Between the biggest non-conference series of the year and the most anticipated Southeastern Conference opening series in recent memory sits an in-state matchup for the No. 8 LSU baseball team.
LSU hits the road for the first time this season to play Nicholls State tonight, three days after sweeping No. 13 Cal State Fullerton and two days before welcoming No. 1 Florida to Alex Box Stadium.
“Here you might be thinking about Florida coming,” said sophomore right fielder Mason Katz. “Going on the road you really have to focus and get ready to play and play well.”
Nicholls State is 7-7 this season and 6-1 at home. Senior infielder Chase Jaramillo, who has started every game, leads the Colonels at the plate with a .411 batting average.
The Tigers snagged a narrow 3-2 victory the last time they travelled to Nicholls State in 2005.
Katz said he knows not to go into Thibodaux expecting to effortlessly roll over the Colonels.
“I know a couple of players on their team that I played against in high school and played summer ball with,” Katz said. “They’ve got a lot of good players.”
It wasn’t long ago the Colonels came to Alex Box Stadium and upset the Tigers.
LSU won the national championship in 2009 but lost to Nicholls State at home, 3-1, that year.
“When we played them in 2009 they pitched eight different pitchers and beat us,” said junior shortstop Austin Nola. “We know we can’t take this one lightly.”
Six Nicholls State relievers threw six shutout innings in that game to snap LSU’s 17-game winning streak against the Colonels.
“We can learn a lot about history,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “Nicholls State came here and beat us fairly and squarely. They deserved to win, and they outplayed us that night.”
The Tigers will send junior transfer pitcher Tyler Jones to the mound in hopes it doesn’t happen again.
Jones, who has started in a midweek game every week this season, is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA. Nicholls State will counter with junior pitcher Mike Wisecarver, who is 2-1 with a 4.40 ERA.
While the trip is less than 70 miles, Mainieri said he enjoys getting the Tigers together on the road for the first time.
“We’re getting on a bus, we’re wearing our gray uniforms, we’re doing something a little bit different,” Mainieri said. “Whenever you shake things up a little bit it does enhance the focus.”
LSU has built a comfortable home, hitting .318 as a team. The Tigers hit .307 and were 12-for-12 in stolen base attempts against Fullerton.
Mainieri said from taking infield and batting practice second to batting first in the game and first in the ninth inning, the Tigers need to get the visiting team experience before taking their first SEC road trip March 25.
“There’s a lot of little nuances that are different,” he said. “It was by design we would play a road game before we went to Georgia.”
Sophomore designated hitter Raph Rhymes said it’s the perfect time for a road trip before the SEC season begins.
“You’re going to be with those guys all day,” he said. “That helps you gel as a team. Road trips are always good for chemistry.”
Follow Rowan Kavner on Twitter @TDR_Kavner.
 
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