Dartmouth probably isn’t too upset about missing out on unseasonably warm 46-degree temperatures in Hanover, N.H., this weekend — they’ll finally get to play some ball.
The Big Green is opening its season against a hungry No. 14 LSU (7-2) team looking to put last weekend’s debacle against Appalachian State in the rearview mirror.
With an Ivy League team coming to town to play its first three games of the season, it would be easy to assume the Tigers are going to end the weekend with a comfortable series sweep in their pockets.
But LSU coach Paul Mainieri is aware of what happens when one assumes, and he is painfully aware of what an Ivy League squad can do in Alex Box Stadium.
Princeton, who eventually went on to beat Dartmouth in the Ivy League championship last year, beat LSU, 8-7, in the last contest of a three-game series last season.
“We’re going to face a very formidable pitching staff and a veteran lineup,” Mainieri said. “I expect us to have three very tough, hard-fought baseball games this weekend. There’s no doubt in my mind about it.”
Dartmouth will likely start three left-handed pitchers against LSU in the series, anchored by junior Kyle Hunter, who won five of nine starts last season, posting a 3.77 ERA.
The Tigers will counter with their talented stable of right-handed sophomore starters, led by Kevin Gausman and Ryan Eades.
The duo have been nearly unhittable for the Tigers this season in their four starts, compiling a combined .74 ERA in 24.1 innings, striking out 27 batters and issuing just five walks.
Both Gausman and Eades have struck out more batters than they’ve allowed to reach base.
“I’d love to see Gausman and Eades pitch the same way they pitched the first two games all year,” Mainieri said. “If they do that, we’re going to have a pretty good season. And they’re capable of doing that.”
Kurt McCune, who was roughed up in his last start against Appalachian State, will round out the weekend rotation.
After tossing six shutout innings in his first start against the Air Force Academy on Feb. 19, McCune had trouble locating his pitches last weekend and was tagged for seven hits and three runs in three innings of work.
While the starters should provide LSU with ample opportunity to win each game, the batters understand they need to hold up their end of the bargain.
After struggling to score in last weekend’s Appalachian State series, the Tigers unleashed their fury against Grambling State and McNeese State in the two midweek games, racking up 36 runs on 35 hits.
“It was big to get our confidence back up and get the team flowing in the right direction after we had our two tough losses,” said senior third baseman Tyler Hanover.
But Mainieri said he isn’t falling for fool’s gold, and neither is his team.
“Our kids are not dumb,” Mainieri said. “They know that the caliber of pitching that we’re going to face this weekend and beyond is an upgrade over what we faced in these two midweek games. I don’t think anybody should expect that we’re going to get … 18 or 19 runs a game. That’s just unreasonable.”
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Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]
Dartmouth’s season opener sees matchup against LSU
March 2, 2012