BATON ROUGE, La. – Sixth-ranked LSU (6-2) opens a three-game series against Fordham (3-4) at 7 p.m. CT Friday in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first game starting at 2 p.m. CT and the second game beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT
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 the second game on Saturday. The first game on Saturday can be heard in Baton Rouge on WTGE-FM 100.7.
All three games may be viewed live online via 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 began this week with a 9-4 victory at Nicholls State on Wednesday night in Thibodaux, La. First baseman Bryce Jordan drove in three runs and right-hander Alden Cartwright pitched three scoreless relief innings to lead the Tigers to the win at Ray Didier Field.
“It was important for our team to get a win on the road in a sold-out stadium at Nicholls,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We knew it would be a tough game and that our players would be challenged, and we were able to earn the victory. We’re very glad to be back home with our fans at Alex Box, and we’re looking forward to playing Fordham. Any time you face a school from the Northeast, you know they’re going to be hard-nosed and ready to play. We know we have to continue to improve with our first SEC series only two weeks away.”
Mainieri said that junior left-hander Jared Poche’ will start Friday’s contest on the mound for the Tigers. Senior southpaw John Valek III will start the first game of the twin bill on Saturday, and sophomore right-hander Alex Lange will start Saturday’s nightcap.
Poche’ earned his first win of the season and the 19th of his career with six shutout innings last Friday night against Sacramento State. Poche’ allowed just two singles and limited the Hornets to a .105 batting average during his outing. He recorded three walks and eight strikeouts, tying his career high for Ks set last season versus UNC Wilmington in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional.
Valek turned in a brilliant outing last Sunday against Sacramento State, limiting the Hornets to one run on four hits in seven innings with no walks and six strikeouts. Valek is now 2-0 on the year with a 2.13 ERA, and he has recorded no walks and 13 strikeouts in 12.2 innings while limiting opponents to a .174 batting average.
Junior second baseman Cole Freeman is LSU’s leading hitter, batting .400 with two doubles, three RBI, six runs and seven stolen bases. Freshman rightfielder Antoine Duplantis is batting .387 with three doubles, three RBI and six runs scored, and junior centerfielder Jake Fraley is hitting .344 with one double, three triples, four RBI, 11 runs and four steals.
LSU is hitting .289 as a team with 16 doubles, six triples, six homers and 14 steals in 21 attempts.
Fordham is batting .178 as a team with two homers and 14 steals in 18 attempts. The Rams are led at the plate by senior outfielder Ryan McNally, who is batting .333 with one double, one triple, two homers and eight RBI. Junior outfielder Mark Donadio is also hitting .333 with one double, one triple and five RBI, and junior infielder Matthew Kozuch is batting .273 with one double, two triples and four RBI.
Friday’s game will mark the first meeting between LSU and Fordham. The Tigers are 11-3 all-time against current members of the Atlantic 10 Conference – LSU is 5-1 against Virginia Commonwealth, 3-0 against St. Louis, 2-1 versus George Washington and 1-1 versus Dayton.
Fordham Rams (3-4) at #6 LSU Fighting Tigers (6-2)
DATES/TIMES
Friday, March 4 – 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 5 (DH) – 2 p.m. CT and 6:30 p.m. CT
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS
LSU – No. 6 by Perfect Game; No. 7 by Baseball America; No. 7 by D1 Baseball; No. 10 by Collegiate Baseball
Fordham – unranked
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge on Friday and the second game on Saturday; WTGE 100.7 FM in Baton Rouge for the first game on Saturday)
LSUsports.net – live audio and live stats
ONLINE
SEC Network + – accessible at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app
SERIES RECORD
Friday’s game will mark the first meeting between LSU and Fordham. The Tigers are 11-3 all-time against current members of the Atlantic 10 Conference – LSU is 5-1 against Virginia Commonwealth, 3-0 against St. Louis, 2-1 versus George Washington and 1-1 versus Dayton.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday
LSU – Jr. LHP Jared Poche’ (1-0, 1.42 ERA, 12.2 IP, 6 BB, 13 SO)
Fordham – Jr. RHP Greg Weissert (0-0, 1.74 ERA, 10.1 IP, 7 BB 12 SO)
Saturday – Game 1 of DH
LSU – Sr. LHP John Valek III (2-0, 2.13 ERA, 12.2 IP, 0 BB, 13 SO)
Fordham – Sr. RHP Joseph Serrapica (0-2, 5.91 ERA, 10.2 IP, 4 BB, 8 SO)
Saturday – Game 2 of DH
LSU – So. RHP Alex Lange (1-0, 2.31 ERA, 11.2 IP, 6 BB, 18 SO)
Fordham – Sr. RHP Jimmy Murphy (0-1, 10.38 ERA, 8.2, 6 BB, 11 SO)