No. 11 LSU’s meeting with Southern will come one day earlier than originally scheduled as both teams wanted to avoid Wednesday’s predicted inclement weather.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri spoke with Southern coach Roger Cador and LSU administrators about moving the game, and the group agreed to meet today at 5 p.m. to avoid conflict with the women’s basketball game at 8:40 p.m.
“We all agreed that we would try and get the game in,” Mainieri said. “It sounded like there wouldn’t be much chance of playing on Wednesday, and 5 o’clock seemed like the most logical time.”
The last time these two teams met came in the 2009 NCAA Regional, a 10-2 win for LSU. The Tigers trailed by one heading to the seventh inning, but a seven-run outburst allowed them to cruise to victory en route to the national championship.
Although LSU holds a 45-2 advantage in the series and Southern hasn’t defeated the Tigers since 2005, senior shortstop Austin Nola expects a close game tonight.
“They always play great against us,” Nola said. “They almost beat us [in 2009], so we can’t take them lightly because we know they’re a solid team.”
Southern has struggled recently, dropping seven of its last eight games. The Jaguars did win their last outing, a 7-1 victory against Prairie View A&M, but regardless of the team’s record, Mainieri said he has great respect for the Southern program.
“I love Roger Cador,” Mainieri said. “He’s done a tremendous job for many years. Their kids work our summer camps and are friends with our people here. We have a great relationship with them.”
Freshman pitcher Cody Glenn will get the start for LSU. Glenn has a 5.59 ERA in 9 2/3 innings this season, with one midweek start on Feb. 28 against Grambling State.
But like most midweek affairs, Mainieri said he plans to use at least six different pitchers, one of whom may be freshman Carson Baranik, who was suspended for three weeks for a DUI.
“He has paid his debts,” Mainieri said. “He hasn’t partaken in a sip of alcohol since it happened. I said when it happened I wasn’t going to persecute the kid forever. Nobody was hurt, fortunately, and hopefully he learned a lesson the hard way.”
Freshman John Thigpen will take the mound for Southern. Tonight will mark the first career start for the Houston native, who has a 0.90 ERA in 20 innings of work this season.
Aside from the challenge Southern brings, Mainieri was relieved he managed to avoid one bigger issue: the weather.
“I’m sorry the game can’t be played as scheduled,” Mainieri said. “Maybe the crowd will be down because of it, but unfortunately you can’t fight Mother Nature. You have to work around it.”
 
____ Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]