BATON ROUGE, La. – Fifth-ranked LSU (3-1) opens a three-game series at 7 p.m. CT Friday, as the Tigers play host to Sacramento State in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
Game 2 will begin at 2 p.m. CT Saturday, and first pitch for Game 3 is set for 1 p.m. CT Sunday.
The games can be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, including Baton Rouge flagship WDGL-FM 98.1 FM, on Friday and Sunday. Saturday’s game will be carried in Baton Rouge only on WTGE-FM 100.7.
All three games may viewed live online on SEC Network +, accessible at WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app.
Live audio of the games may be accessed at www.LSUsports.net/live with live stats at www.LSUstats.com.
LSU is ranked in the Top 10 in the college baseball polls released Monday, and the Tigers’ highest ranking is No. 5 in the Perfect Game poll. The Tigers posted a three-game sweep over Cincinnati last weekend to open the 2016 season, and LSU dropped a 12-11 decision at Lamar on Wednesday night.
Sacramento State opened its season last weekend by winning two of three games at Auburn, and the Hornets defeated Northwestern State, 4-2, Wednesday in Natchitoches, La.
Friday’s game marks the first meeting between LSU and Sacramento State, which is a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
“Sacramento State has an outstanding team, as evidenced by its series win at Auburn,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “They are one of the favorites to win their conference, and they have some very talented ball players. I coached against (Sacramento State coach) Reggie Christiansen when he was at South Dakota State and I was at Notre Dame, and I know he’ll have his team prepared to play at a high level.”
Mainieri said junior left-hander Jared Poche’ will start Friday’s game on the mound for the Tigers. Poche’ worked 6.2 inning last Friday in the season opener against Cincinnati, allowing three runs on four hits in three walks and five strikeouts.
LSU’s starter on Saturday, sophomore right-hander Alex Lange, was named SEC Pitcher of the Week on Monday, as he improved his LSU career record to 13-0 after defeating Cincinnati last Saturday. Lange worked 6.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit with three walks and nine strikeouts in the Tigers’ 4-0 win.
Cincinnati’s only hit against Lange was a single, as he limited the Bearcats to a .048 batting average in the contest and did not allow a baserunner to advance beyond second base. Lange retired 10 consecutive hitters beginning with the fourth inning through the first out of the seventh inning.
Senior left-hander John Valek III will be the Tigers’ starter on Sunday against Sacramento State. Valek III defeated Cincinnati last Sunday in his LSU debut, limiting the Bearcats to four runs on four hits in 5.2 innings with no walks and seven strikeouts.
LSU is hitting .257 as a team after producing 11 runs on 12 hits in Wednesday night’s game at Lamar. Junior shortstop Cole Freeman is hitting .429 on the year with one double and three RBI; junior centerfielder Jake Fraley is batting .313 with two triples and one RBI, and freshman third baseman O’Neal Lochridge is batting .300 with two homers and five RBI.
The Tigers have launched six homers in their first four games while stealing nine bases in 14 attempts.
Sacramento State is batting .247 this season with two homers and 11 steals in 11 attempts. The Hornets are led at the plate by freshman outfielder Matt Smith, who is batting .467 with two doubles and seven RBI. Junior infielder Kody Reynolds is hitting .313 with one double and one RBI, and junior infielder Brandon Hunley is batting .250 with two doubles and three RBI.
Sacramento State Hornets (3-1) at #5 LSU Fighting Tigers (3-1)
DATES/TIMES
Friday, Feb. 26 – 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 27 – 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, Feb. 28 – 1 p.m. CT
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS
LSU – consensus Top 10; highest ranking No. 5 by Perfect Game
SAC – unranked
RADIO
Friday and Sunday – LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
Saturday – WTGE 100.7 FM in Baton Rouge
LSUsports.net – live audio and live stats for all three games
ONLINE TELECAST
All three games may be viewed on SEC Network +, accessible at WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app
SERIES RECORD
Friday’s game marks the first meeting between LSU and Sacramento State, which is a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday
LSU – Jr. LHP Jared Poche’ (0-0, 2.70 ERA, 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 5 SO)
SAC – Jr. LHP Sam Long (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 4.0 IP, 2 BB, 3 SO)
Saturday
LSU – So. RHP Alex Lange (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6.2 IP, 3 BB, 9 SO)
SAC – Sr. RHP Grant Kukuk (0-0, 1.93 ERA, 4.2 IP, 0 BB, 2 SO)
Sunday
LSU – Sr. LHP John Valek III (1-0, 3.18 ERA, 5.2 IP, 0 BB, 7 SO)
SAC – Jr. RHP Max Karnos (0-0, 15.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 3 BB, 2 SO)