SOUTH BEND, Ind. – No. 11 LSU (31-16) opens a two-game midweek series versus Notre Dame (26-20) at 5 p.m. CT Friday at Frank Eck Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
Game 2 of the series will start at 5 p.m. CT Wednesday, and both games 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 games may be viewed online on ESPN3 — accessible at WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.
LSU is ranked No. 11 this week in the Baseball America poll, and the Tigers are No. 17 in this week’s official NCAA RPI rankings. Tuesday’s game at Notre Dame will mark the sixth meeting between the schools, and the Irish hold a 3-2 advantage in the series. The teams last met in 2012 in Baton Rouge, where Notre Dame posted a 7-1 win over the Tigers.
Tenth-year LSU coach Paul Mainieri was the Notre Dame coach from 1995-2006, and he directed the Irish to the 2002 College World Series.
“We had 12 tremendous years at Notre Dame, and it’s a university that means a lot to me and my family. It does feel a little strange to be wearing purple and gold in the stadium where I coached for 12 seasons, but I’m an LSU Tiger now. My focus is completely upon our team and preparing our players for the most important stretch of the season. There are only nine games remaining in the regular season, and there are significant goals within reach if we can finish strong, beginning with these games against Notre Dame.”
LSU completed a three-game SEC series sweep of Arkansas last weekend with a 7-1 win on Sunday. LSU’s 10-9 win in 10 innings on Saturday over Arkansas featured a furious comeback. LSU trailed Arkansas, 9-1, heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Tigers erased the eight-run deficit to earn the victory.
LSU also recovered from eight-run deficits to post wins in 2010 versus William and Mary and in 1999 at Georgia.
The last LSU comeback of more than eight runs to win a game came on April 10, 1988, when the Tigers overcame a 13-3 deficit against Ole Miss to post a 15-13 victory in 10 innings.
LSU averaged just under 11 hits per game in the Arkansas series, batting .308 (32-for-104) in three games with 22 runs, four doubles and one home run.
Outfielder Brennan Breaux was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday as he helped lead LSU to the sweep over Arkansas. Breaux batted .667 (4-for-6) in the series with one double, four RBI and a .714 on-base percentage. Breaux entered Saturday’s Game 2 in the sixth inning and responded by going 3-for-3 at the plate, including a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning that highlighted a four-run rally to send the contest into extra innings.
Breaux started in left field on Sunday and responded by delivering a two-out, two-run single that scored two runs in the second inning and proved to be the game-winning hit in the Tigers’ victory.
Junior second baseman Cole Freeman batted .500 (5-for-10) in the Arkansas series with two RBI and two runs scored. Freshman third baseman Chris Reid hit .417 (5-for-12) in the series with one double, one RBI and two runs, and junior catcher Jordan Romero belted a three-run homer on Sunday to highlight LSU’s win. Romero has a team-high eight homers, and he leads the club with 37 RBI.
Notre Dame is batting .274 as a team with 26 home runs and 48 steals in 61 attempts. Senior infielder/outfielder Ricky Sanchez is batting .331 for the Irish with 12 doubles, four triples three homers and 25 RBI, and junior infielder Cavan Biggio is hitting .331 with nine doubles, two triples, four homers and 28 RBI.
Senior infielder Zak Kutsulis is hitting .317, and he has 12 doubles, two triples, two homers and 29 RBI.
Y’all is it really 45 degrees in May? @KramerR3 even sees a little ❄️❄️ in South Bend, Indiana. pic.twitter.com/O7IZqDhpmI
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) May 10, 2016
#11 LSU Fighting Tigers (31-16) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (26-20)
DATES/TIMES
Tuesday, May 10 – 5 p.m. CT (ESPN3)
Wednesday, May 11 – 5 p.m. CT (ESPN3)
STADIUM
Frank Eck Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
RANKINGS
LSU – No. 11 by Baseball America; No. 13 by USA Today; No. 16 by D1 Baseball
ND – unranked
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge); live audio and live stats at www.LSUsports.net
ONLINE
Tuesday– ESPN3 (online only; accessible at WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app)
Wednesday – ESPN3 (online only; accessible at WatchESPN.com and the Watch ESPN app)
SERIES RECORD
Notre Dame leads LSU, 3-2, in a series that began in 1928. The teams last met in 2012 in Baton Rouge, where Notre Dame posted a 7-1 win over the Irish on March 11.
PITCHING MATCHUP – Tuesday, May 10
LSU – Sr. LHP John Valek III (6-2, 4.36 ERA, 53.2 IP, 7 BB, 41 SO)
ND – Fr. RHP Connor Hock (0-0, 1.42 ERA, 6.1 IP, 2 BB, 1 SO)