BATON ROUGE, La. – Sixth-ranked LSU (9-2) plays host to Louisiana Tech (8-3) at 6:30 p.m. CT Tuesday in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The contest is the first of five home games scheduled for the Tigers this week, as they meet McNeese State on Wednesday night and face Ball State in a three-game series beginning on Friday night.
The LSU-Louisiana Tech game can be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, including Baton Rouge flagship WDGL-FM 98.1 FM.
The game 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 posted a 4-0 mark in last week’s games, including a series sweep over Fordham in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The Tigers hit .352 (51-for-145) as a team in their four games last week with 10 doubles, three triples, five homers and 46 runs scored.
“We have a very challenging week ahead, beginning with Louisiana Tech,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “They have some impressive numbers, and they already have wins over UL-Lafayette and Arkansas, so it’s evident that they’re a very good team. LSU and Louisiana Tech haven’t played each other in a while, so we’re looking forward to a very competitive game against a quality in-state opponent. We’ll need to play well in order to have a chance to win on Tuesday night.”
Mainieri said that junior right-hander Alden Cartwright (2-0, 0.00 ERA) will start Tuesday’s contest on the mound for the Tigers. Cartwright, who will make his first start of the season, posted a relief win in the Tigers’ victory last Wednesday at Nicholls State. He entered the game in the third inning and fired three shutout innings, allowing three hits with one walk and three strikeouts as the Tigers recorded a 9-4 victory.
Junior second baseman Cole Freeman helped lead LSU to four wins in four games last week, batting a sizzling .667 (8-for-15) with one double, one RBI, five runs, four walks, three stolen bases and a .706 on-base percentage. In the Tigers’ three-game series sweep over Fordham, Freeman batted .714 (5-for-7) with one RBI, three runs, four walks, two steals and a .750 on-base percentage. Freeman is LSU’s leading hitter this season, batting .459 (17-for-37) with two doubles, four RBI, nine steals and a .533 on-base percentage.
Sophomore first baseman Bryce Jordan hit .556 (5-for-9) in three games last week with one double, five runs and five RBI. Junior centerfielder Jake Fraley batted .467 (7-for-15) last week with one triple, one homer, four RBI and six runs, and sophomore leftfielder Beau Jordan hit .400 (6-for-15) with three doubles, three runs and four RBI.
Freshman rightfielder Antoine Duplantis extended his hitting streak to 11 games, as he is the only LSU player to collect a hit in every game this season. Duplantis’ streak is the longest to start a season by an LSU player since former third baseman Conner Hale had a 16-game streak to start the 2015 season.
Louisiana Tech is hitting .322 as a team with five homers and 23 steals in 29 attempts. The Bulldogs are led at the plate by junior infielder Raphael Gladu, who is batting .462 with four doubles, one triple, nine runs and nine RBI. Junior outfielder Sean Ullrich is batting .375 with four doubles, 12 runs and four RBI, and sophomore catcher Brent Diaz is hitting .333 with two doubles, six runs and five RBI.
Tuesday’s game will mark the first meeting between LSU and Louisiana Tech since March 10, 1998, when the Tigers posted an 8-1 win over the Bulldogs in the original Alex Box Stadium. LSU leads the overall series, which began in 1902, 40-18.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (8-3) at #6 LSU Fighting Tigers (9-2)
DATE/TIME
Tuesday, March 8 – 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. 8 by USA Today; No. 10 by Collegiate Baseball
Louisiana Tech – unranked
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
LSUsports.net – live audio and live stats
ONLINE
SEC Network + – accessible at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app
SERIES RECORD
Tuesday’s game will mark the first meeting between LSU and Louisiana Tech since March 10, 1998, when the Tigers posted an 8-1 win over the Bulldogs in the original Alex Box Stadium. LSU leads the overall series, which began in 1902, 40-18.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU – Jr. RHP Alden Cartwright (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 5.1 IP, 2 BB, 5 SO)
La. Tech – Sr. LHP Tyler Clancy (3-0, 1.00 ERA, 18 IP, 8 BB, 16 SO)