BATON ROUGE — No. 21 LSU (20-10) plays host to crosstown rival Southern University at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Alex Box Stadium as the Tigers play a rare mid-week game in the afternoon.
Discounted tickets for only $2 apiece will go on sale at the Alex Box Stadium ticket windows beginning at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The contest will mark LSU’s first regular-season mid-week day game at home since Feb. 22, 1995, when the Tigers posted a 3-0 win over Centenary.
The game will be broadcast statewide on the LSU Sports Radio Network (WNXX/KNXX 104.5/104.9 FM in Baton Rouge). The audio broadcast, streaming video and live stats are available in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net.
“We hope our fans can take advantage of this opportunity to see a day game in Alex Box Stadium during the week,” said LSU coach Smoke Laval. “We have a very competitive, friendly rivalry with Southern, and I know Coach (Roger) Cador has another very talented club. It should be fun to play this game in a unique atmosphere.”
Laval said junior right-hander Michael Bonura (1-0) is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game on the mound for the Tigers.
Cador is scheduled to counter with junior right-hander Antonio Garth (1-1).
LSU will attempt Tuesday to end a three-game losing streak, as the Tigers were swept in an SEC series by South Carolina last weekend.
A highlight of the weekend was the performance of LSU junior right-hander Derik Olvey, who delivered a fantastic outing in a 2-1 loss to South Carolina Sunday. Olvey, a native of Pelham, Ala., limited the Gamecocks — who entered the game as the SEC’s best hitting team — to two runs (one earned) on four hits in nine innings with three walks and a career-best 11 strikeouts. Olvey is 5-1 on the season with a team-best 2.32 ERA.
Freshman infielder J.T. Wise was productive at the plate in four games last week, batting .333 (5-for-15) with one double, two homers, three RBI and three runs. Wise, a true freshman from Apopka, Fla., is the Tigers’ leading hitter, batting .360 (40-for-111) on the year with nine doubles, four homers and 18 RBI.
Senior right fielder Quinn Stewart launched two homers in four games last week to increase his SEC-leading home run total to 12. Stewart is hitting .348 (39-for-112) this season with with seven doubles, two triples, 12 homers and 35 RBI.
Southern, which is hitting .293 as a team, is led at the plate by Gerard Gause (.370, 3 HR, 14 RBI) and Demarcus Coats (.360, 2 HR, 18 RBI).
LSU leads the all-time series with Southern, 39-2, though the Jaguars defeated the Tigers last season, 9-5, in Alex Box Stadium. Southern’s only other win in the series came in 2001, when it defeated LSU, 11-6, in Alex Box Stadium.
GAME FACTS
Southern Jaguars (13-12) at # 21 LSU Fighting Tigers (20-10)
DATE/TIME
Tuesday, April 4 — 2:30 p.m. CDT
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium (7,760) in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS
LSU (# 21 USA Today/ESPN)
Southern (unranked)
TICKETS
Discounted tickets for only $2 are available at Alex Box Stadium two hours prior to first pitch
SPECIAL EVENTS/PROMOTIONS
Children age 12 and under may stand on the field with the Tigers during the National Anthem
RADIO
Statewide on LSU Sports Radio Network (WNXX/KNXX 104.5/104.9 FM in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET
Audio broadcast, streaming video and live stats in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net
TV
None
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads, 39-2 (first meeting in 1970)
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU — Jr. RHP Michael Bonura (1-0, 3.94 ERA, 16.0 IP, 8 BB, 15 SO)
SU — Jr. RHP Antonio Garth (1-1, 5.03 ERA, 19.2 IP, 7 BB, 19 SO)