So far things have come easy for the No. 1 LSU baseball team.The Tigers rank at least second in the Southeastern Conference in runs per game, batting average and ERA.That balance has allowed LSU to sweep through its first nine games and outscore its opponents, 109-25.But with Illinois coming to Alex Box Stadium this weekend, LSU coach Paul Mainieri said the Tigers will have to be on top of their game if they expect their dominance to continue.”Illinois will be the best team that we’ll have faced so far,” Mainieri said. “It will be good preparation for us in the last weekend before SEC starts.”LSU trailed for just the second time all season in Wednesday’s game against Mississippi Valley State but used a seven-run eighth inning to secure a 10-4 win.Sophomore catcher Micah Gibbs said after a string of blowout wins, the Tigers needed a game like Wednesday’s to prepare for later in the season. “It’s kind of a good thing that we came out slow for once, so we can learn how to come back,” he said. “We know things won’t always be easy.” The Fighting Illini come into Baton Rouge having won five of their first six games to start the season.The Tigers left-handed heavy offense will be challenged on Friday by Illini sophomore southpaw Phil Haig, who is 2-0 and has pitched 12-straight scoreless innings to start the season.Illinois’ pitching staff has been the strength of their team early in the season and has 2.72 team ERA.Gibbs said LSU’s ability to manufacture runs off the Fighting Illini’s pitching staff will be key to the weekend. “Their pitchers are going to hit their spots, and they’re going to nibble on us,” Gibbs said. “They’re going to be ready to play.” One hitter Haig and the Illini will have to contain is LSU junior first baseman Sean Ochinko.Ochinko has been arguably the hottest player in college baseball the past week and has 20 RBI in LSU’s last five games.Ochinko said LSU’s hitters will need to be zeroed in if they want to continue their torrid offensive pace.The Tigers have scored 10 or more runs in eight of their first nine games.”Illinois is a solid club,” Ochinko said. “We’ll have to stand in there and focus only on the next pitch we see. That’s when good things happen for our club.”Sophomores pitchers Anthony Ranaudo, Daniel Bradshaw and Austin Ross are expected to start on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively, for the second straight weekend for the Tigers.The LSU trio will face an Illinois offense that has struggled this season and only has two home runs all year.”There’s not a lot of pop in their lineup,” Mainieri said. “But they’re very, very pesky. We know that we’ll have to play our best if we want to continue building momentum here to start the season.”——Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]