After a 56-game regular season and five fun-filled days in Hoover, Alabama, for the SEC Tournament. Omaha, Nebraska is within sight. Coach Paul Mainieri's team is just five wins away from reaching their destination and that's the College World Series.
Everyone is expecting the Tigers to make it back to Omaha, but the team isn't feeling the pressure of trying to get back CWS. In fact, Mainieri says this is where the fun begins.
"We can compete for it all," Mainieri said. "There's no doubt in my mind. Now we have to go out and do it."
LSU will try to have a little fun today against their cross-town rival Southern University as the two teams open the Baton Rouge Regional. The Tigers are the prohibitive favorite to advance out of this regional, which also includes Minnesota and Baylor. The Golden Gophers and Bears meet at six o' clock tonight at Alex Box Stadium.
The Jaguars have played the Tigers tough in two previous NCAA Tournament meetings. LSU beat Southern 6-3 in the 1999 Baton Rouge Regional, and LSU needed some late-inning heroics to beat the Jags 5-4 in the 2002 Baton Rouge Regional.
Sophomore right-hander Austin Ross will make his team-leading 16th start today. He's 5-7 with a 5.15 ERA. Last time out, Ross suffered the loss in a defeat to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament. Ross' record might not look impressive, but twice this season he's been named SEC Pitcher of the Week. The Shreveport native also tossed four shutout innings to earn a save in the opening game of last year's Baton Rouge Regional.
Southern is waiting until today to name its starter. Coach Roger Cador would like to go with his ace Jarrett Maloy, The senior right-hander has won 8 games this season, but is still trying to recover after throwing about 250 pitches in the SWAC Tournament. If Maloy can't go today, look for Cador to turn to left-hander Chase Richard. The Tigers have struggled against lefties this season, but Richard allowed four runs in four innings in their only meeting with the Tigers this season.
Listen to the voice of the Tigers, Jim Hawthorne talk about LSU with WWL's Kristian Garic:
E-Mail Story
Print Story
