BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Just three days after finishing its Southeastern Conference championship season at Arkansas, LSU will now face the Razorbacks for the fourth time in the last six days as the Fighting Tigers open play in the SEC Tournament tonight at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 8 p.m., but due to heavy rain in the Birmingham area, the start of the tournament has been delayed, and a new start time for the LSU-Arkansas game has not been set. Fans are urged to monitor the SEC’s official website, www.secsports.com, as well as stations along the LSU Sports Network and www.LSUsports.net, for further updates.
SEC officials are hoping to start the tournament’s first game, Vanderbilt vs. Auburn, by 11:30 a.m.
When LSU does take the field, the game will be broadcast across the LSU Sports Network (WDGL-98.1 FM), with live audio available at www.lsusports.net.
The Comcast Sports Southeast telecast of the game will be picked up in Louisiana by affiliates of the Jumbo Sports Network starting at 9 p.m.
LSU (37-18-1, 20-9-1) claimed its first SEC championship since 1997 and record 13th overall. The Tigers are looking to win the regular season and tournament championships for the first time since 1993.
The Tigers (No. 8 Collegiate Baseball, No. 10 Baseball America, No. 11 ESPN/USA Today) have a 46-27 tournament mark in 19 appearances, as LSU has conference record for the most wins, highest winning percentage (.630) and tournament championships (six), with the last title coming in 2000.
On Monday, three LSU players were named first team All-SEC, led by Position Player of the Year Aaron Hill. The Tigers’ junior shortstop leads LSU in batting average at .367, and finished first in the SEC in the regular season in doubles (24) and on-base percentage (.473). Hill hit two home runs in the Arkansas series last weekend and also leads LSU with 51 RBI.
The Tigers’ other first team All-SEC performers are sophomore first baseman Clay Harris and sophomore designated hitter Ryan Patterson. Patterson hit .362 during the regular season and leads LSU with 13 home runs.
LSU coach Smoke Laval, the SEC Coach of the Year, has changed his rotation slightly for the tournament and will start redshirt freshman left-hander Jason Determann (4-0, 2.40) against Arkansas. Determann has started three midweek games this year, including an eight-inning stint on April 30 against New Orleans.
The Tigers’ rotation after the first game will return to the same lineup they used last weekend, with second team All-SEC selection Nate Bumstead (9-2, 4.07) going in the second game, followed by Bo Pettit (8-2, 4.99) and Justin Meier (7-2, 2.70).
Arkansas (34-18, 14-16) qualified for the final spot in the tournament despite a 6-2 loss to LSU on Sunday when Kentucky defeated Florida, 7-5. The Razorbacks were within one-half game of league leader LSU on April 19, but lost 10 of their last 13 conference games under first year coach Dave Van Horn.
The Hogs are scheduled to start senior right-hander Jarrett Gardner (4-4, 4.83), who took the loss opposite Bumstead last Friday in Fayetteville.
Arkansas’ top hitter is SEC home run leader Ryan Fox, who hit his 19th home run of the year off of Determann in the ninth inning last Friday.
LSU won the first and third games of the Arkansas series, 11-3 and 6-2, but lost 6-5 in 10 inning in the middle game on Saturday. This marks the first time LSU is opening the SEC Tournament against the same team it closed the regular season against.
The other bracket two game will feature rivals Ole Miss and Mississippi St. Should LSU win, it is scheduled to play the winner of the Ole Miss-MSU game at 8 p.m. on Thursday; if the Tigers lose, they come back at 1 p.m. against the loser of that game.
Bracket one games on Wednesday are Vanderbilt vs. Auburn and South Carolina vs. Ole Miss.
The championship game is set for 3 p.m. Sunday.