BATON ROUGE — LSU (27-16, 6-12 SEC) plays host to No. 11 Arkansas (30-12, 10-8 SEC) in a three-game SEC series this weekend in Alex Box Stadium.
Game 1 of the LSU-Arkansas series is set for 6:30 p.m. CT Friday, Game 2 begins at 2 p.m. CT Saturday and Game 3 starts at 1 p.m. CT Sunday.
The games will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network (WDGL 98.1 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.
The games on Friday and Sunday will be televised live by Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge).
Arkansas enters this weekend’s series tied for second place with Ole Miss in the SEC Western Division, three games behind first-place Alabama (13-5). LSU, seeking to end a four-game conference losing skid, is in sixth place in the SEC West.
“We need to start putting some things together, timely offense and pitching,” said LSU coach Smoke Laval. “We haven’t put those two things together yet. Hopefully, we’ll get some good fortune and also get a little healthier down the stretch.”
Arkansas, which has a 13-8 mark this season against Top 25 teams, boasts the No. 3 team ERA (3.50) in the SEC. The Razorbacks are No. 10 in the league in team batting average (.288) and No. 8 in fielding percentage (.963).
LSU is No. 7 in the SEC in batting average (.299), No. 10 in ERA (4.70), and No. 3 in fielding percentage (.970).
Junior left-hander Clay Dirks (3-4, 5.26 ERA) will take the mound for the Tigers in Friday’s series opener. Dirks blanked Arkansas last season in Fayetteville, hurling a three-hit shutout while recording one walk and eight strikeouts.
Arkansas will counter Friday with sophomore left-hander Nick Schmidt (7-2, 2.18 ERA), who is No 2 in the SEC in strikeouts with 91 in 74.1 innings of work.
LSU senior catcher Matt Liuzza leads LSU with a .349 (45-for-120) average, and he extended his current hitting streak to 11 games last weekend during the Tigers’ series at Ole Miss. Liuzza hit .417 (5-for-12) in the three-game series against the Rebels with one double and two runs scored.
Liuzza is also the Tigers’ leading hitter in SEC games, batting .365 (23-for-63) with seven doubles, one homer, seven RBI and eight runs.
Senior right fielder Quinn Stewart increased his SEC-leading home run total to 19 with a pair of dingers in the Ole Miss series. Stewart hit one home run in five consecutive games from April 15-22 before the HR streak ended in Game 3 at Ole Miss. Stewart is hitting .329 on the year with eight doubles, three triples, 19 homers and 48 RBI.
Freshman infielder J.T. Wise is batting .348 (56-for-161) on the year with 12 doubles, eight homers and 33 RBI. Wise is hitting .338 (24-for-71) in SEC games with four doubles, five homers and 13 RBI.
Arkansas junior first baseman Danny Hamblin is tied for the SEC RBI lead with 55. Hamblin also ranks fourth in home runs (12) and sixth in total bases (96).
Center fielder Craig Gentry has been one of the most reliable bats in the Hogs’ lineup this season. He is hitting a team-best .355 with three home runs, eight doubles and 16 RBI. He also boasts Arkansas’ best average in SEC play at .379.
LSU leads the all-time series with Arkansas, 39-18, as the teams first met in 1960. LSU has a 12-7 advantage over the Razorbacks in games played this decade, including a three-game SEC series sweep last season in Fayetteville.
Arkansas is just 7-21 in games played at Alex Box Stadium; however, the Razorbacks swept three games from the Tigers in 2004 in Baton Rouge.
SERIES FACTS
#11 Arkansas Razorbacks (30-12, 10-8) at LSU Fighting Tigers (27-16, 6-12)
DATES/TIMES
Friday, April 28 — 6:30 p.m. CDT
Saturday, April 29 — 2 p.m. CDT
Sunday, April 30 — 1 p.m. CDT
STADIUM
Alex Box Stadium (7,760) in Baton Rouge, La.
RANKINGS
LSU (unranked)
Arkansas (#11 Baseball America, #14 USA Today/ESPN, #23 Collegiate Baseball)
TICKETS
$8 adults, $5 children ages 3-12 — available at Alex Box Stadium each day two hours prior to first pitch; tickets may also be purchased and printed at www.LSUsports.net
SPECIAL EVENTS/PROMOTIONS
FRIDAY
Youth Night
All kids ages 12 and under will be admitted for $1
SATURDAY
Warren Morris Day
1996 College World Series hero Warren Morris will meet fans and sign autographs inside Alex Box Stadium (Tiger Terrace on third-base side) from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Fans are encouraged to wear GOLD to the game
SUNDAY
Military Appreciation Day
Armed forces personnel may purchase $4 tickets with a military ID
LSU team will wear special black jerseys trimmed in camouflage colors as a tribute to military personnel
RADIO
All three games on the LSU Sports Radio Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET
Audio broadcast, streaming video and live stats of all three games in the Geaux Zone powered by USAgencies at www.LSUsports.net
TV
FRIDAY
Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge)
SATURDAY
None
SUNDAY
Cox Sports Television (Cable Ch. 37 in Baton Rouge)
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads, 39-18 (first meeting in 1960)
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LSU — Jr. LHP Clay Dirks (3-4, 5.26 ERA, 53.0 IP, 12 BB, 55 SO)
UA — So. LHP Nick Schmidt (7-2, 2.18 ERA, 74.1 IP. 31 BB, 91 SO)
Game 2
LSU — Fr. RHP Louis Coleman (4-3, 4.58 ERA, 55.0 IP, 20 BB, 37 SO)
UA — Sr. LHP Trey Holloway (4-0, 4.40 ERA, 45.0 IP, 8 BB, 15 SO)
Game 3
LSU — Jr. RHP Derik Olvey (6-2, 3.50 ERA, 69.1 IP, 14 BB, 55 SO)
UA — So. RHP Shaun Seibert (3-0, 2.47 ERA, 40.0 IP, 9 BB, 42 SO)