There’s no denying LSU and Alabama have become well-acquainted over the years.
The Southeastern Conference Western Division rivalry has turned into a battle of attrition across numerous sports, as the two programs’ football squads mash heads every year and the contest between the universities’ basketball teams went down to the wire this past season. Now baseball’s in the spotlight.
When the No. 3 LSU (35-3, 13-2 SEC) baseball team travels to Tuscaloosa to battle the Crimson Tide (23-16, 8-7 SEC), the Tigers will look to stay dominant on the road against conference opponents.
Though the LSU-Alabama rivalry has grown over the years, the Tigers don’t believe that it will make the weekend series any more important.
“[The Alabama series is] just as important as us going to Arkansas or playing Kentucky at home,” said senior first baseman Mason Katz. “It all counts the same. It’s a fun rivalry for sure, and everybody lives for that stuff, so it’s fun, especially for us going and playing there. Regardless, it’s going to be an exciting weekend and we’re looking forward to the rivalry.”
The Tigers are 9-2 on the road in 2013, with losses at Mississippi State and at Arkansas. Nevertheless, LSU feels it is battle-tested, and the players intend to use the same winning formula that has propelled them to the third-best rank in the nation.
“We’re going to go out there and just keep playing the way we do,” said junior third baseman Christian Ibarra. “We’re going to go out there and swing and make our plays. We’re going to keep playing good defense and keep hitting.”
LSU’s pitching staff had a roller-coaster series this past weekend, as junior starter Ryan Eades got roughed up in his first loss of the 2013 campaign and sophomore southpaw Cody Glenn took a line drive off his leg that knocked him out of the contest on Sunday.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said he isn’t certain of Glenn’s health status for Sunday’s start against the Crimson Tide. He expects Alabama to play the Tigers well, and he doesn’t look at his conference rival’s record as any indication of its ability on the diamond.
“If we take anybody lightly, then we’re going to get beat,” Mainieri said. “I have a lot of respect for Alabama’s program. I think they’ve got a great coaching staff, and they’ve got some good young athletes, three solid starters, a good closer and a good bullpen.”
He also noted that this weekend is both team’s spring football game festivities.
“It’s Spring Game weekend for them, so there’s going to be a lot of buzz on campus and a lot of enthusiasm, so we have to go in there with the eye of the tiger and be ready to play,” he said.
“It all counts the same. It’s a fun rivalry for sure, and everybody lives for that stuff, so it’s fun, especially for us going and playing there.”
