While in-state schools are usually no match for LSU athletics, this Louisiana rival is an anomaly.
 
The No. 19 LSU baseball team (7-0) hosts a Southeastern Louisiana (6-1) squad tonight which ended Florida International junior shortstop Garrett Wittels’ 56-game hitting streak to start the year.
 
“This is going to be the best team that we’ve played thus far in the early season, there’s no question about it in my mind,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri.
 
The Lions took two out of three from FIU, beat Alabama for the first time ever, 6-2, and pounded Tulane, 13-1, earlier this year.
 
“I’ve been watching this Southeastern program develop under [Southeastern coach] Jay Artigues over there in Hammond, and he has done a great job,” Mainieri said. “All you have to do is look and see what their results are early in the year.”
 
While LSU is undefeated and has scored at least 10 runs in four straight games, Southeastern is on a five-game winning streak of its own and has given up four runs or less in all but one game.
 
“If we’re fortunate enough to have a good season and be able to host postseason play here, there’s a pretty good chance Southeastern’s going to be right back here in the Box in May,” Mainieri said.
 
Pitching for LSU tonight is junior college transfer Tyler Jones, who is 1-0 after tossing five scoreless innings in a 13-0 win last Tuesday against New Orleans.
 
“Not to take anything away from UNO, they played hard,” Jones said. “I feel like I pitched well against them, but Southeastern is going to definitely be a little better.”
 
Mainieri said Jones is still contending for a spot in the weekend rotation but will have to dazzle on the mound after last weekend’s three starters pitched superbly.
 
Freshman Kurt McCune and senior Ben Alsup both have ERAs less than 1.00, and freshman Kevin Gausman’s 13 strikeouts are the most on the team.
 
“[Jones] is a big, strong kid with a good arm,” Mainieri said. “He pitched very well last week against UNO. This Tuesday night is going to be an upgrade in competition for him.”
 
Southeastern sophomore southpaw Jordan Hymel, whose only appearance this year came in Southeastern’s Tulane stomping, is the projected starter for the Lions.
 
Hymel (1-0) gave up one run and three hits in five innings to secure the win against Tulane. The Lutcher graduate is one of the few underclassmen on the diamond for Southeastern.
 
The three Southeastern pitchers with the most innings pitched are all upperclassmen. Nine of the 10 position players who have started at least five games are also juniors or seniors.
 
Many of those veterans played in close contests between Southeastern and LSU in recent years.
 
The Tigers edged the Lions, 6-5, the second time the two teams played in 2009.
 
Last season, LSU trailed, 5-4, against Southeastern in the sixth inning and rallied to win, 9-5, snapping a seven-game losing streak.
 
“They play the game hard,” said junior center fielder Mikie Mahtook. “We’ve played them the last couple years and it’s been a battle, so I don’t expect anything less.”
 
 
Follow Rowan Kavner on Twitter@TDR_Kavner.
 
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