BATON ROUGE — LSU coach Paul Mainieri said Wednesday that sophomore right-hander Austin Ross will start the Tigers’ NCAA Regional game versus Southern at 1 p.m. Friday in Alex Box Stadium.
Ross, a native of Shreveport, La., has a team-high 15 starts this season. He is 5-7 with a 5.15 ERA in 71.2 innings, and he has recorded 19 walks and 62 strikeouts.
“Austin Ross is a very intense, competitive pitcher, and I know he will give us a great effort on Friday,” Mainieri said. “He pitched very well in the regional last season, and he has had some outstanding performances this season, including being named SEC Pitcher of the Week twice during the year.”
Ross was named SEC Pitcher of the Week after he delivered a superb performance in LSU’s March 29 win over Ole Miss, limiting the Rebels to one run on two hits in eight innings with one walk and five strikeouts. Ross fired 89 pitches in the outing, and he allowed just one Ole Miss runner to advance beyond first base.
Ross also earned the SEC Pitcher of the Week honor on March 2 after working six shutout innings with no walks and 10 strikeouts against Central Florida. Ross fired 81 pitches during his outing, and he did not allow a UCF runner to advance beyond first base.
Ross pitched four shutout innings to earn a save in LSU’s NCAA Baton Rouge Regional win last season over Texas Southern, allowing three hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Friday’s game will mark Ross’ second career appearance against Southern. He fired seven shutout innings in relief on April 1, 2008 to lead LSU to an 8-3 victory over the Jaguars at Lee-Hines Field. Ross earned his first career collegiate victory as he entered the game in the second inning and limited the Jaguars to no runs on four hits in seven innings with one walk and eight strikeouts.