GameInformation
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Times: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Alex Box Stadium ? Baton Rouge, La.
Live Stats: www.RaginCajuns.com
Radio: Jay Walker (P-B-P), Steve Peloquin (Color)
SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM (KPEL-AM)
Pre-game show begins 30 minutes prior to first pitch
Tentative Starting Pitchers
|
LOUISIANA |
LSU |
| |
LH Alex Fuselier
1-0, 2.77 ERA |
TBA |
BASES NOTED
? ALL-TIME SERIES
This is the second straight season the two programs meet, with LSU holding a 44-21 advantage. After a 2002 meeting in the NCAA Regional at Baton Rouge, the teams did not meet for five years. The series resumed last season at Alex Box Stadium with an 5-3 LSU victory on April 29. The teams have split the last six meetings, but LSU owns an 8-4 advantage in the Robichaux Era. This is the first meeting at the “new” Alex Box Stadium, and the second since Paul Mainieri took the Tigers' coaching reins. The last two UL wins were shutouts: 5-0 on June 1, 2002, in the NCAA Regional at Baton Rouge and 7-0 in a regular season meeting on March 19, 2002. The Cajuns and Tigers met in NCAA Regional play in 1990, 1991 and 2002, with Louisiana's last win in the series taking place in the winner's bracket final of the 2002 NCAA Regional, a 5-0 victory.
? LAST MEETING
The Cajuns were the last non-conference opponent to take the field at the “old” Alex Box Stadium with an April 29 visit to Baton Rouge in 2008. LSU spoiled UL's upset bid, scoring five runs in the fifth for a 5-3 win. Louisiana scored single runs in the first, second and third innings for a quick 3-0 lead, and Brent Solich had the Tigers shut down through four complete before his brilliant performance was spoiled in the fifth. Solich lasted 5 1/3 innings, while allowing just two earned runs. Buddy Glass gave up one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief, while LSU's Daniel Bradshaw (3-5) stopped the Cajuns down the stretch, scattering three hits on six strikeouts in four innings.
? VETTING THE TIGERS
The Tigers are in their third season under head coach Paul Mainieri, and were chosen as both Collegiate Baseball and USA Today/ESPN's preseason No. 1. The Tigers dropped two-of-three to Illinois last weekend, falling to No. 3 in Collegiate Baseball and No. 4 in the USA Today/ESPN polls. Wednesday's game will be LSU's 12th home contest through 14 total. LSU's loss to Illinois on Friday ended the Tigers' 25-game regularseason win streak dating back to last season, but the Tigers came back the next day to hit seven home runs, including three grand slams, in Saturday's 22-10 win over the Illini. The Tigers have launched 27 homers ? including five grand slams ? in 12 games this season, thanks to double-digit home run totals from seven different players. They are batting .350 as a team, led by D.J. LeMahieu's .526 average and Sean Ochinko's .458. LSU defeated Sun Belt team New Orleans 19-3 last Tuesday, and open SEC play this weekend hosting Kentucky.
? RETURN OF THE SHUTOUT
Prior to Friday's 2-0 loss to Arkansas State, the Cajuns had not been shut out since May 24, 2008, by New Orleans in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament by a score of 10-0. The loss also marks the first time the Cajuns have been shut out on the road since April 22, 2008, when Lamar handed Louisiana a 3-0 blank. Last Wednesday's blanking of the Texas Southern Tigers was the first winning shutout for the Cajuns.
? HITTIN' THE ROAD
Including Wednesday's game at LSU, the next three midweek games for the Ragin' Cajuns will be on the road. UL visits McNeese State next Tuesday, March 17, and Houston the following Tuesday, March 24. The next mid-week game at “The Tigue” will take place on Wednesday, April 1 against Northwestern State.
