While Louisiana’s unpredictable weather may be throwing a curveball, LSU coach Paul Mainieri has been through the meteorlogical gauntlet.
Coaching 18 years in extreme cold weather environments at Air Force and Notre Dame, Mainieri isn’t fazed by the current cold snap affecting the state as his No. 4 Tigers travel to Turchin Stadium in New Orleans to take on Tulane at 6:30 p.m. tonight.
“It’s not the most fun thing in the world to do,” Mainieri said. “We’ve had an unseasonably cold early season in Baton Rouge. … I don’t think our kids even think about the weather or worry about the weather.”
With a weekend series in frigid Columbia, Mo., awaiting LSU (22-2, 5-1 Southeastern Conference), tonight’s hourlong trip down I-10 serves as a frosty precursor against a traditional in-state rival.
Freshman righty Russell Reynolds will start for the Tigers, facing off against Tulane southpaw and fellow Parkview Baptist alumnus Brady Wilson.
Reynolds, who fired five shutout innings while surrendering only three hits in a 2-1 victory against Northwestern State last Wednesday, will open his third- straight midweek game.
“It’s his ballgame,” Mainieri said. “As long as he’s pitching effectively and his pitch count is within a reasonable amount, he’ll be the pitcher. However far he can go will be great.”
Mainieri said he has no specific pitchers needing work tonight, leading to a longer leash on Reynolds, but his focus solely remains on winning the game.
The batting order, however, does need work as Mainieri looks for both a consistent leadoff hitter and right-handed designated hitter to battle against left-handed pitching.
Junior second baseman JaCoby Jones, replacing sophomore outfielder Chris Sciambra at the top of the order, struggled to a 1-for-13 performance in three of the Tigers’ last four games and was dropped in the order Sunday in favor of Sciambra.
“We just need to get that [leadoff] situation solidified,” Mainieri said. “I’m really not 100 percent sure what I’m going to do yet.”
Tulane (14-12, 2-1 Conference USA), fresh off a series win against Memphis, is no stranger to SEC foes as it took two of three from Alabama in Tuscaloosa earlier this month.
The in-state matchup marked LSU’s first intercollegiate athletic event in 1893, the Tigers lead the Green Wave 174-125-3 all-time and took a 5-0 victory against the Wave last season behind eight shutout innings from Aaron Nola.
“I have the greatest respect for Tulane and their baseball program,” Mainieri said. “It’s not a good program, it’s a great program. [The rivalry] is important for baseball in this state.”
