BATON ROUGE — Sixth-ranked LSU (21-8) continues its five-game road stretch Tuesday as the Tigers travel to Thibodaux, La. to face Nicholls State. First pitch at Raymond Didier Field is set for 6:30 p.m.
The LSU-Nicholls State game can be heard on the LSU Sports Network (98.1 FM in Baton Rouge) and on the Internet at www.LSUsports.net.
The Tigers began their road swing last weekend at Alabama, as LSU dropped two of three games to the Crimson Tide. LSU lost a series to Alabama for the first time since 1999, when the Crimson Tide defeated the Tigers in an NCAA Super Regional in Tuscaloosa.
LSU plays Rice at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Zephyr Field in Metairie, La., before returning home Friday to begin a three-game SEC series with South Carolina in Alex Box Stadium.
Tuesday’s game marks LSU’s first trip to Thibodaux since the 1994 season, when Nicholls State defeated the Tigers, 3-2. Since that ’94 contest, the Tigers have won the last 14 meetings with the Colonels, including three wins earlier this season (Feb. 11-13) in Baton Rouge by scores of 12-1, 19-2 and 6-3.
LSU coach Smoke Laval is expected to send senior right-hander Brandon Nall (1-1, 6.43 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday. Nall, who will be making just his second career collegiate start, earned a relief victory last Tuesday over UNO. He worked three innings against the Privateers, allowing one earned run on two hits with three walks and no strikeouts.
Nicholls State coach B.D. Parker will counter with freshman left-hander Justin Breaux (0-2, 7.71 ERA).
LSU outfielder Ryan Patterson enjoyed another superb week in the Tigers’ four games versus UNO and Alabama, batting .389 (7-for-18) with two doubles, one triple, two homers, 10 RBI and six runs. Patterson launched his first career grand slam last Tuesday against the Privateers, and his three-run homer at Alabama on Saturday broke and 2-2 tie and propelled the Tigers to an 11-2 victory.
Patterson has homered 11 times in LSU’s last 13 games, and in his last 10 games, Patterson is batting .442 (19-for-43) with four doubles, one triple, six homers and 16 RBI. On the season, Patterson is hitting .425 (48-for-113) with 11 doubles, one triple, 13 homers, 33 RBI and 42 runs.
Infielder Blake Gill was LSU’s leading hitter in the Alabama series, batting .417 (5-for-12) with one homer, three RBI and two runs. Left-hander Clay Dirks earned his SEC-leading seventh win on Saturday at Alabama, as he worked five innings, limiting the Tide to two runs on two hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Dirks is 7-0 this season with a 3.02 ERA and one save with 44.2 innings of work.
Right-hander Edgar Ramirez turned in his most impressive performances of the season with two sterling relief outings at Alabama. Ramirez worked 4.1 scoreless innings in two appearances, allowing just two hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
GAME FACTS
# 6 LSU Fighting Tigers (21-8) at Nicholls State Colonels (14-15)
DATE/TIME:
Tuesday, April 5 — 6:30 p.m. CST
STADIUM:
Raymond Didier Field (1,000)
RANKINGS:
LSU (# 6 ESPN/Sports Weekly, # 8 Baseball America, # 9 Collegiate Baseball); Nicholls State (unranked)
RADIO:
LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET:
Radio broadcast at www.LSUsports.net
TV:
None
SERIES RECORD:
LSU leads, 41-21 — LSU has won the last 14 meetings between the schools
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU — Sr. RHP Brandon Nall (1-1, 6.43 ERA, 7.0 IP, 6 BB, 1 SO)
NSU — Fr. LHP Justin Breaux (0-2, 7.71 ERA, 18.2 IP, 16 BB, 11 SO)