BATON ROUGE — LSU (35-16-1) faces New Orleans (38-13) Tuesday in a matchup of two of the nation’s hottest teams in the fifth annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation Baseball Classic.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Zephyr Field in Metairie, La.
The Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation was established in memory of LSU’s all-SEC third baseman who died in 2002 at age 21 due to heart abnormalities. Proceeds from Tuesday’s game will benefit numerous charitable organizations in the New Orleans area.
LSU has won 12 straight games, including a three-game sweep of SEC rival Mississippi State last weekend in Alex Box Stadium.
UNO has won 13 consecutive games, including a three-game Sun Belt Conference sweep of Arkansas-Little Rock last weekend.
The LSU-UNO game will be carried by the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network. The Baton Rouge affiliate is WDGL 98.1 FM. Live audio of the game may be accessed in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
The game will be televised by Cox Sports Television, and it can be seen in Baton Rouge on Cox Cable Ch. 37.
The game marks the third meeting this season between LSU and UNO. The Privateers won both previous meetings ? 8-6 on March 26 in Baton Rouge and 6-5 on April 16 in New Orleans.
“We’re treating this as one of the most important games of the year,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “UNO has the best offensive club we’ve faced all season, and they’ve beaten us twice this season with late rallies. We’ve won 12 in a row, and they have a 13-game streak, so something has to give.
“We’re also looking forward to honoring the memory of Wally Pontiff, who established a tremendous legacy here.”
Mainieri said junior right-hander Jordan Brown (3-0, 4.83 ERA) will start Tuesday’s game on the mound for LSU. UNO coach Tom Walter will counter with freshman right-hander Cory Myers (2-0, 4.76 ERA).
The Tigers’ 12-game streak is the longest by an LSU squad since the 2000 club completed its national championship season by winning its final 13 games. LSU has won nine straight SEC games, the Tigers’ longest in league play since 1990-91 ? LSU four straight at the end of the ’90 season and 11 in a row to start the ’91 season.
The Tigers scored 40 runs and batted .393 (46-for-117) in the Mississippi State series with 10 doubles and eight home runs. Sophomore second baseman Ryan Schimpf was named SEC Player of the Week Monday, as he batted.545 (6-for-11) in the series with one double, three homers, seven RBI and seven runs scored.
Schimpf, who also walked four times, posted a .667 on-base percentage and a 1.455 slugging percentage. He launched a three-run homer to highlight a seven-run second inning in LSU’s 15-6 victory on Friday. Schimpf then unloaded two homers in Saturday’s 16-4 victory ? a solo blast in the fifth inning and a three-run dinger in the eighth.
Freshman shortstop DJ LeMahieu enjoyed an outstanding weekend in the Tigers’ sweep of Mississippi State, batting a sizzling .583 (7-for-12) with two RBI and three runs scored. LeMahieu posted a 1.000 fielding percentage in 14 chances. During the Tigers’ 12-game win streak, LeMahieu is hitting .375 (18-for-48) with three doubles, one homer, 10 RBI and nine runs.
Sophomore left fielder Jared Mitchell, also a wide receiver for the LSU football team, hit .750 (6-for-8) in the MSU series with one double, one homer, four RBI and five runs. Mitchell, who has five home runs on the season, has homered four times in his last eight games.
The Tigers are hitting .323 (145-for-449) as a team during their 12-game win streak with 29 doubles, three triples and 23 home runs, outscoring their opponents, 111-53. The Tigers’ pitching staff has been superb during the streak as well, recording a 3.73 ERA in 111 innings of work.
UNO is hitting .339 on the year with 85 home runs. The Privateers are led at the plate by designated hitter Jeff Lanning, who is batting .415 (68-for-164) with nine doubles, 12 homers and 44 RBI. Second baseman Johnny Giavotella is hitting .373 (69-for-185) with 13 doubles, two triples, 11 homers and 44 RBI, and catcher Josh Vander Hey is batting .372 (68-for-183) with 17 doubles, 11 homers and 64 RBI.
LSU leads the overall series between the schools, 48-33; however, UNO has won three consecutive games over the Tigers dating back to last season.
#22 New Orleans Privateers (38-13) at #16 LSU Fighting Tigers (35-16-1)
DATE/TIME
Tuesday, May 13 ? 7 p.m.
STADIUM
Zephyr Field in Metairie, La.
RANKINGS
LSU is ranked No. 16 by Baseball America, No. 16 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 21 by USA Today/ESPN
UNO is ranked No. 22 by Collegiate Baseball
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates
The Baton Rouge affiliate is WDGL 98.1 FM
INTERNET
www.LSUsports.net ? live audio and stats
TV
Cox Sports Television (Cox Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge)
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads the series, 48-33, though UNO has won two prior meetings with the Tigers this season (8-6 on March 26 in Baton Rouge; 6-5 on April 16 in New Orleans)
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU ? Jr. RHP Jordan Brown (3-0, 4.83 ERA, 50.1 IP, 23 BB, 45 SO)
UNO ? Fr. RHP Cory Myers (2-0, 4.76 ERA, 34.0 IP, 21 BB, 30 SO)