with a school record-tying three doubles, two RBI and three runs scored.
Katz was 3-for-5 in Game 3 with two doubles, one homer, two RBI and two runs. In four consecutive at-bats from the seventh inning of Game 2 through the third inning of Game 3, he collected three doubles and a home run.
Mahtook hit .429 (6-for-14) last week with two doubles, one homer, five RBI, five runs and four stolen bases.
Tulane is batting .259 with 65 doubles, nine triples, 16 homers and 41 stolen bases. The Green Wave pitching staff has a 4.14 ERA with 306 strikeouts and a .266 opponent batting average.
Tulane is led at the plate by junior catcher Jeremy Schaffer, who is hitting .372 with 20 doubles, two triples, five homers and 31 RBI. Senior outfielder Nick Boullosa is batting .278 with three doubles, one homer and 14 RBI, while junior infielder Nick Schneeberger is hitting .273 with three doubles, three triples, two homers and 26 RBI.
LSU leads the overall series with Tulane, 163-125-3, in a series that began in 1893. LSU has won five of its seven meetings with Tulane over the past four seasons, including a 7-5 victory over the Wave on April 5 in New Orleans.
Tulane Green Wave (26-18) at LSU Fighting Tigers (28-17)
GAME DATE/TIME
Tuesday, May 3 – 6:30 p.m.
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates/flagship station is WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge
INTERNET
www.LSUsports.net – live video, audio and stats
TV
Cox Sports Television
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads the overall series with Tulane, 163-125-3, in a series that began in 1893. LSU has won five of its seven meetings with Tulane over the past four seasons, including a 7-5 victory over the Wave on April 5 in New Orleans.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU – Fr. RHP Ryan Eades (2-1, 5.11 ERA, 24.2 IP, 12 BB, 21 SO)
TU – Fr. LHP Wade Konvicka (2-0, 3.60 ERA, 20 IP, 6 BB, 9 SO)