BATON ROUGE — A series of pre-game and post-game special events are planned during this weekend’s LSU-Auburn baseball series at Alex Box Stadium to honor head coach Skip Bertman, who retiring from coaching at the end of the 2001 season to become the school’s athletic director.
LSU opens a three-game set against Auburn at 7 p.m. on Friday at Alex Box Stadium. LSU and Auburn will also play at 4 p.m. on Saturday and then again at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Bertman’s final regular-season home game. All three games are sold out, however a limited number of tickets may be available shortly after the start of each game at the Alex Box Stadium ticket office.
On Friday, LSU will honor Bertman beginning at 6:45 p.m. with a presentation that features a live llama honoring the 1991 team. Also among Friday’s pre-game ceremonies are a presentation of Skip Bertman commemorative jewelry as well as that of the Skip Bertman Scholarship presentation.
Friday’s contest will also feature the National Anthem performed by Richain Matherne, the first person to sing the Star-Spangled Banner live at Alex Box Stadium for a Bertman-coached team. Matherne first sang the anthem at Alex Box Stadium as an 8-year-old in 1986.
Following the game on Friday night will be a five-minute fireworks display.
In addition to Friday’s ceremonies, the first 3,000 fans attending the game will receive a set of 2001 LSU baseball trading cards. Trading cards may also be obtained through Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.
Saturday’s pre-game ceremony begins at 3:45 p.m. with a presentation from the LSU assistant coaches as well as appearance by Mike V, LSU’s live Bengal tiger mascot. Auburn coach Steve Renfroe will also make a presentation to Bertman prior to Saturday’s contest. Every fan attending Saturday’s game will receive a commemorative Skip Bertman souvenir cup.
Sunday’s game will be preceded by a Kiss the Pig promotion at 12:43 p.m.
followed by LSU senior day presentation at 12:48. Sunday’s post-game ceremony will include LSU President William Jenkins, LSU Chancellor Mark Emmert, LSU Board of Supervisors Chairman Ronnie Anderson and LSU Board member Charlie Weems as well as presentations from interim Athletic Director Jerry Baudin and Baton Rouge Mayor Bobby Simpson.
The first 4,000 fans at Sunday’s game will receive a commemorative Skip Bertman mini-bat.
Fans are encouraged to arrive at Alex Box Stadium early each day for the pre-game ceremonies and to also sign a six-foot by eight-foot “Thank you” card that will be presented to Bertman on Sunday. The “Thank you” card will be at the front gates of Alex Box Stadium two hours prior to each game this weekend.
Fans who are unable to attend the games this weekend can watch all of the pre-game and post-game ceremonies on the internet at www.LSUsports.net.
In addition, LSUsports.net will feature a photo gallery from the activities over the weekend.
LSU vs. Auburn – Pre-game and Post-game Schedule of Events
Friday, May 11
6:45 p.m Skip Bertman Scholarship Presentation.
6:50 p.m. Skip Bertman Jewelry Presentation
6:52 p.m. Llama Presentation honoring 1991 team
6:57 p.m. Special Presentation
7:03 p.m. National Anthem by Richain Matherne
7:07 p.m. First Pitch
Post game fireworks show approximately 15 minutes after the final out
Saturday, May 12
3:45 p.m. Appearance by Mike V, the live Bengal tiger
3:52 p.m. Presentation from Auburn coach Steve Renfroe
3:56 p.m. LSU assistant coaches presentation
4:07 p.m. First Pitch
Sunday, May 13
12:40 p.m. Kiss the Pig Promotion
12:48 p.m. LSU Senior Day Presentations
1:07 p.m. First Pitch
Post game ceremony will begin approximately 15 minutes after the final out.
The seventh-ranked LSU baseball squad concludes the 2001 regular-season this weekend with a three-game series against Auburn in Alex Box Stadium. Game 1 is set for Friday at 7 p.m., Game 2 starts Saturday at 4 p.m. and Game 3 begins Sunday at 1 p.m.
Friday’s game will be televised live by College Sports Southeast, and it can be seen in the Baton Rouge area on Cable Channel 18. CSSE will televise Saturday’s game on a tape-delayed basis at a time to be announced. Sunday’s game will be televised live throughout the state by the Guaranty Sports Network, and it can be seen in the Baton Rouge area on Cable Channel 6.
All three LSU-Auburn games can also be heard on the LSU Sports Radio Network and on the Internet at www.LSUsports.net.
The series marks the final regular-season home appearance for LSU head coach Skip Bertman, who is retiring from coaching at the end of the 2001 season to become the school’s athletic director.
The Tigers enter the series with a 36-16-1 overall mark, 17-10 in the Southeastern Conference. LSU is in first place in the SEC Western Division and one game behind Georgia (18-9) in the overall league standings.
Auburn is 33-16 overall and in fourth place in the SEC Western Division with a 13-14 league mark.
LSU will start freshman Lane Mestepey (8-2, 3.39 ERA) on the mound Friday, senior right-hander Jason Scobie (3-1, 5.12 ERA) on Saturday, and senior left-hander Tim Nugent (6-2, 3.36 ERA) on Sunday.
Auburn will counter with freshman right-hander Colby Paxton (4-3, 3.22 ERA) on Friday, sophomore right-hander Levale Speigner (8-1, 2.78 ERA) on Saturday, and freshman right-hander Cory Dueitt (3-3, 4.02 ERA) on Sunday.
LSU enters the series ranked No. 1 in the SEC in team batting average (.321), No. 7 in team ERA (4.47) and No. 11 in fielding percentage (.958). Auburn is No. 7 in the league in team batting average (.291), No. 2 in team ERA (3.53) and No. 7 in fielding percentage (.963).
First baseman Bryan Moore leads LSU with a .378 (73-for-193) batting average, and he has produced 21 doubles, six homers and 42 RBI. Second baseman Mike Fontenot is hitting .369 (62-for-168) with 12 doubles, nine homers and 37 RBI, and shortstop Ryan Theriot is batting .364 (76-for-209) with 14 doubles, three triples, one homer and 37 RBI.
LSU has won five of its last seven meetings with Auburn, and the Bayou Bengals lead the overall series, 66-55. LSU has also won its last five games with Auburn in Alex Box Stadium.