The No. 8 LSU baseball team begins Southeastern Conference play this weekend when the Tigers travel to Lexington, Ky., for their first road series of the season.
The Tigers (16-3) will end a 19-game home stand when they face the University of Kentucky (15-3) on Friday in Cliff Hagan Stadium.
“I’m looking forward to getting into SEC play,” said LSU coach Smoke Laval. “Now it’s even better because every weekend counts.”
After earning his third victory of the season Friday in a 5-1 win against Stetson University, LSU junior Clay Dirks said the team is ready to get into conference play.
“It’s a whole new season for us,” Dirks said. “The games before are important when it comes down to post-season play and having wins, but SEC ball is what it is all about.”
Dirks’ (3-1) strong outing against Stetson dropped his season ERA to a team best 1.84 in 29.1 innings this season. His 36 strikeouts also lead the team.
Laval said the lack of travel the Tigers have encountered should not put the team at a disadvantage against other SEC teams.
“Look at the schools in the SEC who have played on the road,” Laval said. “Kentucky played a tournament on the road to open the season and haven’t traveled since, and Florida’s only road game was in Miami the second weekend of the year. Our schedule was set perfect.”
LSU shortstop Michael Hollander said the team is excited about beginning conference play and looks forward to playing the Wildcats.
“We feel confident and feel we have a really strong team,” Hollander said. “Kentucky is a good team to play because they have a good record.”
This weekend’s matchup is between two of the best offensive clubs in the SEC. The Tigers lead the SEC in batting average, hits, triples, total bases and slugging percentage.
The Wildcats lead the SEC in runs scored, doubles, RBIs and on-base percentage. Kentucky is hitting .319 as a team and comes into the game hitting 16 home runs.
LSU right fielder Quinn Stewart had a record-setting weekend against Stetson, and he became the 10th player in LSU history to hit three home runs in a single game.
Stewart is batting .357 this season for the Tigers and leads the SEC in total bases (53), slugging percentage (.757) and home runs (7).
Stewart said he is looking to “double the focus up” and will try to build on what he did over the weekend.
“When you get into SEC play, the game seems to be a little faster, guys seem to throw a little harder and there’s a lot more emotion and a lot more is at stake,” Stewart said.
The Tigers are coming off a strong week with wins against Tulane University and a series win against Stetson.
Laval said Dirks will take the mound for Friday’s opener, junior right hander Derik Olvey will pitch Saturday and freshman right hander Louis Coleman will start Sunday.
Kentucky coach John Cohan has scheduled senior left-hander Aaaron Tennyson for Friday’s game.
“I’m excited about starting SEC play,” Dirks said. “It’s fun, it’s competitive and every weekend anything can happen.”
 
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