BATON ROUGE — Fourth-ranked LSU (19-6) concludes a four-game homestand Tuesday as the Tigers play host to the University of New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. in Alex Box Stadium.
The LSU-UNO game can be heard on the LSU Sports Network (98.1 FM in Baton Rouge) and on the Internet at www.LSUsports.net.
The game will be televised live by Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge).
Tuesday’s game marks the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. LSU and UNO will also play at 6:30 p.m. on May 18 at Maestri Field in New Orleans.
LSU coach Smoke Laval is scheduled to give freshman right-hander Eric English (0-0) his first career collegiate start on Tuesday. English, who last pitched on March 6 against Alabama-Birmingham, has worked 8.2 relief innings, allowing no runs on three hits with six walks and four strikeouts.
UNO has won two straight games, as the Privateers defeated Western Kentucky on Saturday and Sunday in a Sun Belt Conference series. First-year UNO coach Tom Walter is expected to start junior right-hander Martin Vergara (0-4) on the mound Tuesday.
LSU’s string of 12 consecutive regular-season series victories — including seven straight SEC series wins — ended last weekend as the Tigers dropped two of three games to Auburn. Prior to the Auburn series, LSU’s last series lost came on April 9-11, 2004, when the Tigers were defeated by Arkansas.
Outfielder Ryan Patterson enjoyed another excellent week for LSU, batting .471 (8-for-17) in four games with two doubles, two homers, three RBI and three runs. Patterson, who has homered nine times in LSU’s last nine games, is hitting .432 (41-for-95) on the year with nine doubles, 11 homers, 23 RBI and 36 runs. Patterson is currently riding a 14-game hitting streak — he is batting .500 (28-for-56) during the streak with five doubles, nine homers, 15 RBI and 23 runs.
Second baseman Clay Harris has also extended his hitting streak to 14 games — he is batting .404 (23-for-57) during the streak with four doubles, one triple, two homers, 14 RBI and 13 runs.
LSU leads the all-time series with UNO, 43-30, and the Tigers have won 13 of the last 14 meetings with the Privateers. UNO’s only win in that span was a 5-4 victory in 2003 at Zephyr Field in Metairie, La.
Laval has a 5-1 career mark against UNO during his four seasons as LSU’s coach.
GAME FACTS — New Orleans (6-16) at # 4 LSU Fighting Tigers (19-6)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, March 29 — 6:30 p.m. CST
STADIUM: Alex Box Stadium (7,760)
TICKETS: Available at Alex Box Stadium beginning at 4:30 p.m. — $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-12.
PROMOTIONS: Tuesday “Dollar Days” promotion — 32-ounce tubs of popcorn are just $1, and hot dogs are $1 with the purchase of a Tiger Gulp drink. All children ages 12 and under are invited to stand on the field with the Tigers during the National Anthem.
RANKINGS: LSU (# 4 Collegiate Baseball, # 5 Baseball America, # 5 ESPN/Sports Weekly); UNO (unranked)
RADIO: LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET: Radio broadcast and live stats at www.LSUsports.net
TV: Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge)
SERIES RECORD: LSU leads, 43-30
PITCHING MATCHUP (tentative)
LSU — Fr. RHP Eric English (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 8.2 IP, 6 BB, 4 SO)
UNO — Jr. RHP Martin Vergara (0-4, 8.10 ERA, 23.1 IP, 15 BB, 12 SO)