BATON ROUGE, La. – Due to a forecast of inclement weather in the Baton Rouge area on Wednesday night, the first pitch time of the LSU-McNeese State baseball game has been moved to 4 p.m. CT Wednesday afternoon in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
The game may be viewed online on SEC Network +, available at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.
The game may be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, including WTGE 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge, and in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net/live.
Preview:
Top-ranked LSU (15-1) plays host to McNeese State (11-5) at 4 p.m. CT Wednesday in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
The game will be carried on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, including WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge, and live audio and stats for the contest may be accessed at www.LSUsports.net.
The LSU-McNeese game will be streamed live online on SEC Network +, accessible at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.
“Every game we play is very important to us, and McNeese has an outstanding club that will challenge us,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We’re playing well right now, and it’s our goal to continue to move in a positive direction, especially with our opening SEC series against Ole Miss coming up this weekend. (McNeese coach) Justin Hill, who’s a former LSU pitcher, has done a great job with the McNeese program, and he’ll have his team ready to play when they get to Baton Rouge.”
Mainieri said sophomore right-hander Russell Reynolds (0-0) will start Wednesday’s game on the mound for the Tigers, while Hill, who pitched at LSU in 2001-02, will counter with junior right-hander Ethan Stremmel (2-0).
LSU is ranked No. 1 in the Baseball America magazine poll released Monday, and the Tigers are riding a 12-game win streak, including consecutive wins over Houston, Baylor and Nebraska last weekend in the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park. The 12-game win streak is LSU’s longest since the 2013 Tigers won 15 straight games from late March through mid-April.
The 2015 LSU team is the sixth Tiger squad to earn the top ranking during Mainieri’s nine-season tenure. LSU has held the No. 1 position in at least one poll in six of the past seven seasons.
LSU is hitting .325 on the year with 10 home runs and 31 steals in 37 attempts. The Tigers are led at the plate by senior catcher Kade Scivicque, who is batting .417 (15-for-36) with four doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and 11 runs. Sophomore outfielder Jake Fraley is hitting .385 (15-for-39) with three doubles, three triples and seven RBI, while junior outfielder Mark Laird is batting .367 (22-for-60) with three doubles, five RBI, 15 runs and five steals.
Senior third baseman Conner Hale was named SEC Player of the Week Monday as he helped lead LSU to three straight wins in the Houston College Classic, batting .400 (4-for-10) with one double, one homer, five RBI and two runs scored. Hale, who was named to the HCC All-Tournament team, also extended his hitting streak to 16 games, as he has hit safely in each of the Tigers’ 16 games this season.
Junior shortstop Alex Bregman was also voted to the HCC All-Tournament team, as he hit .385 (5-for-13) in three games with one double, three runs scored and three steals in three attempts. Bregman played magnificent defense, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 20 chances.
McNeese is hitting .287 as a team with five home runs and 18 steals in 30 attempts. Senior outfielder Andrew Guillotte is batting .368 (25-for-68) with four doubles, one homer and seven RBI, junior outfielder Lewis Guilbeau is batting .339 (19-for-56) with two doubles and seven RBI and 11 steals, and junior infielder Connor Crane is hitting .338 (23-for-68) with nine doubles, one triple, two homers and five RBI.
LSU leads the overall series with McNeese State, 28-9, including a 10-3 win over the Cowboys last season in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have won 10 straight games over the Cowboys; McNeese State’s last win over LSU came in 2000, a 4-3 decision in Lake Charles.
McNeese State Cowboys (11-5) vs. #1 LSU Fighting Tigers (15-1)
DATE/TIME
Wednesday, March 11 – 4 p.m. CT
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field (capacity: 10,326) in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS
LSU – No. 1 by Baseball America; No. 2 by Collegiate Baseball; No. 4 by USA Today
McNeese – unranked
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates, including WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge
LSUsports.net – live audio and live stats
ONLINE
Live streaming of the game on SEC Network +, accessible at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads the overall series with McNeese State, 28-9, including a 10-3 win over the Cowboys last season in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have won 10 straight games over the Cowboys; McNeese State’s last win over LSU came in 2000, a 4-3 decision in Lake Charles.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU – So. RHP Russell Reynolds (0-0, 7.71 ERA, 4.2 IP, 4 BB, 4 SO)
MSU – Jr. RHP Ethan Stremmel (2-0, 3.45 ERA, 15.2 IP, 2 BB, 13 SO)