BATON ROUGE — LSU begins a four-game road swing Wednesday night when the Tigers face the University of New Orleans in Metairie, La. in the fourth annual Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation Baseball Classic.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Zephyr Field, the home of the New Orleans Zephyrs, the New York Mets’ AAA affiliate.
The Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation was established in memory of LSU’s all-SEC third baseman who died in 2002 at age 21 due to heart abnormalities. Proceeds from Wednesday’s game will benefit numerous charitable organizations in the New Orleans area.
“We are certainly looking forward to the game,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri, “because of what it means to so many people. I know Wally was a young man of exemplary character, and I hope our players will follow his example and represent LSU the way he did ? with great class and dignity. It is an honor for LSU Baseball to be associated with Wally’s foundation.”
The Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation has assisted numerous philanthropic organizations, including the New Orleans Strive Center, a nonprofit institution in which men and women who suffer from mental retardation are given opportunities to earn income and reach their potential as members of the community.
Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation funds have also benefited Camp Summer Tribe in Mandeville, La., a seven-day residential camp designed to provide children with cerebral palsy and other similar conditions a traditional summer-camp experience.
Other beneficiaries of the Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation include the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department; Angel’s Place, an organization that helps terminally ill children and their families; and Season’s Grief Center, a facility that provides counseling for children and adults who have lost a loved one.
For more information about the Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation, visit www.wallypontiffjr.org.
The LSU-UNO game will be broadcast on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network (WDGL-FM 98.1 in Baton Rouge). The audio broadcast is also available in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net.
LSU has won four of its last five games, including a series victory last weekend over No. 13 Ole Miss. UNO enters Wednesday’s game riding a five-game win streak, including a Sun Belt Conference series sweep at Middle Tennessee. The Privateers have captured eight of their last nine contests.
Wednesday’s game marks the second meeting between the teams this season. LSU defeated UNO, 6-3, on March 27 in Alex Box Stadium.
“UNO is really hot right now,” said Mainieri, an infielder for the Privateers in 1978 and 1979. “They just swept a conference series on the road (at Middle Tennessee), and they can score a lot of runs. Every game is important right now, so we will have to be prepared for a serious challenge.”
UNO coach Tom Walter is expected to start junior right-hander Justin Garcia (4-1, 4.58 ERA). Garcia, one of the Privateers’ weekend starters, defeated Middle Tennessee last Friday, allowing three earned runs on eight hits in six innings with no walks and six strikeouts.
The Tigers were led at the plate in the Ole Miss series by freshman first baseman Sean Ochinko, who batted .545 (6-for-11) with one double and one RBI. Ochinko leads LSU in hitting in SEC games, batting .347 (17-for-49) with one double, one homer and eight RBI against league opponents.
Sophomore second baseman Nicholas Pontiff, younger brother of Wally Pontiff Jr., was placed last week in the starting lineup for the first time this season. He responded by hitting .462 (6-for-13) against Ole Miss with three RBI and three runs.
Designated hitter Blake Dean was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday after leading the Tigers in hitting for the entire week ? including last Wednesday’s 4-1 win over Mississippi Valley State. Dean batted .529 (9-for-17) in four games with two doubles, one triple, one homer, four RBI and four runs. He hit .429 (6-for-14) in the Ole Miss series with one double, one homer, three RBI and three runs.
Dean also extended his hitting streak to 18 games ? he is hitting .405 (30-for-74) during the streak with six doubles, one triple, one homer, 11 RBI and 12 runs.
LSU batted .327 as a team in the Ole Miss series with six doubles, one homer, 17 RBI and 17 runs. LSU has reached double figures in hits in each of its last six games, and the Tigers have raised their batting average by 12 points ? from .245 to .257 — during the six-game period.
UNO is led at the plate by second baseman Johnny Giavotella, who is hitting .364 (51-for-140) with nine doubles, four triples, nine homers and 44 RBI. Third baseman T.J. Baxter is batting .359 with six doubles, four triples and eight homers, and outfielder Drew Anderson is hitting .299 with a team-high 12 dingers.
As a team, the Privateers are hitting .302 with 53 home runs and 65 stolen bases.
LSU leads the all-time series with UNO, 48-30, and the Tigers have won 18 of the last 19 meetings with the Privateers. UNO’s only win in that span was a 5-4 victory at Zephyr Field in 2003, the last time the teams met in the AAA ballpark.
LSU has a 14-11 mark in games played at Zephyr Field, including a 5-1 record against UNO.
GAME FACTS
LSU Fighting Tigers (21-16-1) vs. New Orleans Privateers (24-12)
DATE/TIME
Wednesday, April 18 ? 7 p.m.
STADIUM
Zephyr Field in Metairie, La.
TICKETS
For ticket information, contact Zephyr Field at 504-734-5155 or visit any Ticketmaster location. Ticket information may also be obtained by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com.
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL-FM 98.1 in Baton Rouge)
INTERNET
Audio broadcast in the Geaux Zone at www.LSUsports.net; live stats at www.LSUsports.net
TV
Jumbo Sports Network
- New Orleans COX CABLE CH. 10 (Same day tape delayed 9:30 PM)
- Baton Rouge KZUP Z19 Cable Ch. 13 (LIVE)
- Lafayette KLAF MY (Same day tape delayed 9 PM )
- Alexandria KWCE CW (LIVE)
- Shreveport CSS (Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast) next day tape delayed 11:30 AM
- Monroe CSS (Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast) next day tape delayed 11:30 AM
- Southeastern US CSS (Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast) ? www.css-sports.com
- CSS will air the LSU vs. UNO game on 4/19 @ 11:30AM CST. (Find CSS cable channel in your area by going online and scroll to bottom of home page)
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads, 48-30
PITCHING MATCHUPS
LSU ? Fr. RH Matt Jackson (0-0, 2.57 ERA)
UNO ? Jr. RHP Justin Garcia (4-1, 4.58 ERA, 57.0 IP, 8 BB, 40 SO)