BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 9 LSU (21-10) plays host to McNeese State (18-11) at 6:30 p.m. CT Tuesday in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
The game will be carried on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, including WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge, Live audio of the games may be accessed at www.LSUsports.net/live with live stats at www.LSUstats.com.
The LSU-McNeese State game may be viewed online on SEC Network +, accessible at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.
The contest was originally scheduled to be played on March 9, but was postponed due to inclement weather. Fans are asked to bring their Game #11 tickets to the stadium for admission.
McNeese is coached by Justin Hill, a pitcher at LSU in 2001 and 2002.
“McNeese has another excellent ball club, and Justin Hill has done a tremendous job with their program,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “They’re playing very well right now, having just come off a (Southland Conference) sweep of UNO over the weekend. I know they’ll be ready to play, so we’ll need to be at our best against them.”
Mainieri said that redshirt freshman Jake Latz will make his collegiate debut on the mound Tuesday night for the Tigers. Latz, a product of Lemont, Ill., who was the 11th-round draft selection of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014, has been plagued by an elbow injury, but has worked himself back into shape.
“We’re very encouraged by the progress Jake has made, and we’re looking forward to seeing him on the mound in a game,” Mainieri said. “He turned down a large sum of money from the big leagues in order to come to LSU, so we’re very hopeful that he’ll now have the opportunity to realize his potential and enjoy a successful career.”
LSU won two of three SEC games over second-ranked Vanderbilt last weekend in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The Tigers hit .350 (36-for-103) as a team in the Vanderbilt series with 23 runs on 36 hits and six steals in seven attempts.
Junior shortstop Kramer Robertson enjoyed a remarkable week at the plate, batting .778 (7-for-9) in four games – including a midweek win over Southern University — with one double, four RBI, five runs, one stolen base, five walks, three hit-by-pitches and an .882 on-base percentage. In LSU’s series victory over Vanderbilt, Robertson hit .750 (6-for-8) with one double, four RBI, three runs, four walks, one-hit-by-pitch, one steal and an .846 on-base percentage.
Freshman rightfielder Antoine Duplantis batted .533 (8-for-15) in four games last week with one triple, four RBI, one walk and two hit-by-pitches. Duplantis hit .500 (6-for-12) in the Vanderbilt series with three RBI, five runs, two steals and a .571 on-base percentage. Duplantis is LSU’s leading hitter this season, batting .364 (44-for-121) with six doubles, three triples, 16 RBI, 23 runs and nine stolen bases.
Sophomore first baseman Greg Deichmann, who has four homers and 22 RBI on the year, hit .500 (6-for-12) in the Vanderbilt series with three doubles, three RBI and two runs
McNeese is hitting .284 as a team on the year with 16 homers and 35 steals in 55 attempts. The Cowboys are led at the plate by senior infielder Connor Crane, who is batting .382 with 11 doubles, one triple, five homers and 23 RBI. Senior outfielder Lewis Guilbeau is batting .350 with six doubles, one triple and 25 RBI, and sophomore infielder Joe Provenzano is batting .303 with eight doubles, one triple, two homers and 19 RBI.
LSU leads the overall series with McNeese State, 29-9, including a 7-0 win over the Cowboys last season in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have won 11 straight games over the Cowboys; McNeese State’s last win over LSU came in 2000, a 4-3 decision in Lake Charles.
McNeese State Cowboys (18-11) at #9 LSU Fighting Tigers (21-10)
DATE/TIME
Tuesday, April 12 – 6:30 p.m. CT
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS
LSU – No. 9 by Baseball America; No. 11 by D1 Baseball; No. 12 by USA Today;
MSU – unranked
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge); live audio and live stats at www.LSUsports.net
ONLINE
SEC Network + (accessible at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app)
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads the overall series with McNeese State, 29-9, including a 7-0 win over the Cowboys last season in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have won 11 straight games over the Cowboys; McNeese State’s last win over LSU came in 2000, a 4-3 decision in Lake Charles.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU – Fr. LHP Jake Latz (making his collegiate debut)
MSU – Jr. LHP Austin Sanders (2-2, 6.00 ERA, 21.0 IP, 10 BB, 12 SO)