HOOVER, Ala. – Top-ranked LSU (48-9), the 2015 SEC regular-season champion, seeks its third straight berth in the SEC Tournament championship game on Saturday when the Tigers face Florida at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
LSU is the top seed in the tournament, while Florida is the No. 4 seed.
First pitch time for Saturday’s semifinal game involving LSU is approximately 3:30 p.m. The game is scheduled to start 30 minutes after the completion of the first semifinal game between Texas A&M and Vanderbilt, which begins at Noon.
Saturday’s LSU game will be televised on the SEC Network, and it will be carried on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, including WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge. Live audio and stats may be accessed at www.LSUsports.net.
LSU is ranked No. 1 this week in the six primary college baseball polls, marking the seventh week in a row and the 10th week overall the Tigers are No. 1 in at least one poll. LSU has won 25 of its last 29 games and 18 of its last 21.
LSU captured the 2015 Southeastern Conference championship last weekend as the Tigers won two of three games over South Carolina. The Tigers claimed their league-best SEC championship and their third title during coach Paul Mainieri’s nine season-tenure. LSU also won the SEC Western Division title for the 18th time in school history and for the fifth time under Mainieri.
LSU has posted SEC Tournament wins this week over Auburn (9-8) and Arkansas (10-5) to advance to the semifinal round. LSU is batting .306 (22-for-72) in his two tournament wins with eight doubles, one homer and 19 runs. The LSU pitching staff has limited its opponents to a .229 cumulative batting average.
The Tigers engaged in a two-hour practice Friday at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.
“I really like the way our team is playing right now, and we’re very excited for the opportunity to play for another championship” Mainieri said during Friday’s practice session. “It’s great to be in the ‘Final Four’ of this tournament and compete against some of the best teams in the nation. We’re going to continue to play our fast-paced, aggressive style and give ourselves a chance to advance. We’re very comfortable in this environment, and we’re looking forward to the weekend.”
Right-hander Alex Lange (10-0), the 2015 SEC Freshman of the Year, will start Saturday’s game on the mound for LSU. Lange is No. 2 in the SEC in ERA (2.11) and No. 2 in the league in strikeouts (91).
“It’s great that Alex will have the opportunity to pitch in this tournament, and I know he’ll be ready to go,” Mainieri said. “He’s been one of the best pitchers in the nation all season, and he’s looking forward to making his SEC Tournament debut.”
LSU, the two-time defending tournament champion, has won nine straight SEC Tournament games, dating back to 2013. LSU has also won five of the past seven SEC Tournament titles (2008, ’09, ’10, ’13, ’14).
2015 SEC TOURNAMENT
#1 seed LSU Fighting Tigers (48-9) vs. #4 seed Florida
DATE/TIME
Saturday, May 23 – 3:30 p.m. CT (approx.); the game will start 30 minutes after the Noon CT game between Vanderbilt and Texas A&M
STADIUM
Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Ala.
LSU RANKING
LSU (No. 1 seed in SEC Tournament) – No. 1 Baseball America; No. 1 USA Today; No. 1 D1 Baseball; No. 1 Collegiate Baseball; No. 1 Perfect Game; No. 1 NCBWA
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates, including WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge
LSUsports.net – live audio and live stats
TV
SEC Network
LSU STARTING PITCHER
Fr. RHP Alex Lange (10-0, 2.11 ERA, 81 IP, 35 BB, 91 SO)
LSU IN THE SEC TOURNAMENT
LSU has a league-best 74-38 (.661) all-time record in the SEC Tournament, and the Tigers own a conference-high 11 tournament titles. Alabama and Mississippi State are second behind LSU with seven tournament titles, and Ole Miss is third with five championships. LSU has won five of the past seven SEC Tournament crowns, claiming the title in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014. LSU posted a 4-0 tournament mark en route to the title last season, defeating Florida, 2-0, in the championship game. The Tigers are 24-4 under ninth-year coach Paul Mainieri in SEC Tournament games. Including two wins in this year’s event, LSU has won nine straight SEC Tournament contests.