BATON ROUGE — LSU (15-11-1, 1-4-1 SEC) travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., this weekend for a Southeastern Conference series versus the Alabama Crimson Tide (17-10, 3-3 SEC).
Game 1 of the LSU-Alabama series is set for 6:30 p.m. CDT Friday, Game 2 will start at 6 p.m. CDT Saturday, and Game 3 begins at 2 p.m. CDT Sunday.
All three games will be carried by affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge).
The audio broadcasts of all three games are available in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
“We know we have a great challenge in front of us this weekend at Alabama,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “(Alabama coach) Jim Wells has established his program as one of the best in the nation. They tied for the SEC title last season (with Kentucky) and they just missed getting back to the College World Series.
“Alabama has an excellent all-around club that features a lot of weapons both at the plate and on the mound. It’s my understanding that LSU has not won many games over there in recent years, so hopefully that’s a trend we can reverse.”
LSU has lost five of the last six series in Tuscaloosa since 1997, including the 1999 NCAA Super Regional. LSU’s only series victory at Alabama in the past 10 seasons came in 2001, when the Tigers swept three games from the Tide.
LSU, however, has won five of the seven SEC regular-season series with Alabama this decade, including a 2-1 series victory last year in Baton Rouge. The teams also split two meetings last season in the SEC Tournament at Hoover, Ala. The Tigers have an 18-7 mark against Alabama over the past seven seasons (2000-06).
Junior left-hander Charlie Furbush (3-3, 4.12 ERA) will start Friday’s game on the mound for LSU. Furbush experienced a difficult outing in last Friday’s loss to Kentucky, as he was charged with six runs on six hits in two innings with five walks and one strikeout.
Wells will counter on Friday with sophomore left-hander Miers Quigley (4-0, 2.66 ERA). Quigley was not involved in the decision in his last start ? an 8-5 Alabama victory over Ole Miss last Friday ? however, he limited the Rebels to four runs in eight hits in 6.2 innings with one walk and one strikeout.
LSU freshman designated hitter Blake Dean leads the Tigers with a .320 (31-for-97) batting average and he enters the Alabama series riding a seven-game hit streak. Dean also leads the club in doubles (six) and RBI (22).
Freshman first baseman/catcher Sean Ochinko has a team-high five homers on the year for LSU, which has hit 23 dingers on the year.
The Tigers have reached double-figures in hits in each of their last three games, batting .311 (33-for-106) during that span. Second baseman Chris McGhee is batting .500 (6-for-12) in LSU’s last three games with one homer and two RBI. Catcher Robert Lara is also hitting .500 (5-for-10) during the three-game period with one double, one homer and four RBI.
Alabama is led at the plate by senior centerfielder Emeel Salem, who is hitting .393 (42-for-107) with three doubles, two triples, four homers, 20 RBI and 19 steals.
Alabama is hitting .314 as a team with 28 home runs. Rightfielder Kent Matthes leads the Tide in the homers (six) and RBI (31).
SERIES FACTS
LSU Fighting Tigers (15-11-1, 1-4-1 SEC) at Alabama Crimson Tide (17-10, 3-3 SEC)
DATES/TIMES
Friday, March 30 ? 6:30 p.m. CDT; Saturday, March 31 ? 6 p.m. CDT; Sunday, April 1 ? 2 p.m. CDT
STADIUM
Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
RANKINGS
Alabama is ranked No. 25 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association
RADIO
All three games on LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET
Audio broadcasts of all three games in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net; live stats available at www.LSUsports.net
TV
All three games will be televised regionally by Jumbo Sports Network and Comcast Sports Southeast
Baton Rouge Affiliates ? Friday (KZUP-TV, Cable Ch. 13); Saturday (WBRL-TV, Cable Ch. 10); Sunday (KZUP-TV, Cable Ch. 13)
SERIES RECORD
Alabama leads, 187-142-3 (series began in 1906)
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Game 1
LSU ? Jr. LHP Charlie Furbush (3-3, 4.12 ERA, 39.1 IP, 19 BB, 39 SO)
UA ? So. LHP Miers Quigley (4-0, 2.66 ERA, 44.0 IP, 20 BB, 43 SO)
Game 2
LSU ? TBA
UA ? Sr. RHP Bernard Robert (3-3, 3.23 ERA, 39.0 IP, 13 BB, 26 SO)
Game 3
LSU ? TBA
UA? TBA